PELLE CARLBERG In A Nutshell

Pelle Carlberg comes back with a brilliant sophomore album. In A Nutshell takes Pelle Carlberg’s already mature and solid song writing and takes it further with more fun and air thrilling arrangements. From the upbeat opener “Pamplona,” you can already tell that Pelle Carlberg seems to be a lot more optimistic and cheerful in comparison to his predecessor of songs from Everything Now! This seems to be a new Pelle Carlberg that may have found some light that he was seeking in his first album. With the piano playing and the strings tip toeing and the drums bouncing, “Pamplona” is one hell of an opener. Then right off to “I Love You, You Imbecile” he duets into a completely blissful pop tune.

In A Nutshell is full of songs that are playful and are sung in complete harmonium. Songs like “Clever Girls Like Clever Boys Much More Than Clever Boys Like Clever Girls,” “Crying All the Way To the Pawnshop,” “I Just Called To Say I Love You,” and “Middleclass Kid” will have you humming and snapping your fingers along. But this is not to say that In A Nutshell is all sugar. “Why Do Today What You Can Put Off Until Tomorrow?” would have you brooding seconds into his guitar strums and his echoing vocals being their commentary on “working to live.” “Even a Broken Clock (is Right Twice a Day)” with its airy drum brushes and twinkling xylophone and strings in the background would have you feeling lazy on a Sunday. Pelle Carlberg balances his new album by not leaving it overly cheery and sweet. But in the end you’ll have an uplifting feeling in your chest after you’ve listened through the album.

MP3: “I Love You, You Imbecile” “Clever Girls“
Website: www.pellecarlberg.se
MySpace: www.myspace.com/themaryonettes
Purchase: In A Nutshell
Label: Labrador Records
Video: “I Love You, You Imbecile”

MIKA Life In Cartoon Motion

It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be in your early 20s and to be put out as one of the next “it” artists to look out for. Sometimes that can lead to destruction of an artist or lead to an ever long and successful career.

Born in Beirut then having moved and raised in Paris, London and New York, this musical talented international wonder known as MIKA explodes into the pop world with an album full of grace and maturity. Having music as his only escape from his tumultuous upbringing, MIKA does not redefine pop music but demonstrates how much talent and passion can go a long way.

Blasting into the album with “Grace Kelly” and belting “So I try a little Freddie” and boy does he! With the kind of vocal chops that can hit heavy and soar high, it’s incredible to hear this once 11 year old opera singer try his chops at songs that reminisce and takes us back when over the top song writing and glam were the norm. Then we’re thrown into another diddy in “Lollipop” where you swear this is a song that poptress Gwen Steffani would’ve penned and sung.

Life In Cartoon Motion is full of eclectic pop songs that like contemporary artists Scissor Sisters, transcend the last three generations in pop music. For example, I read that he was also influenced by Harry Nilsson. With all of the comparisons to Sir Elton John, Rufus Wainwright and Scissor Sisters I couldn’t hear it happening. Then I heard “Billy Brown.” What a sugary tune “Billy Brown” is. This is one of the first pop songs I’ve heard in a long long time that really brought back memories of listening to old pop artists on cassette tape. Then there’s “Stuck In The Middle” that reminded me of the Sir Elton John that I used to listen to as a kid (but of course with the added incredible vocal climbs into high falsettos). At age 23, MIKA really does know how to wear his influences on his shoulders.

And of course, MIKA didn’t forget about that dance floor as well. “Love Today” has MIKA once again hitting over the top falsettos over thumping bass beats and pounding piano to get that booty moving. But soon after my favorite song on the album “Relax, Take It Easy,” a single that minimal impact on the British charts really does it for me. Bee Gees like glamour and disco beats always does it for me.

But sometimes there can also be too much sweetness. With all of the tunes that move my groove there are only a few tracks that has me on the “skip.” Not that the songs are not well-crafted, but placed sitting awkwardly between some of the best pop songs I’ve heard in a while. Sounding more like an adult contemporary song from the likes of James Blunt, “My Interpretation” for some reason puts a sour taste in my groove. There’s nothing wrong with the song, it just doesn’t belong on the album. Then there’s “Happy Ending” which sounds like it could’ve been a tune sung for the broadway musical R.E.N.T. Another well-crafted song that just seems to feel out of place on the album. The only ballad on the album that seems to strike a good chord with me was “Any Other World.”

So in the end this young 23 year old musical guru’s debut Life In Cartoon Motion can open up a portal for an emerging career. With the vocal chops, musical talent, mature song writing and of course the dazzling looks, we will see how far this can take MIKA.

MP3: “Grace Kelly” “Love Today“
Website: www.mikasounds.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/mikamyspace
Purchase: Life In Cartoon Motion
Label: Casablanca
Videos:

“Grace Kelly”

“Love Today”

SCISSOR SISTERS Ta-Dah

One of my most anticipated albums of 2006, Scissor Sister’s Ta-Dah kind of tapped quietly underneath the radar. There wasn’t a lot of hooplah or hype around the album in comparison to their official debut. But I did hear about their single “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” being a top charter in England as well as Sir Elton John having guested on their grand return to the world of disco brights and neon lights. The frolicking guitar lick in the beginning, the chimming piano, Shears’ soaring vocals through the muffled percussion resonates of the same ole good times had back in the day when it was a norm to go to rollar skating while letting that mullet fly.

Though there doesn’t seem to be as much UMPH! and PIZAZZ! as their debut, Ta-Dah seems to find the Scissor Sisters more unified in their song crafting. With dance floor hits such as “She’s My Man,” “Ooh,” and “Paul McCartney” joining more authentically fused songs such as “Lights” and “Kiss You Off,” Ta-Dah packs enough mojo to keep their fans’ hips freaked out.

And to keep in touch with their pop synthesis of over three generations, Ta-Dah contains more than just “dance hits.” Ballads such as “The Other Side” and “I Might Tell You Tonight” keeps things retrospective without the cheese and trite lyrics. Vaudvillesque tunes such as “I Can’t Decide” and “Intermission” proves that even bubbliest of songs has a place in today’s pop world.

Ta-Dah is a more refined Scissor Sisters. Their sophomore album is an album that the melds the last three generations into one giant party.

MP3: “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” “Land Of A Thousand Words” “She’s My Man“
Website: www.scissorsisters.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/scissor sisters
Purchase: Ta-Dah
Label: Universal Music Group
Videos:

“I Don’t Feel Like Dancing”

“Land Of A Thousand Words”

“She’s My Man”

THE MARY ONETTES Void

The heavy 80’s influenecd Swedish rocks have done it again. After releasing the fantastic single “Lost,” they’ve hit us again with another single. “Void” with it’s running guitars along with two b-sides “Everyday And Today” and “Translate” will get our appetites ready for their upcoming full-length.

This band is everything that a lot of today’s “80’s influenced” bands wish they were. In comparison Interpol, The Stills, Cities, Editors, The Killers, etc. The Mary Onettes produce a sound that is so much more authentic and natural. From Philip Ekström’s reverbed vocals echoing and the jangling guitars jangling and brooding lyrics brooding, you would definitely mistake their music for something that really came out of the 80’s.

Now whether they will be able to compete with the juggernauts in an ocean of bands is another question. But regardless if they blow up or not, The Mary Onettes will definitely be known for bringing forth music that’s timeless just

like their predecessors.

MP3: “Void“
Website: www.themaryonettes.se
MySpace: www.myspace.com/themaryonettes
Purchase: Void
Label: Labrador Records

BEDROOM EYES Embrace In Stereo

I don’t know what’s up with these Swedes. I can’t even wake up the next day without finding out that there are a handful of new pop acts. It’s like writing sweet pop music is their crack and the addiction doesn’t look like it’s going to become weary anytime soon. But who’s complaining? This the good kind of crack…well, wait…not that there ever was a good crack to begin with.

KIDS SAY NO TO DRUGS!

But anyways…

Jonas Jonsson from the small town of Östersund in northern Sweden has created a nice little sound reminiscent of a male vocal fronted Camera Obscura or a Swedish Teenage Fanclub. The self-released Embrace In Stereo contains four ditties that represent what good indie pop should be now a days. There are four snapping, crackling pop tunes on this EP that’ll satisfy your appetite for a full-length meal in the near future.

But what’s also great about this release in comparison other indie pop/twee acts is that Jonas Jonsson didn’t only take it up a notch with his song writing, but he took it up a bit as well on production. With instruments from the banjo, french horn, harmonica, strings accompanying the standard guitar, bass, drums set up and as well as some harmonious vocals, Jonas Jonnsson may be one indie pop song writer to watch out for in the future.

MP3(s): “Motorcycle Daydream” “Dancing Under Influence” “The Sky Writer” “Blueprint For Departure“
Website: www.bedroomeyes.se
MySpace: www.myspace.com/bedroomeyes
Purchase: Embrace In Stereo
Label: self-released