Salt-N-Pepa - Push It

Salt-N-Pepa - Push It from Golden Era Videos on Vimeo.


A: Salt-N-Pepa
S: Push It
C: Girls' Night Out

Right then, it's Manic Monday. And that other day that happens once a year. I'll take this opportunity to thank everybody who liked this little blog of mine, who reads, supports and liked it, or ignores it. Have fun tonight, make it a mad one, be safe - and I'll see you back on here some time next year.

... get on out there and dance - dance, I said!

NONONO - Like The Wind

A: NONONO
S: Like The Wind
C: Like The Wind - Single

If I had a dollar every time someone told me how great 2013 will be I would have bought a car. As in yesterday. Anyway, NONONO is a Swedish trio based in Stockholm and Like The Wind is a first taste of their music which is described as described as urban indie. They are currently in the studio working on new material.

... mind my own mind.

Escort - Cocaine Blues

A: Escort
S: Cocaine Blues
C: Cocaine Blues - Single

I didn't write the song, honestly. But if you have the chance to fit cocaine and escort into the same post, you have to do it. It's like taking candy from a stranger. Anyway, relax. Escort is a contemporary disco band based out of Brooklyn, New York. Founded by Dan Balis and Eugene Cho, they are known for their modern and live dance music sound.

... I got cocaine, running around my brain. 

Angus Stone - Monsters

A: Angus Stone
S: Monsters
C: Monsters - EP

It's Angus Stone, minus Julia. Which works, of course, especially if you never knew they were a duo. But if you do, it is a bit like picturing France without Baguettes, or Tonic without Gin, or the 80s without shoulder pads. Actually that last one might be too depressing to imagine. Still, funny thing how some things go perfectly together, and others don't.

... cause we're monsters at heart.

Reptile Youth - Be My Yoko Ono

A: Reptile Youth
S: Be My Yoko Ono
C: Be My Yoko Ono - Single

Now that the holidays are over, let's get the guitars out again. Anyway, holding hands is a funny thing. It looks utterly ridiculous if you see somebody else do it, until you find someone where it comes natural and then it feels nothing but natural. Until you see somebody else holding hands, of course.

... someone to hold my hand.

Rover - Aqualast

Rover - "Aqualast" - official music video from Franck Annese on Vimeo.


A: Rover
S: Aqualast
C: Rover

Rover is from France and this song made me rape the repeat button on my ghettoblaster. Mainly because of 'take me, take me out of this hole' and also because of 'i see how life has nothing to love
when you're away with problems to solve' but most of all because of 'kiss me, kiss me please never stop'.

... we'll spend the next life in my lavender.

The xx - Last Christmas

A: The xx
S: Last Christmas
C: Last Christmas - Single

Merry merry, everybody. The xx parodied Wham!'s oh so ever lasting evergreen earlier on this month. I guess there is a simple reason why this song keeps rotating the charts every year. Whether you like Christmas or not, it's a somehow reassuring thought that this year turns out brighter than last. And if not, there is always next year.

... you gave it away.

Hillsborough Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

A: Hillsborough Justice Collective
S: He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
C: He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - Single

This is Britan's Christmas number one. A charity single for the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, a human crush which occurred during the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Fores and resulted in the deaths of 96 people. The single features Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Mel C, Paloma Faith, Beverley Knight, Rebecca Ferguson, Peter Hooton, John Power, Dave McCabe and Gerry Marsden.

... it's a long, long road, from which there is no return.

Bat For Lashes - A Wall

A: Bat For Lashes
S: A Wall
C: The Haunted Man

These cleverly written lyrics got me thinking. Do you see a wall, or do you see a door? It's a fresher perspective on the glass half full or half empty discussion. Because the choices we make in our lives aren't determined by fait, circumstances or our past, but simply by the perspectives we chose to take. Here's to an eye-opening moment, here's to Bat For Lashes.

... cause when you see a wall, I see a door.

Skream Feat. Kelis - Copycat

A: Skream Feat. Kelis
S: Copycat
C: Copycat - Single

Not sure about the cat noise in the end, but I love Copycat a lot. Ok enough about the music. More about homeless people. When they ask for money, I offer them smokes. And I'm always very suprised when I realise that they don't smoke. Healthy and homeless don't go together. In my head, at least. Ah well, there are a lot of other things that don't go together in my head.  

... and if I wasn't myself, I want to be like you.

Hanna & Kerttu - Drunken Dancers

A: Hanna & Kerttu
S: Drunken Dancers
C: Hanna & Kerttu - EP

This is the first video release by Hanna & Kerttu. They are ace, especially live. And coffee is still the only reason to get up in the morning. Coffee and mornings go together like love and marriage. Not that they really go together, but I don't want to doubt Frankie's classic. So, if coffee and mornings go nicely together, the only question you have to ask yourself is: who is your coffee?

... your stars shine bright and I am the one to break your heart.

Soko - We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow

A: Soko
S: We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow
C: I Thought I Was an Alien

I've waited the whole year to post this song today. Or at least since it was released. Or since I've heard the Mayans made a prediction about the end of the world, in which I don't believe in, of course. I believe in music, and coffee, and the cigarette after, and the cigarette before, and that kissing should make you feel like the world around you has been swallowed up.

... so let's love fully, and let's love loud, let's love now.

The Family Rain - Trust Me...I'm a Genius

A: The Family Rain
S: Trust Me...I'm a Genius
C: Trust Me...I'm a Genius - Single

The Family Rain found their way on NME's radar which means they ended up on my radar and they should end up on yours too. Why? Because indie hasn't sound this indie in a very long time. You can follow The Family Rain on a book called face, on tumbler or twitter, or simply with your heart or not at all, it's entirely up to you.

... I get back on the straight line.

Desert Stars - Boys I Like

A: Desert Stars
S: Boys I Like
C: Boys I Like - Single

When Desert Stars front-woman Janelle Best took a trip to the Joshua Tree National Park one night, the difference between the bustle of the city and the starlit ceiling of the desert sky left a mark on her. Best explains, “I had an itch to start a band back and looking up at the stars, I realized… it was time to start that band and Desert Stars would be the raddest name ever”.

... cause things aren't that different now.

Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance

Buffalo Stance from 2DM / Blogazine on Vimeo.


A: Neneh Cherry
S: Buffalo Stance
C: Raw Like Sushi

It's Monday! And today I am Neneh Cherry's biggest fan. I rediscovered this little gem last week when posting the new We Have Band video in which the 'you know it's never funny when your shoes worn through and there's a rumble in your tummy' part was featured. Cool as cool can, is all I'm saying.

... I'll give you love, baby - not romance.

Sam Flax - Fire Doesn't Burn Itself

A: Sam Flax
S: Fire Doesn't Burn Itself
C: Age Waves

This is great - mainly the chorus, and the rest. How did this get overlooked in 2012? The video intersperses live footage of Sam Flax and his band with some out-there vintage film clips, but it's done seamlessly enough that it's sort of hard to tell which is which.

... fire doesn't burn itself.

Kavinsky - ProtoVision

Kavinsky - ProtoVision (Official Music Video) from Record Makers on Vimeo.



A: Kavinsky
S: ProtoVision
C: OutRun (out early 2013)

Kavinsky is another artist who was featured on the orgasmitastic Drive soundtrack. Surprisingly, his new video is all about driving. Just so you don't get mixed up. Anyway, I enjoy reading all the Best Of 2012 reviews and I am happy I'm not doing one myself. It would turn into a 365 songs long list, which would be pointless.

...

How to Dress Well - & It Was U

How to Dress Well - & It Was U (Official Music Video) from Urban Outfitters on Vimeo.


A: How to Dress Well
S: & It Was U
C: Total Loss

It's How To Dress Well! One of my favourite band names ever. If you are sick and tired by all the white and grey outside, here's some yellow to cheer you up. Anyway, don't get excited about the video. It's done produced by Urban Outfitters, who's owner gave millions of dollars to the Mitt Romney campaign. Which was kind of a waste, I guess.

... anytime you need me I will come back.

We Have Band - What's Mine, What's Yours

A: We Have Band
S: What's Mine, What's Yours
C:

It's We Have Band! My favourite live band of 2012. What is even more important is that Thomas Wegg-Prosser has the hottest beard in the business. Somebody once told me that the beard of a man smells like the area between the balls and the legs. Keep that in mind the next time you kiss a bearded guy and you feel all intoxicated and wonder why.

... keep me close so you never need a reason to search for me.

Muse - Follow Me

A: Muse
S: Follow Me
C: The 2nd Law

Muse, right. If this wasn't a song by Muse, I would probably think it is cheesy cheap. But it is by Muse, and it isn't even blocked in Germany, so I love it. At least the stage design looks amazing, which started out on a napkin, as I read. And if push came to shove, there is nobody I would rather follow than Matt Bellamy.

... when you're scared and you're lost, be brave.

Studio Luce - Defender X

A: Studio Luce
S: Defender X
C: Defender X - EP

Never drink for the sake of drinking, never go out for the sake of going out, never fall in love for the sake of falling in love. Never kiss for the sake of kissing, never forgive for the sake of forgiving, never hold on to memories for the sake of holding on to something - but always, always dance for the sake of dancing.

... there will always be dirty dishes - so let's dance.

San Cisco - Rocket Ship

A: San Cisco
S: Rocket Ship
C: Rocket Ship - Single

In case you haven't noticed, it's Monday. I realized this morning that there is one thing that I hate more than snow. Melting snow. And my flatmates, of course. So here are some carefree and sun-drenched beats that will make this day a little brighter. Because I hate candles too, so that's no option.

... and I need to remember where i came from.

M83 - Wait

M83 'Wait' Official video from The Creators Project on Vimeo.


A: M83
S: Wait
C: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

It is snowing. And I hate snow. So here's a song that goes with the slow snow. Anyway, Wait - taken from the album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, is the final episode of the trilogy, the end point of the visual collaboration between M83 and Fleur & Manu that has been ongoing throughout 2012.

... there's no end, there's no goodbye, no time.

The Young Professionals (TYP) - Be With You Tonight

A: The Young Professionals (TYP)
S: Be With You Tonight
C: 9AM to 5PM, 5PM to Whenever

Israel's hottest duo à go go is back with a new video that fits this Saturday perfectly, or any Saturday really. Right, what else to say? Let's do some copy/pasting: The video pays homage to Alain Resnais' hypnotic, high fashion romance 'Last Year at Marienbad', and features the "fire on ice" collection by French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.

... I should be lying now with you in bed somehow.

Hermanos Inglesos Feat. MeMe - Wanderland

A: Hermanos Inglesos Feat. MeMe
S: Wanderland
C: Wanderland - EP

Ever since the big snow set in, I had to swap horses, as in my beloved bike versus commuting on public transport. Here's an observation I made: There are completely unattractive people with completely attractive asses. What is that all about? Nature being ironic, most probably, or maybe fair. But fair is boring.

... can you feel my hurricane?

The Killers Feat. Ryan Pardey - I Feel It in My Bones

The Killers "I Feel it in my Bones" ft. Ryan Pardey from Sing Yam on Vimeo.


A: The Killers Feat. Ryan Pardey
S: I Feel It in My Bones
C: I Feel It in My Bones - EP

Here it is, the annual Christmas Single by The Killers. The only exciting thing about this holiday, really. On a day off during their U.K. tour, the Vegas rockers recorded it, featuring Ryan Pardey on vocals. The band's seventh consecutive Christmas single takes the form of a smoky fist-pumper straight out of an 1980s alleyway, and a sequel to their 2007 track "Don't Shoot Me, Santa."

... I guess that there are things that you can't undo.

K.I.D.S - Ragged Old Angels (Demo 2012)

A: K.I.D.S
S: Ragged Old Angels (Demo 2012)
C: Ragged Old Angels (Demo 2012) - Single

If this a is demo, I hope they won't fuck things up when producing the real stuff, because this is absolutely ace. Ragged Old Angels is the first fruit from this so far anonymous group / artist from London, and shows huge potential for more of the same to follow. More info, more music, more anything and everything, please.

... he said it's hard when you hit the ground, like that.

Tall Ships - T=0

A: Tall Ships
S: T=0
C: Everything Touching

If you like long intros, you will love this. Only takes about two minutes for the song to start. But when it does, it's well wort the wait. And all of a sudden, the random mix of ballet dancers, some artificial clouds and seemingly unmatching rock riffs make sense. In short, this is quite gorgeous, however that song name is pronounced.

... together as one, our worries are out of time.

Alanis Morissette - So Pure

So Pure from Tod@lanis Foro on Vimeo.


A: Alanis Morissette
S: So Pure
C: Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie

Maybe I should transform Mondays into retro heroic, nostalgic, goldies slash oldies days, musicwise I mean. All that extravaganza, since the new week has plenty new deals to offer. Anyway, So Pure is ace, and proves that Alanis is all ok, as long as she doesn't sing about being a flower of some sort.

... unapologetically alive knot in my stomach and lump in my throat.

Blaudzun - Eléphants

A: Blaudzun
S: Éléphants
C: Heavy Flowers

Is it acceptable if I prefer the video to the song? Is it acceptable if I prefer the old iTunes layout to the new one because the new one looks like Spotify but worse? Is it acceptable if I feel a certain indie boredom settling in? Is it acceptable if I decided to ignore Christmas this year completely? We'll see.

... smart tunes go lalala, lalala.

Solange - Lovers In The Parking Lot

A: Solange
S: Lovers In The Parking Lot
C: True (out 07.01.13)

Surprise or not, the duo of Solange (Knowles) and Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange) are completely dominating the 2012 pop-for-smart-people game. And they will most probably continue to do this in 2013. Which is perfectly fine with me. I love the mix of soft superficiality and clever depth Solange's songs combine so easily.

... and baby I tell you but you forget to ever do cause.