It is was Friday again, and you know what that means – the Friday 5! Ceci is however feeling a bit down, so this week’s choices of tracks are more mellow than usual. Plus the Rock Sellout server seems to have something against her, so she had to upload everything to Sendspace this time. But fear not! This will not affect the quality!

Feeling a bit detached? Cynical? Perhaps even down right evil? Don’t worry, let Audrey crumble your heart into little pieces and make you human again.

MP3: Audrey – Box, and Fights

Nowadays Lasse Lindh writes his lyrics in Swedish, but thankfully he did record some lovely songs in English so that we all can enjoy (and understand) his music. The sound is pretty, gentle and kind of sad.

MP3: Lasse Lindh - Bruised

This song by Chasing Dorotea makes you feel like you’re calmly floating down a river. Enough said.

MP3: Chasing Dorotea – The Anchor Song

I have no idea what the title of this track means, but who cares when a song is as beautiful and heart wrenching as this. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions while listening to Musika 77.

MP3: Musika 77 – Llanvair Llew

A very sweet “pick-me-up” song by Steso Songs, a 23-year old Swedish girl hailing from Malmö. She urges the girls who write her letters to keep their heads over the surface, and lends them a helping hand in time of need.

MP3: Steso Songs – This Is For You Girls

- Cecilia

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It’s Friday, which means we don’t want no superficial, artificial, so-so kind of fun but the real stuff. So thank the gods that Ceci is here yet again to serve you with some insanely good music to kick the weekend into gear.

If you’re wondering what that “superficial, artifical so-so kind of fun” babble above is about, don’t worry – I haven’t lost it. It’s actually the lyrics to Viva Revolución’s song “Hearts For Sale”. The band describes their sound as “avant garde electro punk music”, which is quite fitting I must say. It’s fun, a bit crazy and very catchy. Pretty much the ultimate party song.

MP3: Viva Revolución – Hearts For Sale

Influenced by The Stone Roses and The Cure? You don’t say!? Hey, at least The Mary Onettes manage to pull it off. An album is to be released in a matter of days (April 25th, I believe) and these guys deserve all the success they can get. It’s not until now with their third (!) label signing that things are starting to go in the right direction, which is into your ears. Trust me, they’re great.

MP3: The Mary Onettes - Void

Girl With A Monkey’s music also fits nicely into that description that Viva Revolución used – it’s a mesh of electronica, rock and pop which I don’t see how anyone can resist. Their own personal description is however “a fun electric heart attack”, but don’t worry about getting shocked. Besides this great song, Girl With A Monkey also has something else that makes them stand out – the distinctive vocals of Monika Kovac. And it’s all because her parents didn’t think girls should play bass, which was she really wanted to do as a kid. So she poured her revolutionary spirit into her voice instead. Thank goodness for that.

MP3: Girl With A Monkey – Crimes Of Passion

Think a softer version of Daft Punk or Mirwais and you have Peleton. This a dreamlike kind of dance track which samples the lyrics (though not the vocals) of Elvis’ “Always On My Mind” in an almost robotic yet strangely touching kind of way. Now how can you not love that?

MP3: Peleton – My Loneliness Is Killing Me

Twee-rockers They Go Boom disbanded in 1999, after ten years together. Despite that fact, they have a MySpace. But then again, who doesn’t these days? This song gets the honour of rounding out this week’s FF due to its late 80’s/early 90’s twee pop sound that I miss so much.

MP3: They Go Boom – Someday Soon

- Cecilia

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If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
1. Shadow of A Doubt by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. When My Baby’s Beside Me by Big Star
3. Dance Little Sister by The Rolling Stones

Name any musical influence(s)?
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Beatles, the Kinks, Elvis Costello, Cheap Trick, Nick Lowe, The Figgs, The Replacements, Springsteen, Flying Burrito Brothers …stuff like that. Oh Yeah, and Wisconsin.

What new music are you currently listening to?
That new Soul Asylum album is pretty amazing. The Marked Men, The Reigning Sound, The New Figgs Album: “Follow Jean through the Sea.”

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
Current: Elvis Costello, or Paul McCartney.
Defunct: The Ramones when Ritchie was playing Drums for ‘em.

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
I’ve always been really intimidated by collaborations. Sometimes I write songs with another artist in mind to record it… but other than that, I don’t know really.

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
I’m not wearing pants right now.

Myspace

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This week we’ll discover the pleasures of Soho; visit the zoo that’s open 24/7; encounter ninjas who fight in the name of love (and Johnny C); find out what there is to hate about Scotland; and try to answer the question of gender. Or something like that.

If you need some glam and colour in your life, then Sohodolls are the band for you. Their combination of keyboards, guitars, soft vocals and catchy disco-melodies should be able to spice up just about anyone’s Friday night. Granted that this isn’t their most upbeat song, but it’s still danceable. So put on some hot pink lipstick, high heels and pretend that you’re in Soho!

MP3: Sohodolls - Pleasures of Soho

Sweden’s The Zoo set out to create happy, genuine power-pop songs, which “Seven Days A Week” is a perfect example of. It pretty much has everything required for a radio hit – it’s fun, upbeat and catchy, yet not in that annoying “bubblegum-stuck-to-your-brain” kind of a way. Besides, who doesn’t like going to the zoo!? Well, except for those unfortunate souls who always fall into the bear pit…

MP3: The Zoo - Seven Days a Week

According to one of the members, Loveninjas is actually more of a concept than a band. I’m not sure what that means, but I do know that the moment I heard this song it instantly nestled its way into my heart. Also hailing from Sweden, Loveninjas are just about as catchy as The Zoo, but darker and probably a lot weirder, considering their main ingredients for song writing is murder and sex. Interesting. Not to mention good!

MP3: Loveninjas - I Wanna Be Like Johnny C

Speaking through the whole song in a thick Scottish accent over a rather glorious indie-pop sound, I don’t see how anyone can’t at least become curious about Ballboy. And that’s all I’m going to say. Find out the rest for yourselves by downloading!

MP3: Ballboy - I Hate Scotland

Douglas Heart make dreamy noise pop, probably inspired by acts such as My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star. Shoegaze-esq guitar loops mixed with a lazy organ and sweet female vocals make this band pretty much a wet dream for those yearning for modern dream pop.

MP3: Douglas Heart - A Question of Gender

- Cecilia

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Pela – Anytown Graffiti. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time - as I’m sure many have. Due to come out April 24th.

What can I say about a band that I’ve had nothing but love for and still have insane amounts of love for? How can I not be biased about this album? I get butterflies when I listen to them.

I discovered Pela on Youtube – their song was a video & they were doing Cavalry. This song is the most powerful song on the album in my opinion, only because I have a fixated but weird emotional connection to it & I can’t explain why. It’s what got me hooked on Pela. The thing that stands out the most is the hard hard guitar. It tells you a story.

Song Writes Itself is probably #2 for me on this album. With lyrics like “You have a fragile face in a public place.”

Your Desert’s Not A Desert At All – I sense violin & Billy’s voice is a little softer on this song. I admire a band that can keep their consistency but also sound different in a ‘we don’t change for anyone’ sort of way. “You’re with some divided man just be careful you don’t fall apart.”

I’d love to pick apart each song but I think the whole damn album is awesome.

Pela has a different vibe – they don’t play/sound/look like anyone else. They’re true to themselves and the style of rock they play & portray is only admirable. Billy’s voice is angelically aggressive – the only way to explain it. The guitars & drums synchronize perfectly together on each song.

Listen to this album – it will alter your mood for good.

Support Pela - buy their new album. Close your blinds, close your eyes, sit back & just listen.

- Gina Argentina

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Chapel Hill based Sunday Smoke Kit is set to release a compilation of it’s early home recordings - a sort of best of the early years–It’s called Wasting Time, it’ll be the first digital only LP released via Planting Seeds Records and is due out sometime during the Summer 2007. The band at times have been descirbed as: “gorgeously hazy lazy…instantly recalls to mind Lloyd Cole and the Commotions and the Jesus and Mary Chain in reflective moods” Singer/Songwriter Scott Meiggs is presently beginning work on new songs for an upcoming release with some great guest appearances.

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
Scott Walker- “The Old Man’s Back Again”, Johnny Cash - “Sunday Morning Coming Down”, and Drive by Truckers- “Women Without Whiskey”

Name any musical influence(s)?
Byrds, Willie Nelson, Bowie, Joni Mitchell… Although I’ve never managed to sound like anyone.

What new music are you currently listening to?
High Llamas, Richmond Fontaine, Skygreen Leopards

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
Drive by Truckers

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
Notorious Byrd Brothers era Byrds - I want to be in the stall where Crosby would have been.

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
The band Journey has long been a favorite guilty pleasure of mine. Also, I’m a huge Neil Diamond fan. I’m not joking either.

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Yep, that’s right: another new category to the site where some weird Swedish gal sets out to recommend five mp3 songs every Friday (or so). That way, our readers will have an eclectic selection of tracks to start off the weekend with!

To formally introduce this kick-ass category, we need some rock. The kind that makes you thrash about, whether you’re preparing for a night on the town with your friends or just having a hermit party at home. The Models make a good choice for this. Their music is noisy, fun and catchy in that good old punk-refrain kind of a way. Hailing from Sweden, these three girls admittedly have no musical influences in common, yet they seem to agree that their music echoes such acts like The Donnas, Blondie and The Go-Go’s. And I think I have to agree. Do you?

MP3: The Models – Go! Go! Go!

Ok, hadn’t I already known that Ruby Isle is new band on the rise, I could have very well have guessed that this was recorded in 1985. Because it’s not just the synthesizers and programmed drum-machine that gives the song it’s 80’s new wave/post-punk feeling, but the melody. There are a lot of current artists that draw inspiration (or simply rip-off) the 80’s sound, but few can make it their own. And that’s exactly what Ruby Isle do with this track. Guess my sister was wrong when she said that “they don’t make music like in the 80’s that anymore,” because evidently they do! Well, in Minneapolis anyway.

MP3: Ruby Isle – Atom Bomb

Ever heard that old cliché that it’s “the small things in life that matter?” Yeah, I thought so. No matter how worn out that saying is though, we music lovers should know that this is often true: discovering a new artist or song can speak volumes if you’re having a crap day. So, how about a song about just that – the small, yet sweet things in life like riding your bike in the morning? The wonderful Bobby Baby (real name Ella Blixt) tells us about her lucky moments, which in itself is just that - a lucky moment.

MP3: Bobby Baby – Lucky Moments

Listing The Cure, The Chameleons and My Bloody Valentine amongst their influences, I had a feeling The Exploding Boy were worth checking out. And don’t you love it when you’re right?! The Exploding Boy’s sound definitely draws on their inspirations, but without falling into that complete rip-off trap I mentioned earlier. Sure it’s a bit broody and dark, but also quite melodic. And no, it won’t turn you into an emo-kid. Sorry, was that mean?

MP3: The Exploding Boy – Cold Things Start To Burn

Phew, I’m tired now but we should still end this week’s post on high note (not in an Mariah Carey kind of a way though). So let’s have some more rock! Dequelo’s music reminds me a bit of The Models, but their influences seem to go back a decade or two earlier than those of The Models. They’re perhaps a bit more subdue in comparison, but pretty much have the same energy. And what do you know – Dequelo is from Sweden too! Yeah, I know, we totally rule. *cough*

MP3: Dequelo – Hanging Loose

That’s it for this time. Happy Easter everybody!

- Cecilia

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Palm Pictures recently bought the rights to You’re Gonna Miss Me. The Independent Spirit Award-nominated rockumentary tells the fascinating story of The 13th Floor Elevators’ “Roky” Erickson and his struggles with drug addiction and mental illness.

CMJ.com reports: The film will be released July 10 on DVD and will have its first screening next Tuesday in New York City, before showing in other select cities.

Screenings For You’re Gonna Miss Me:
04/10 - New York NY - Cinema Village
06/08 - New York, NY - Cinema Village (Opening Day)

Tour Dates For You’re Gonna Miss Me
04/13 - Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw
04/15 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
04/28 - Indio, CA - Coachella
05/02 - New Orleans, LA - Ponderosa Stomp
06/18 - Sweden - Hultsfred Festival
06/06 - Denmark - Roskile Festival
06/08 - Finland - Ruisrock Festival
08/08 - Norway - Oya Festival

If you’re interested in reading more about You’re Gonna Miss Me, there’s a ton of great press articles here.

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If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
Wouldn`t it be nice (Beach Boys), KKK took my baby away (Ramones), I`m gonna DJ (R.E.M)

Name any musical influence(s)?
Beach Boys, Ramones, Patti Smith, David Bowie.

What new music are you currently listening to?
Rufus Wainwright (not so new.)

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
R.E.M

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
Anthony & the Johnsons

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
Claes, our bassplayer is the most handsome guy you`ve ever seen!

Band
MySpace

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A brief bio of your label: Who started it? Me, Daniel Johansson When? First band signed and/or first release?
Me, Daniel Johansson. 2000. Per Bergkvist & the Sourgrapes

Where does your label call home? Describe your headquarters.
2 places - Our studio where we record most of our releases, and my apartment where all boring paperwork is done (both in Sweden).

Your name? What are your primary duties for the label?
Daniel Johansson. Producing/recording.

Who are a few of the bands on your roster? Most recent signee.
Friska Viljor, Lena Malmborg, De La Mancha, Moll Flanders (Most recent signing)

What is the best method for an unsigned band to capture your attention?
Put on a great liveshow

Any upcoming release(s) you’d like to plug?
Moll Flanders - Out Of Fashion, De La Mancha - TBA

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