KaeoFLUX - Form

Time for some free stuff again. This time from KaeoFLUX and the great people at Marathon of Dope. Go here to download his debut album for free.

#8 Jónsi - Go

Never really been a big fan of Sigur Rós. I remember back in 2002 when their album ( ) came. I thought that the album was quite boring and I began ignoring them. In January this year the band announced that they would take a break and focus on solo careers and spending time with their families. I'm glad they did. Because that meant that their singer Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson released his album Go this year. The album is a great work of art seducing me with it's layered sounds and beautiful melodies. Every time I want to listen to something soothing and hopeful, I put on Go. I get the feeling now that I need to give the albums by Sigur Rós that I skipped a new chance. Maybe I've missed something.

astronautalis - The Wondersmith & His Sons

Good stuff from astronautalis.

Douglas Coupland - Player One

Finally in my hands!

babel fishh & edison - Silver City (The Morning Hunt)

The unofficial video to babel fishh & edisons Silver City (The Morning Hunt). Taken from the 667: Guild We Hold Up Close EP released today on decorative stamp.

#9 Factor - Lawson Graham

Factor have been a favourite producer of mine for a couple of years now. He's always delivering great productions and solid albums. But this year he raised the bar a bit when releasing Lawson Graham. Here he really produces both great indie pop and laidback hip hop. And the guest list on it is both awesome on paper and on record. Gregory Pepper, sole, Myka 9, cars & trains, Ceschi and Josh Martinez are just a few of them, all doing a great job.  But even if the album is filled with guests, it never feels like a mix tape. Factor manages to string it all together to a classic and great album. Fake Four Inc. is delivering as usual.

I asked Factor about his personal musical highlight of 2010, and here's what he said:

"I would say that the show of the year for me was Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros @ The Fillmore in San Francisco."

 

Sauna

Sauna

Review: A Finnish horror movie taking place in the 16th century involving a haunted sauna. Sounds interesting? Perhaps not. But the movie was quite good actually. It had great cinematography, good acting and an interesting setting. Not your typical slasher movie, but all the better for it. A recommendation.

Soundtrack of Week 49

#10 RickoLus - Youngster

RickoLus is one of those guys who just popped out of nothing for me. I think I heard him for the first time on the Circle into Square Compilation vol. 1 and I got a bit hooked at once. There was something about his sound that really appealed to me. I then decided to check out his album Youngster, and boy was I in for a treat! It's was a perfect mix of lovely lo-fi and sweet melodies. Since I first heard it, the album have never left my iPod and I'm sure it will stay there for a while longer.

What was his highlights of the year then?

"First was seeing Jónsi ( from Sigur Rós and Rice Boy Sleeps) at The Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado. It was truly amazing, like nothing I've ever seen before. Jónsi is an icelandic angel wizard.

The second event is kinda hard to pin down to a specific moment. It is something a bit more... on a personal tip. Some time over the course of this year I became reacquainted with cassette tapes and making mix tapes. It's had a big impact on me, introducing this forsaken format into my music listening habits.  There is nothing like a cassette."

Label of the Year and Compilation of the Year

Just like last year, the award for best label goes to the same label that released the compilation of the year. It was a close call this year between last years winner Fake Four Inc. and a label I discovered this year, namely Milled Pavement. Fake Four Inc. have continued to drop bombs all through 2010 and could easily have taken the trophy this year too. But they didn't. Milled Pavement stands as the winner and here's some reasons why. First off, they have released some awesome albums throughout the year. Little Eskimo Jesus, zoën and MC Homeless amongst others have all released great albums. But I think that the main reason that I give the award to Milled Pavement is their heart. They release exactly what they want without giving too much thought to if it will work commercially or not. And I totally dig that! Who else would release a compilation album spanning over 4 CD's and that consists of 66 tracks from 96 artists? Talk about a beautiful way of giving the greedy, celebrity obsessed music industry the middle finger. And to also have the heart to release music from a lot of different countries in a lot of different languages. I thank them for serving up a whole new smorgasbord of artists to bless my everyday existence. And for releasing Goosebumps 4.0 that will continue to be a compilation which I will find new favourites on for quite a long time ahead.

I asked label owner and artist Moshe and his labelmate BRZOWSKI about their favourite label and highlight of the year.

"BRZOWSKI:

Insofar as label of the year, and I hate to be redundant,but I have to say Fake Four Inc. They are impossible to miss, as there are so few progressive hiphop (or whatever you want to box-it-as) labels doing it. They didn't release a ton of stuff, but the quality of records and the push behind each was quite apparent. Common Grackle, Ceschi, and Factor albums all completely floored me this year, coupled with great releases from cars & trains, Dark Time Sunshine, Mike King and Moka Only (oh sorry- "Ron Contour"). Ceschi has also been a pleasure to rock shows+hang out with when we are in the same zip-code. Not to mention he wants to build with people that are building. Refreshing. We come from similar heavy-music backgrounds, so I think that laid its own unspoken groundwork. My homies k-the-i???, Noah 23, Awol One+Factor and sole & the skyrider band are all up to bat in 2011, so watch for those releases to clean your helmet.

MOSHE + BRZOWSKI:

Musical highlight of the year would be difficult to pinpoint, but we will go with the 2am slot at the Electric Avenue Festival this past October in Central Maine. Over 1000 fairly-wasted young folks in a muddy field with glowsticks and bonfires, despite a raging rain storm. We hit the stage with a fairly improvised "dubstep-and-rapping/singing/growling" set, decked-out full rain-gear, and people went totally apeshit for the next 70 minutes. Horns up. \m/"

Catfish

Catfish

Review: I don't really know what to make of this documentary/mockumentary. I just know that I liked it. I don't wanna give away too much about what happens in the movie, but I will say that it's about an online romance taking unexpected turns. I liked it. It was kinda sweet and funny.

Kapten Röd - 1.000.000 Nollor

Finally a video from my man Kapten Röd. Watching this video makes me miss Gothenburg though.

One Day Left

Tomorrow it's time again. Time for counting down my 10 favourite albums of the year. I follow the same concept as last year. I post one album each day which means that on December 21th I will present this years number one. I have also asked each artist to share their favourite moments of the year, and most have blessed me with their answers. For those of you that are good at maths, you might have realised that if I post one album each day starting tomorrow, it can't be 10 albums. And that's true. The first post tomorrow will be about my number one label this year and my favourite compilation album. So be prepared to be dazzled by my exquisite taste.

Something Good - Just Add Water (and Stir) Remix EP

Free download from the Halifax/Montreal based crew Something Good. Just click here to download the EP Just Add Water (and Stir) Remix EP.

Engelen

Engelen

Review: Engelen is a very strong Norwegian-Swedish movie about heroin addiction, disfunctional and violent families and the difficulties to survive in everyday society. The cast is brilliant, especially Maria Bonnevie in the role of Lea. If you like dark, realistic movies about life and the dark side of it, then I really think you should sit down and watch Engelen. Even though it's a very depressive and dark movie most of the time, it's also very beautiful in it's simplicity.

Despicable Me

Despicable Me

Review: You know those days when you feel you have no energy, and life just seems to keep passing you by? Well, when I have those days I sometimes feel the need to see something childish and, to be honest, quite braindead. So today the choice fell on Despicable Me. Most people that know my taste in movies know I don't have much love for American computer-animated things from the likes of Disney and Pixar. This one is from Universal Pictures however, even though there's no real difference. What you get is still talented voice actors and a really sugarsweet and crappy storyline. I was bored 5 minutes into this flick and stayed like that for the remaining 85 minutes.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Review: What is there to be said about this documentary that has not already been said? Not much. All I can say is that Anvil personifies what music is all about and what it should always remain. The love for it all. Amazing documentary! 

Tideland

Tideland

Review: There are few people making weirder movies than Terry Gilliam. And that is just the reason why I love him. You almost always knows that when you sit down to watch one of his movies, you get something a bit out of the ordinary. And that is the case with Tideland. And it's the same when it comes to try do explain what his movies are about. You're never really able to capture them with words. So I will not even try to explain Tideland for you. All I will say is that if you want to watch a weird, twisted and amazing movie, watch Tideland.

Prosperous - Yes Sir Me Sir

The latest video from my friend Prosperous. It's taken from his new cd Fiction Overdrive that will be available around New Year. He truly is the man when it comes to smooth and laidback videos.

The History Boys

The History Boys

Review: The History Boys is based on a play by British playwright Alan Bennett. It tells the story of 8 students working towards getting into Oxford or Cambridge. At their disposal they have to very different teachers. Hector who's been at the school for ages and who really loves to teach for the sake of knowledge, and the new teacher Irwin who sees learning as a game to get ahead, not to actually learn. The movie is full of literary references as well as historical facts which in my eyes is a treat. The movie also in many ways deals with homosexuality in a somewhat cliché but still interesting way. I liked the movie. Entertaining, warm and funny.