Times they are changin...

Nothing lasts forever. Sometimes that can be in a more positive direction and sometimes in a less positive one. I have recently moved to a new apartment, an apartment for students only located in Stockholm. Of course fun with a new envoirnment.

But sometimes change isn´t for the better. For example, a couple of weeks ago my favourite radio show p3 pop was aired for the last time. Instead, this Monday, Musikguiden i P3 replaced all of the radio channel´s previous shows dedicated to different genres.

The decision was taken because it is no longer modern to label music and genres are nowadays so connected to each other and mixed up. Therefore all music should be played in one show, no mater genre.

I dont really get this. First of all, its true genres have been more mixed up in recent years, but that does not mean genres have completely vanished and I do not believe every person on this planet listens to every genre. It was perfect to have expertise knowledge in every genre show, which no longer exists. If i then would have wanted to listen to Hip hop or dance I could listen to those shows and get a good education at the same time.

Now you are forced to sit and wait for the genres/songs you like instead of just be able to choose to listen to what you like. In short, they have a point about the development of genres, but it is widely exaggerated that it is no longer a need for specific shows. And the labels pop, dance etc. are also labels which includes A LOT, so you can´t really say those shows had limited frames.

In the show they also mixes new songs with interviews, guests, parts from concerts etc. etc. As it used to be, I was able to choose between shows and get the best avalaible expertise on the subject and also be able to choose if I would have wanted to a concert later. Now the show is all over the place and the show doesn´t seem to have a profile.

I want to end this blog post by recommending the new app available Apples App store Itunes from Swedish web radio station Gimmeindie. Despite both these negative and positive aspects of change, I do hope it is as Morrissey sings, "In the future when all´s well".

/ The Drumming Cat

Top 100 of 2010!

I have decided to gather my favourite 100 songs of 2010, by 100 different artists! They are all gathered in this Spotify play list without rating order. For those of you who don´t have Spotify, I have also listed my top twenty of 2010, this time in rating order. And which are the Swedish albums you should not have missed this year?

Happy new music year of 2011!

1. Gorillaz – On melancholy hill
2. Teenage fanclub – Baby lee
3. Kendall Johanson – Blue moon
4. Beach House - Zebra
5. The Drums – Let´s go surfing
6. This is head - 0003
7. Anna von Hausswolff – Track of time
8. Ariel Pink´s haunted graffiti – Bright lit blue skies
9. Peter Morén - Ett land som inte är
10. MF/MB – The grand chase
11.Field music – Let´s write a book
12.Radio dept – Heaven´s on fire
13.Yeasayer – O.N.E.
14. Tracey Thorn – Why does the wind?
15.Beach fossils – Sometimes
16.CEO – Come with me
17.School of seven bells – Windstorm
18.Real estate – Younger than yesterday
19.Best coast – Boyfriend
20.The Concretes – All day

Swedish albums you should have listened to 2011:
Peter Morén – I spåren av tåren
This is head - 0001
Anna von Hausswolff – Singing from the grave
Love is all - Two thousand and then injuries

/ The Drumming Cat

Celebrate an indie Christmas on Facebook!

Cant wait for Christmas. Or do you just want to gain some knowledge of the greatest acts of 2010? Swedish web radio station Gimmeindie will let one band/artist each day in December until Christmas Eve present their favourite acts of 2010. The event takes place on their Facebook web page.

Enjoy!

/The Drumming Cat

Two concerts that never were and two longed for albums

The blog hasn´t been as active as usual. This is due to lack of time, but I have still had time to listen to music. The music aspect of my life has had two negative aspects in November and two positive ones.

I missed out on two concerts at Debaser in Stockholm because of certain circumstances. These were Beach House and Field music Both have released great albums this year, so of course it was a disappointment...:(

The month was saved by the release of Orange Juice´s box "Coals to Newcastle" containing their entire discography with extra material. I ordered it through Delcious Goldfish Records to make sure I got as soon as it was released. A brilliant box considering most albums are really hard to get hold of, at least in Sweden. And I love the cover of Al Green´s song Love (see video below)...

The other positive aspect was buying the new album from Edwyn Collins called "Losing sleep". A good album, but the best thing is to hear Edwyn has started to recover well.

/ The Drumming Cat

Interview with Suburban kids with biblical names

Found this month old interview with Suburban kids with biblical names. The Swedish group released their fourth album earlier this year and are already working on tehir next creation.

/ The Drumming Cat

John Lennon covers

A week ago John Lennon should have turned 70. In order to highlight this, Swedish music magazine Sonic created a Spotify playlist with a lot of great covers of John Lennon and Beatles songs. Enjoy!

A personal favourite is Al Green´s version of I want to hold your hand.

If you look to the left on Sonic´s website, they have a lot of good Spotify playlists on different themes.

/ The Drumming Cat

Swedish music for the autumn part 5 (final part)

Yes, now we have come to the final part of my Swedish recommendations for the autumn.

And what a treat we are in for this month. The band MFMB are releasing their debut album, what on their myspace site sounds awesome, teriffic, supermagnificent! If you like both kraut and pop, this is something for you!

Earlier this autumn the brilliant Britta Persson released her new album. The single "Meet a bear" has been a hugh success in Sweden.

National icon Håkan Hellström´s new album has been very well received among Swedish critics.