Finnish music, Top lists

Top 10 Finnish Albums of the Year 2018

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It’s time to get the ball rolling and post the year end lists. Starting with my favourite Finnish albums of the year 2018. I admit that I haven’t been a great supporter of Finnish music during the recent years and that’s a little bit sad, because my love for Finnish pop music was the reason I founded this little blog/website back in 2001. My main interest just has drifted towards North American folk/country music during the last few years. However, that doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped listening to Finnish music. Not at all. Actually I struggled big time to pick just 10 and thought about expanding it to 20. There’s some kind of order, but it’s really not that important and you could flip it over and it wouldn’t be any worse. Music is life, not a competition. Anyway, here it goes.

TOP 10 Finnish albums of the year 2018

10. Laura Moisio – Laura Moisio (Texicalli Records)

The self-titled Laura Moisio album came out early in the year, but it has still been kind of a late riser for me and I’ve had it on heavier rotation since I saw Laura and her band live a few weeks ago. A really beautiful folk album full of intriquing songwriting.

9. Rosita Luu – SOS (Helmi Levyt)

Merita Berg continues to impress. If I had to choose, I think I would prefer that Hullu Ruusu album over this one. Thankfully I don’t have to choose and I can love both, because both of them are glorious collections of unique pop music.

8. Topi Saha – Lopunajan rakastavaiset (Warner Music Finland)

Maybe a surprisingly low place for a Topi Saha album, because he is usually in the top 3. No worries though. Topi Saha is still one of my favourite Finnish songwriters and this new album is also a great one. And yeah, Topi Saha will get his top 3 or top 1 place when the songs of the year list drops within a week or two.

7. Vuoret – Portti (Soit Se Silti)

If I tried to make an objective list, Portti by Vuoret might take the album of the year award. However, these are always entirely subjective and painting landscapes with guitars isn’t the closest thing to my heart. Nevertheless, the album is so damn good that it does rule my world too.

6. Pää Kii – Jos huonoo onnee ei ois, mul ei ois onnee ollenkaan (Stupido Records)

Every list needs a little bit of punk rock and I sure couldn’t find be a better band to provide it than Pää Kii. And don’t worry if you’re not a punk. Neither am I, but I still love every second.

5. Litku Klemetti – Taika tapahtuu (Luova Records)

This new Litku Klemetti album might not be as instantly catchy as Juna Kainuuseen, but it’s still equally wonderful. Some of it goes into the proge-zone, which is usually a total no-go zone for yours truly. Thankfully with the help Litku Klemetti, I’ve been able to make that step into the area and somewhat suprisingly find being there fairly comfortable. I’m still a little bit wary though and I have the early The Beatles hits on speed dial.

4. Tuomas Palonen – Tuomas Palonen (Palatsi)

An absolutely charming solo album from Tuomas Palonen. Occasionally this almost gets a little too weird for me, but sometimes it’s worth it to spend time with something that challenges my taste. An ethereal and eternally beautiful folk and psych folk album with late 60s and 70s vibes.

3. Jukka Nousiainen – Ei enää kylmää eikä pimeää (Jukan musiikki)

Moving on to the top 3. Especially these last three could be in any order and I love them all to bits. Jukka Nousiainen made an outstanding and powerful rock album that brings much needed light into these unnecessarily dark times. We should all be a little more like this album.

2. Penniless – X (Soit Se Silti)

The alternative rock legends and one of my all-time faves Penniless returned with a new album. I think it’s been a five or so years from the previous one, but this sure isn’t some lukewarm nostalgia trip. X is a damn magnificent album full of dark rock songs that shine brightly.

1. Lac Belot – ABRACADABRA! (Solina records)

And the Finnish album of the year award goes to ABRACADABRA! by Lac Belot. Lac Belot aka songwriter Jarno Takkumäki released a fabulous EP some years ago and I had been waiting for him to release more music. In 2018, Solina Records released this debut full-length and it sure didn’t disappoint. This is an enchanting and beautifully arranged collection of compelling and ambitious folk-tinged pop songs. Even the few more ordinary compositions shine thanks to the gorgeous arragements and orchestrations. Most of the times that beautiful disguise isn’t a need, because everything from the core to the decorations work perfectly. ABRACADABRA! sure is a magical album and I can’t wait for more.

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Playlist

OCTA Weekly Playlist Episode #21

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Another week, another weekly playlist.

My main focus right now is writing the year-end lists, so I didn’t spend as much time to this as usual. Therefore I might have missed even more stuff than usually. I wanted to do it anyway, because some gorgeous albums and singles did come out this week too.

The big album releases for me were the new ones from Scott Hirsch, Willard Grant Conspiracy and Herman Dune. There were lots of magnificent singles too. Steve Gunn, Sloan, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Blank Range, Christopher Gold & The New Old Things, Susto and The Wild Reeds for the international charts and Hullu Ruusu, Message Field and Klasu for the Finnish one. Willy Tea Taylor also dropped a new EP with The River Arkansas.

There’s also a couple of great things I’ve managed to miss before. The new singles from Jenah Barry and Mo Troper. I’m especially ashamed that I forgot to put the Mo Troper song on last week’s list. I had been following the whole funny Bond theme song build up for weeks and then I forgot to put the song on the list when it came out. Shame on me.

Some releases/artists from previous weeks also appear with a different song. Next week maybe some sort of Christmas special, if there isn’t much new releases.

Oh and do buy the vinyl/cd/download. Spotify and other streaming services are perfect for these introductory purposes, but try to buy at least the music that matter the most to you

If you are looking this after a week has gone, the embedded Spotify will show the latest playlist. I’ll just update the same playlist because a) if someone wants to follow it, they can just follow that one list and will get a new set of songs each Sunday b) so that I don’t have a trillion of different playlists on my Spotify account.

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International music, News

Colter Wall, William Alexander, John Prine and Kashena Sampson

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Still a few more quick round up posts before the end of the year lists. Mostly just music, not a whole lot of words.

Starting with a song from the new Colter Wall record Songs of the Plains that is available on Young Mary’s Record Company. This singer-songwriter from Saskatoon maybe don’t need an introduction anymore, because I’m pretty sure that everyone that has any interest towards traditional country music have already spent hours listening to that deep baritone voice singing stories of the past. Here’s the opening song of his great new record.

Colter Wall Website

Travelling across the ocean to Melbourne, Australia to find The Kid From Bourke, the new album from Australian folk singer-songwriter William Alexander. This came out on the 27th of October on Green South Records and I found it just little over a week ago. I haven’t yet really investigated the man and his story, but I’ve done the most important part and I’ve listened to his music. I’ve had this on heavy rotation lately and it’s such a great record. Here’s a video of William Alexander singing the gorgeous album closer Sorrow, Your Only Friend.

William Alexander Website

Well if Colter Wall maybe don’t need an introduction, John Prine definitely doesn’t need one. The legendary songwriter is still writing wonderful music and his latest full-length The Tree of Forgiveness is a magnificent addition to his record vault. This is Summer’s End from the album that came out in April on Oh Boy Records.

John Prine Website

Let’s wrap up this small blog entry with a song by Kashena Sampson. I think I first shared this song something like a year and a half ago, but I don’t think I’ve shared this music video. Plus the album was also released in Europe in 2018, so it’s still relevant too. And of course something as beautiful as this is timeless and therefore always relevant. This is the title track of Kashena Sampson’s album Wild Heart.

Kashena Sampson Website

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International music, News

Julie Arsenault, Daniel Romano, Foxwarren, Bob Sumner and Ian Daniel Kehoe

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It looks like I’m running out of time and will fail to feature all the music that matters to me before this 2018 chapter will become part of the history. I’m already in the midst of writing the year end lists, but before them a couple of quick roundup posts in the next few days. Starting with a Canada special tonight. Mostly just great music/videos, not a whole lot of words.

Kicking off this Canada special with some Mom Rock from Toronto-based songwriter Julie Arsenault. I loved her Softness EP a year ago and actually I think it’s the only 2017 release that has survived a year on my iPod. I’ve had to remove everything else to make room for 2018 stuff, but I haven’t been able to let go of Chain or Monsters. This new transparently feminist EP is equally impressive and very powerful. Extremely highly recommended.

What’s a year without one or four Daniel Romano albums. Latest work of art Finally Free came out on the 30th of November or New West Records / You’ve Changed Records. One of the best things about Daniel Romano is that you can never know what to expect. Except that it’s going to be unparalleled in its quality. This is my favorite from the new album. All The Reaching Trims by the mystical genius Daniel Romano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FGDcCyVJIM

Daniel Romano Website

Next up is Foxwarren from Regina, SK and their self-titled debut album that is out and available on Anti- and Arts & Crafts. Foxwarren is a project of Andy Shauf, Darryl Kissick, Avery Kissick and Dallas Bryson. It feels great to hear that voice again, because I’m big fan of Andy Shauf (The Party was the album of the year on this blog back in 2016). This is To Be from the brand new Foxwarren album.

Foxwarren Website

Let’s wrap up this blog entry with a couple of gorgeous singles. Bob Sumner (The Sumner Brothers) is getting ready to release his debut solo album Wasted Love Songs. The album is due out on the 25th of January, but the gorgeous first single Riverbed is already out and available. Check it out below and start counting days to the album release.

Bob Sumner Website

And last but definitely not the least, the new Ian Daniel Kehoe single Secret Republic that is out on Tin Angel Records. I don’t normally listen to synth pop with 80s vibes, but hey, how could one not love this. This is inconceivable! (sorry went a bit 80s in that word choice). If the name doesn’t ring a bell, Ian used to operate under the moniker Marine Dreams and have released several great records on You’ve Changed Records. And lots of other cool things too. Attack in Black in the day, playing drums for The Weather Station, Andy Shauf and so on. Anyway here’s the gorgeous Secret Republic to end tonight’s Canada feature.

Ian Daniel Kehoe Website

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