What??! MORE Scandinavian goodness??

Yep, that's right. This time it's from Denmark, though. Ladies and gents, meet Alphabeat! This is the video for their new song, "Fascination." It's so '80s, so cheesy, and so FUN! Check it out.

Great News For Europe, Bad News For Me!

Imagine my ecstatic joy when I checked out Pitchfork today and was greeted with the news that one of my FAVORITE artists in the world, Bat for Lashes, will be opening for my ALL-TIME favorite band, Radiohead. I almost screamed my head off! But then, imagine my complete disappointment when I realized it was only for the European shows on their tour. Damn it. Europe gets everything good, and the Radiohead show I'll be attending in Atlanta gets the horrendous Liars as an opening act. Suck.

And for those of you who are not yet acquainted with the luscious, lovely wonder that is Natasha Khan and Bat for Lashes, experience the awe now -

Bat for Lashes, "What's a Girl To Do?"

More Scandinavian goodness!

Man, it may be cold in Scandinavia, but the music scene is white-hot! Yeah, that was lame, but whatever. I present to you Norway's own Ida Maria, and her new video, "Stella." I only found out about this girl this morning, so I don't know much about her except she's Norwegian and she rocks! Check it out -



Ida Maria's Myspace

Three Doses of Pure Awesome.

It's been a long, exhausting weekend over here in Ayalaland (wow, try saying that 10 times fast). Not only have I been working hard and stressing over school, but I've also come down with a nasty cold and sore throat that is starting to kick my ass. The weird thing is, despite all that, I'm still in a surprisingly cheery mood, and I think it probably has something to do with all the amazing music that's been rocking my world lately. Three artists in particular have kept me smiling and dancing all weekend, and I wanted to share them with you!

First up is Adele. I've posted about her before, but I finally ordered her album, 19, and it arrived this week. At first listen, most of it reminds me more of Corinne Bailey Rae and less Amy Winehouse than some critics have led me to believe - a lot of acoustic guitars and jazzy vocals. There is one song in particular, though, that is now my JAM. It's called "Cold Shoulder," and it proves that not only is Adele one to watch, but also that Mark Ronson DESERVED that Producer of the Year Grammy he took home last month.



MP3:
Adele - Cold Shoulder

Next up is Dragonette, an amazing new dance-pop band based in both Toronto and London. Led by husband-and-wife team of singer Martina Sorbara and guitarist Dan Kurtz, this band's debut album, Galore, is now one of my coolest guilty pleasures. Imagine Gwen Stefani fronting The Killers and singing about sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and you're almost there. Mark my words, Martina is a true pop diva-in-training. Some of you may know her from her days as a Canadian folk-pop singer a la Sarah McLachlan, singing music she now hilariously describes as "tamponics." But it seems she has reinvented herself as a badass electro-pop goddess. Keep your eyes and ears out for this girl!



MP3s:
Dragonette - I Get Around
Dragonette - Jesus Doesn't Love Me
Dragonette - Black Limousine

Finally, there's The Duke Spirit. I've loved this band for a long while now, but their debut album, Cuts Across the Land, was a bit uneven. Fortunately, their new album, Neptune, is sure to be a bonafide indie-rock classic. It's also the only album released so far this year which is guaranteed a prime slot on my Best of 2008 list come December. SERIOUSLY...there's no doubt in my mind about that! Fans of Sonic Youth, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Mazzy Star, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will LOVE this one. Instead of an mp3, I'm going to share the first video from the album with you. So here's "The Step and The Walk," because lead singer Liela Moss's awesomeness needs to be seen to be believed.

DIVA!

In my opinion, there are only two female performers in the music world today who actually live up to the title of DIVA. And now that Alison Goldfrapp is off living in Kate Bush-land, there may now actually only be one left. And that one is Roisin Murphy. Glamorous, eccentric, talented, mysterious, and in the words of my favorite reality TV show star, totally FIERCE.

Check out Roisin's new video for "You Know Me Better" - how can you not adore this woman?



And to see the video I stole all of my dance moves from, here's Roisin's "Let Me Know" -

You can't take a picture of this. It's already gone.

I'm going to see Sia in concert tonight at the Variety Playhouse here in Atlanta, and I am truly excited! She has been one of my favorite singers for about three years now, yet I've never seen her live. Tonight is sure to be an interesting night.

But it all reminds me of the first time I really fell in love with Sia and her amazing voice. It was on the soundtrack to the final season of one of my favorite television shows EVER, Six Feet Under. "Breathe Me" was without a doubt the highlight of the album, but because I don't have HBO and rely on DVDs for my Six Feet Under fix, I didn't actually see the final episode of the show which heavily featured the song until March 2006. To this day, it remains my favorite final episode of any TV show I have ever loved. Every time I watch it, it makes me weep uncontrollably, even if I don't watch the entire episode. And I'm sure most of that is because of Sia's song - I can't imagine any other voice singing this amazing story to a close.

For those of you who haven't seen it, or haven't seen Six Feet Under at all, you may not want to watch this video because it is CHOCKFUL of spoilers. But for those of you who know this scene and know it well, I hope it brings back beautiful memories. And to quote Ruth Fisher, "I pray you'll be filled with hope as long as you possibly can."



Hopefully I'll post a setlist and review of the concert tomorrow if I'm not feeling too lazy.

You won't find a girl in this damn world that will compare with me...

I've been listening to a lot of Nick Cave and PJ Harvey lately (is that a sign of depression? Perhaps I should up the meds!), and it reminded me of this amazing video of their collaboration from Cave's Murder Ballads album, "Henry Lee." The most interesting part is that they embarked on a supposedly very tumultuous love affair after filming this video. It's obvious why...I feel very voyeuristic and a little dirty watching this!



Anyone else wishing they had stayed together?? How awesome would that have been?

A taste of something truly delicious

APRIL 28.



Portishead - Machine Gun

It's alright to be mean...

This album is so gonna ROCK. The Kills, Midnight Boom, in stores March 18. This video and song says it all. How badly do I want to BE Alison Mosshart?



MP3:
The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful

More Retro Song Stylings

I forgot about another British singer making headlines these days who definitely fits in with retro chanteuses Adele and Duffy - Liverpool's own Candie Payne (yes, it's her real name - how awesome is that?) Candie is the sister of The Zutons' Sean Payne, and her debut album, I Wish I Could Have Loved You More, is a sexy mix of '50s ballads, dark torch songs, and potential Bond themes like the title track below. Check her out!

Candie Payne - I Wish I Could Have Loved You More
Candie Payne - By Tomorrow
Candie Payne - All I Need to Hear

Watch out, Winehouse!

Retro is so NOW. With the success of any artist, there's bound to be a slew of soundalike artists following in their wake. It's rare, though, that the soundalikes are actually as good as if not BETTER than their predecessor. While Amy Winehouse is busy saying "yes, yes, yes" to rehab and missing her skeezy jailbird husband, there are two lovely young British lasses who are quickly and effortlessly stealing her retro-soul thunder.

First up is is 19-year-old Adele, whose debut album, 19, is already a huge hit in the UK and won her the Critics Choice Award at last week's prestigious Brit Awards in London. Her voice is pure, sparkling, and absolutely impeccable, and she's got one hell of a bright future in front of her.

Check out the video for the first single, Chasing Pavements -



MP3:
Adele - Chasing Pavements

Next up is Welsh-born Duffy. If her name recalls that of British blue-eyed soul Dusty Springfield, it's definitely apropos. This girl's brassy, bluesy voice, with its perfect cracks in all the right places, would give Dusty a run for her money. You get the feeling Duffy would feel right at home in Memphis. Her debut album, Rockferry, produced by Britpop legend Bernard Butler, was just released in the UK and should hit US shores soon.



But here's some mp3s to tide you over until then:
Duffy - Mercy
Duffy - Delayed Devotion
Duffy - Rockferry
Duffy - Warwick Avenue
Duffy - Distant Dreamer

My New Love: Lykke Li

There must be something in the water in Sweden - there is nothing but great music coming from that country! Proof that there's more to Sweden than Ikea, meatballs, and ABBA. I mean, let's take a running tally - the Shout Out Louds, Robyn, The Concretes, Peter Bjorn & John, El Perro Del Mar, The Hives. It's quite an impressive musical output from one country!

And now it's time to add Lykke Li to the list. I'm so obsessed with this girl and her music now, you have no idea! Imagine a more mellow Robyn or a more modern El Perro Del Mar. Plus, the lovely 22-year-old Lykke seems to me to be a real quirky, interesting girl. I love that on her Myspace page she lists one of her influences as "Jane Birkin without a top." It doesn't get any better than that! I also love her startling resemblance to our patron saint, Edie Sedgwick.

It's probably going to be a short while before Lykke's debut album, Youth Novels, reaches American ears legitimately, but I'm sure you web-savvy peeps can already track it down. (I already have!) But I want to give you all a nice little taste, so here's Lykke's first video and single, "Little Bit" (note the lyric "For you I'll keep my legs apart" - that's love, no? hehe...)



And as a bonus, and a true testament to the undeniable awesomeness of the Swedish music scene, here's Lykke doing a live acoustic version of her song "I'm Good, I'm Gone", with Robyn and members of The Concretes and Shout Out Louds joining in on the fun.



Lykke will be playing Austin's SXSW festival next week and she's bound to be one of the standouts of the week! Then, in May, she embarks on the ultimate Swedish-pop wet-dream tour (my name for it, not theirs) with fellow Swedish songstresses El Perro Del Mar and Anna Ternheim. Too bad she's not coming to Atlanta!

Here's some mp3s to give your music collection a little Swedish sexiness!

Lykke Li - Little Bit
Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone
Lykke Li - Breaking It Up

Lykke Li's website
Lykke Li's Myspace

Welcome!

Welcome, readers, to my blog! In this space, I intend to share with those of you who will listen my opinions on music, pop culture, music, life, music....well, mostly music. I hope you will all discover some amazing new artists and share your own recommendations with me.

In honor of the first post on this blog, here are two videos dedicated to this blog's namesake, and its patron saint (respectively).

Robyn - "Crash and Burn Girl"



And an ode to Edie Sedgwick, my muse, featuring music by Goldfrapp, another one of my inspirations...