Staffan Malmgrens blogg

Förra månadens guldkorn i emusicnedladdningen var helt klart Coliseum, vars emokäng med metalkänsla påminner om ett något mer varierat och tyngre From Ashes Rise. Mumsigt.

Den här månaden blev det

• Arch Enemy, “Rise of the Tyrant” (provlyssna)
• Burst, “Origo” (provlyssna)
• Circle takes the Square, “As the Roots Undo” (provlyssna)
• Dashboard Confessional, “The Shade of Poison Trees” (provlyssna)
• Okkervil River, “The Stage Names” (provlyssna)
• Samiam, “Billy” (provlyssna)
• The Donnas, “Turn 21″ (provlyssna)
• Thrice, “The Alchemy Index: Vols 1 & 2 Fire and Water” (provlyssna)

Så, lite hårt, lite mjukt, lite post-hardcore, och lite klassiker. Vet inte riktigt med vilken jag ska börja, men kanske förmodligen Dashboard. Även om jag inte fastnade för Dusk and Summer var A mark, a mission, a brand, a scar en sån modern klassiker att jag är beredd att ge Chris ett gäng chanser till. Eller kanske Thrice, eftersom alla musikstilar som börjar på “post-” funkar så bra att somna till.

With the pseduo-journalistic M.O. of running a blog comes a free license to write “best of the year”-lists. I might be a few days late, but what the hell. Also, it seems from looking at the server logs that band names are one of the most common ways people end up here from search engines.

The main focus of the list seem to be albums that helped me get through the autumn. Therefore, a little more Emo than what I would usually pick. If I’m really bored some other night, I might link up all bands, albums and song titles so you can go clicky like mad.

1. Lost Patrol - Songs about running away
   I read an article about Dennis Lyxéns new solo album and it’s focus on a relationship breakup, which sounded strange (as I’ve always associated Dennis with strongly political lyrics in all his bands) but interesting. I downloadeded “Going going gone” from burningheart.com, the next thing I knew I had listened to it on repeat for an entire afternoon. I bought the album the same day. The Lost Patrol also performed what might be last year’s best concert at Debaser in the late summer (but also see Entombed).
2. Dashboard Confessional - A mark, a mission, a brand, a scar
   In particular “Hands Down” which might just be the best song about kissing a girl for the first time ever, even surpassing Jawbreaker’s “East Bay Invitational”. The other songs pale a bit in comparison, but are still very good.
3. Moneybrother - Blood Panic
   Another album with a epic song that stand out amongs a bunch of what would otherwise have been considered brilliant songs — “It’s been hurting all the way with you Joanna”. My largest regret this year concert-wise is that I missed all chances to see them live (which in a way is a wierd accomplishment as they’ve seem to played just about everywhere)
4. Nasum - Helvete
   I saw these guys at The Shrine early this year, when they gave a incredbly intense gig with a very well-defined sound. The album was likewise intense, to the point that I couldn’t take it all in at once. I had to listen to a few songs on repeat at a time, until I was familiar with the entire album.
5. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the comatorium
   This years big hype in hard rock circles, and not unjustified. This album also took some time to digest, but Televators might be one of the finest, most elaborately disguised ballads this year. The way it was played at the Stockholm gig this autumn (at first only with electic piano and vocals) is even better than the album version.
6. Entombed - Inferno
   I didn’t think much of this when I first got it — another solid death’n roll album, but nothing spectacular — but after the Debaser gig this september, which may have been the best gig this year, in fierce competition with The Lost Patrol, I realized what gems were actually hidden on this album
7. MBMA - Nu ännu drygare
   This is just an EP, but amazingly varied. The title track is a football-crowd-singalong-hiphop-anthem of previously unheard proportions (as well as a nice 12-bar-blues-ish chord progression), “Förr eller senare” is a wonderful narratory song with first-class guest, and “Småsaker” is a surprisingly sensitive song.
8. Jose González - Veener
   I got in way too late on this hype, but this is an amazing demonstration of how strongly emotions can be conveyed with an acoustic guitar and a voice.
9. Sick of it all - Life on the ropes
   The first SOIA album produced by themselves, and it feels amazingly vital, fast, agressive and with just the right amount of melody. And the anthemic (is that a word?) “For Now” is wonderful.
10. Turbonegro - Scandinavian Leather
    I was a little disappointed in this, but then I had very high expectations. It does not have the energy of “Ass Cobra” and “Apocalypse Dudes”, but “Fuck the World” and “Ride with us” are still very good songs.
11. Calm - Are we supposed to be…
    I went to Club Nirvana with some friends, not expecting anything in particular, as this band started moshing all over the stage as well as the audience floor, scaring all of the audience up against the wall. After the first two songs I hated it, after the following two I loved it.
12. MC Solaar - Mach 6
    As a whole, this album is not that excellent, but “Guerilla” and in particular “La Vie Est Belle” are incredibly good. The latter also have the perfect tempo and dynamic structure for running, it’s going to help me during this year’s marathon.
13. Danko Jones - We Sweat Blood
    If this had been a live album, it would likely place higher. The album is good, but pales in comparison to the live show I saw this autumn.
14. Poison The Well - You Come Before You
    I liked “Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder”, and had high hopes for this Swede-produced major label debut. However, most of the songs did not stick, with the exception for “Ghostchant”
15. Fireside - Get Shot
    Another album that I had high expectations for, and the single “Throw it away” as well as the album starter “All you had” promised much, but I haven’t found myself coming back to this album often.
16. Funeral for a Friend - Casually Dressed & Deep in conversation
    I saw the video for “Juneau” by accident, found it an interesting screamo song, and downloaded some songs. The emo parts are very good, but I don’t care much for the heavy metal-ish guitar licks. Still, a good album, now if they could just play a little less on the next one…
17. Hatebreed - The Rise Of Brutality
    As this is essentially “Persevearence” part 2, and that album was one of the best of last year, maybe this should place higher, but then again, I already have that album when I’m in the mood for brutal metalcore.
18. Östermalm - Aldrig Mer Teater
    Again, an album with a really strong starter song (”En Lyckad Kväll På Indian Star”), that makes me remember the best parts of KSMB, but the rest of the songs don’t reach the same heights.
19. Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
    Clearly this year’s best epic symponic black metal album. I haven’t been much in the mood for that this year, though.
20. Lisa Miskovsky - Fallingwater
    I loved what Lisa Miskovsky did on the Lost Patrol album. If she had had Dennis Lyxén as partner for this album instead of that Kent dude, this might have placed much higher.