Finnish music, Headline, News

Matti Jasu & The Loose Train – Gone To The Dogs

1 Comment

jasuu

I’ve been pushing this further, because I kind of wanted to make a better and bigger post about this one instead of these short news entries that I throw left, right and centre. Well it looks like that’s not happening, so better get this one still done because it’s one of my early 2016 favourites when it comes to Finnish releases.

Matti Jasu & The Loose Train are back on the driveway with a new album Gone To The Dogs that came out in February. I’ve been a Matti Jasu fan since the Goodnight Monsters days and have enjoyed all of his releases. Gone to The Dogs is no exception and might well be the best of the bunch. This is mostly a damn good melodic pop album, but also those Neil Young-influences still push through in some of those long guitar-driven slightly folk-y rock treasures. Gone To the Dogs is one of the most delightful Finnish releases of the year so far. Maybe the overall sound leaves a little bit to be desired, but it’s not a big deal. I dig the DIY spirit and I prefer this over anything overpolished that lacks the living sense.

Gone to the Dogs is available as CD/Digital download on his bandcamp. You can also find copies at 8raita record store here in Turku. This is Race You Down to The Ground from the album.

And here’s the music video for the album opener What Goes On that I posted a while back. It’s a great video, so it deserves another go.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1xbuk_Jkkc]

Matti Jasu Website

Continue Reading

Featured, Headline, International music, News

Andy Shauf – The Party (20th of May)

No Comments

image

Some fabulous release news arrived today and because I’m really excited about this, I have to make an early shout out about it. Canadian songwriter Andy Shauf recently signed with ANTI- (US/Europe) and Arts & Crafts (Canada) and these lovely labels will release his new album The Party on 20th of May. The first outtake The Magician from the forthcoming album is also now out and available and as expected it sounds spectacular. I can’t wait to hear the whole thing. Andy Shauf is a brilliant storyteller and songwriter. Beautifully akward characters going through the little adventures of their lives in forms of masterfully arranged folk songs. The Bearer of Bad News was a great record that I still listen to and I’m sure the new one is going to be even better. This is The Magician from the forthcoming album.

Andy Shauf Website

Continue Reading

Featured, Headline, International music

Caleb Caudle – Carolina Ghost

No Comments

calebbi

North Carolinian songwriter Caleb Caudle released his marvellous new album Carolina Ghost on Feb 26 with the help of This Is American Music. My own expectations for the album were ridiculously and probably even unfairly high after glorious Paint Another Layer on My Heart, but Caleb Caudle still manages to fill them. Excellent singing, timeless country sounds, a sense of clarity and a warm-hearted human presence all-around. Caleb also has that unashamedly romantic pop sensibility in his songwriting and therefore there’s a lot to love here even for pop fans who might not usually be that much into country troubadours. I’m a pop guy at heart so I love that melodic side of Caleb a lot. I should go on and on about this, but perhaps it’s better you just listen to him sing. This is Tuscaloosa from Carolina Ghost that is out now on This Is American Music.

Caleb Caudle Website

Continue Reading

Featured, Headline, International music, News

The Burning Hell – Men Without Hats

No Comments

burninghell

My beloved Canadians The Burning Hell are about to release a new album Public Library. It comes out on BB*Island in April. Public Library contains my favorite song of the year 2015, Fuck the Government, I Love You. I still love it to bits, but this greatest song of the decade is not the only great song on Public Library. Lately I’ve been seriously addicted to this song called Men Without Hats. It’s an coming of age story that revolves around Canadian synth pop group Men Without Hats. I can’t say that I’ve ever listened to them, but if they inspired such a magnificent song, I better give them a spin sooner or later. This song also feels kind of like of companion piece to earlier The Burning Hell hit or should-be hit Nostalgia, because both give me nostalgic vibe for the late eighties.

Public Library is due out April 1st on BB*Island. This is Men Without Hats from the forthcoming album.

And if someone actually thought I could pass up the opportunity to post the best song of the decade, you were wrong. This is Fuck The Government, I Love You.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=FIRph805nJE]

The Burning Hell Website

Continue Reading