Finnish music, Headline, News

FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH’S NEW YEAR: Jean Ramsay + Bubblegum Theory 9.1.

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bubble

I’m having a little blog break, but I’ll continue in a week or two. So you’ll have to tolerate my silly ramblings for another year or so. Sorry about that.

Before I get my act back together, we have a new Flavour of the Month event coming up here in Turku, Finland next friday 9.1.2015. The line-up looks brilliant to me. Bubblegum Theory and Jean Ramsay will share the stage. Check out more information below.

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FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH esittää:
Jean Ramsay (22:30)
Bubblegum Theory (23:30)
+ Flavour of the Month DJ team
pe 9.1. klo 21-03
Pikku-Torre, Yliopistonkatu 30, Turku
VAPAA PÄÄSY

Vuoden 2015 ensimmäisen Flavour of the Month -klubin esiintyjät ovat helsinkiläiset Bubblegum Theory ja Jean Ramsay. FOTM-vuoden avaus koetaan klubin kotipesässä Pikku-Torressa perjantaina 9. tammikuuta.

Illan esiintyjistä Bubblegum Theory on kahden miehen popyhtye, jossa vaikuttaa Flavour of the Monthissakin aikanaan pari kertaa esiintyneen Harry Hunksin entinen laulaja-kitaristi Matti Eräsaari. Bubblegum Theoryn musiikissa kuuluu Eräsaaren vanhassa bändissäkin läsnä ollut klassinen indie pop, tai pop, ilman indie-määrettä. Duon nimen vihjaaman purkan määrä lienee kuulijan korvassa ja todistettavissa keikkaolosuhteissa.

Jean Ramsay on puolestaan vieraillut Flavour of the Monthissa bändinsä The Spoonshinersin keulilla. Tällä kertaa tunnustettuna rock-journalistinakin mm. Rumban sivuilta tunnettu Ramsay esiintyy soolona. Klassisessa mies ja kitara -asetelmassa Ramsayn musiikki asettuu amerikkalaisen laulaja-lauluntekijä-perinteen, countryn ja myöhempien aikojen tummemman laidan indietunnelmoijien (esim. American Music Clubin Mark Eitzel ja Red House Paintersin/Sun Kil Moonin Mark Kozelek) kyynisen kieron jatkumon välimaastoon, tuottaen tarinoita ulkopuolisuudesta ja elämän nurjasta puolesta. Tunnelmaa tasapainottaa Ramsaystä pulppuava vino huumori.

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Finnish music, International music, News, Top lists

Top 10 EPs of the Year 2014

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Let’s get this EP list out of the way as well before the Christmas break. There’s of course that reissue list to do as well, but I’m not sure am I going to do that one. There’s always so much new stuff that I haven’t had much money left to buy a lot of wonderful reissues. Top 3 would be awesome of course Bob Carpenter, Sister Flo etc… We shall see if I do it at all. But first it’s time for this EP list. I have a strange feeling that I’m forgetting something important. Maybe I add an eleventh if I figure it out after posting this. That Love Sport Ep might have made the cut, but I haven’t had the time to listen to it enough at this point.

Top 10 EPs of the Year 2014

harryheart

10. The Harry Heart Chrysalis – Bodensee and Other False Stories EP

Let’s get the list going with Australian The Harry Heart Chrysalis. This lovely EP came out very early in the year. I especially love the song You Are Not A Rarity. This has some rather brutal lines “if I could take you anywhere, I’d take you off my mind”, but somehow I still love it.

redjacket

9. Red Jacket Mine – Pure Delight EP

Moving on to Seattle. Red Jacket Mine released their new soulful EP Pure Delight late in the year and like the title promised, it sure is a pure delight to listen to it. This is Crow from the EP.

jamesfrost

8. James Frost – Nameless EP

Next stop on our world tour is England where James Frost released a rather amazing folk EP. Traditional British folk gently collides with more modern sounds and the end result touches you deeper than where a doctor could reach. Especially the title track Nameless is spectacular.

weat
7. The Weather Station – What Am I Going To Do With Everything I Know

Back across the pond and to Canada. A long time favourite Tamara Lindeman aka The Weather Station released incredibly beautiful new EP called What Am I Going To Do With Everything I Know. Simply stunning like always.

songbirds

6. The Perfectos – Songbirds & Wolves

The Perfectos has been a very big deal at the onechord.net headquarters during the last couple of months of the year. I’ve been listening to their whole excellent back catalogue lately. Their 2014 release was this excellent EP Songbirds & Wolves.

paxtoni

5. Matt Paxton – Mountain Eyes EP

I’ve been a big fan of Matt Paxton since I first heard his album How The Land Lies. We still have to wait for that next full-length, but Other Songs Music Co put out a really lovely Mountain Eyes EP this fall. A bunch of great originals and a lovely The National cover. I’ve actually never really listened to The National, but after hearing Matt’s version, I kind of like to start. It can work this way around as well. This is Pink Rabbits from Matt Paxton’s beautiful Mountain Eyes EP.

thetaste

4. The Taste – Sea Legs EP

Toronto-based The Taste gave us a magnificent little pop record called Sea Legs. I have big smile on my face when I listen to this one. My kind of pop music. I hope they release a full-length album sometime soon. I would love to hear one.

lacbelot

3. Lac Belot – Elizabeth EP

Because I only had a few Finnish EPs that I had really listened to a lot, I didn’t see the point in making a separate list for them. I couldn’t even come up with ten. Therefore they had to fight for their place on this international list. One made the cut and it’s this wonderful debut EP by Lac Belot. Elizabeth was my Finnish song of the year and all three songs on the EP are magnificent.

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gudridi

2. Gudrid Hansdottir – Taking Ship

Gudrid Hansdottir’s Taking Ship was one of my big favourites during the year. I’m not entirely sure should it have been on the album list. I think I’ve seen people call it an EP, a mini-album and an album. It feels like a mini-album to me, so therefore I didn’t put it among the full-lengths. One thing is certain though, it’s spectacular.

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And the EP of the year award goes to..

caletyson

1. Cale Tyson – Cheater’s Wine EP

I really loved and enjoyed Cale Tyson’s EP Cheater’s Wine. Well-crafted and beautifully delivered classic country songs. This was even an album of the month on this little blog of mine, even though it’s not even an album. Cheater’s Wine is just brilliant. I hope we will finally get a Cale Tyson full-length album sometime next year.

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Featured, Headline, International music, Top lists

Top 30 Albums of the Year 2014 – Internation Edition (Part Two 15-1)

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Moving on to the second chapter. If you didn’t catch the part one you can find it here. Anyway, here we go. 15 more albums to go.

Top 30 Albums of the Year 2014 – Internation Edition (Part Two 15-1)

Sloan_Commonwealth

15. Sloan: Commonwealth

One of my all-time favourite bands Sloan can kick off this second chapter. Each of the four songwriters in the band wrote one side of the record and they all did an excellent job. I suppose the highlight has to be Andrew Scott’s 18 minutes long Forty-Eights Portraits. A stunning song and it’s rather remarkable that a person like yours truly who usually gets bored if a song lasts over three minutes, really loves this song.

sturgill

14. Sturgill Simpson: Metamodern Sounds In Country Music

I’m not amazed if I start receiving hate mail when people see Sturgill Simpson’s americana/country masterpiece Metamodern Sounds in Country Music outside the top 10 (thankfully nobody actually reads this, so they don’t see this). If this list tried to be objective, this would go into the top 3, but on a personal level this wasn’t as important as the ones that you will see next. But hey, I still love the record and I really loved the fact that it got such a great reception.

paisley

13. Doug Paisley: Strong Feelings

I’m not sure did I ever feature Doug Paisley’s Strong Feelings at onechord.net, but I did buy it the minute it came out back in January and we have been close friends ever since. Perhaps I felt that there wasn’t really any need to praise him. Doesn’t everyone already know that this guy is one of the best. Such a great songwriter, such a lovely album.

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nqarbuckle

12. NQ Arbuckle – The Future Happens Anyway

I’m a long time fan and therefore I was thrilled about the fact that there was finally a new NQ Arbuckle album out and available. These Canadian folk rockers should be far better known. Their albums XOK and Last Supper In A Cheap Town are both classic in my head & heart and this new one called The Future Happens Anyway is also brilliant.

caleb

11. Caleb Caudle: Paint Another Layer On My Heart

Caleb Caudle already appeared on the best songs list, but of course Paint Another Layer On My Heart claims a place here as well. It might not be the most original thing I’ve ever heard, but the songs are so well written and the whole thing feels so genuine and heartfelt. This album makes me cry, but in a good way. No matter how many layers you have around your heart, this one will get through and hits the romantic core of your heart.

parker

10. Parker Millsapp – Parker Millsap

This young man from Oklahoma released a stunning debut album. After hearing a song or two here and there, I wasn’t that convinced about the greatness of Parker Millsap. I mean I definitely liked the songs, but I didn’t think they were something that special. However, when I finally started fully concentrating and listening to the whole album, I saw the light and realized that a) I had been an idiot b) this guy is a damn good songwriter. What a spectacular record.


 

thedelines

9. The Delines – Colfax

I’m a huge Willy Vlautin fan so obviously I was extremely excited about The Delines and they sure didn’t disappoint me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the latest Richmond Fontaine album, but this album by The Delines is just wonderful and dazzlingly beautiful.

robertellisi

8. Robert Ellis – The Lights From The Chemical Plant

Another of those early favourites. The new Robert Ellis album came out in February and have hold its charm throughout the year. I’m not sure what is the general consensus, but I love this one even more than I loved this excellent New West debut Photographs. Adding a bit of Paul Simon and Randy Newman influences to his sound palette was a great idea if you ask me.

jaywilliamhenderson

7. Jay William Henderson – Hymns To My Amnesia

I remember reading good things about the previous Jay William Henderson album, but I never properly listened to it. Thankfully I did start paying attention to Jay William Henderson in July 2014 when his new amazingly beautiful record Hymn to My Amnesia came out. This was an album of the month on this blog probably for three months. Partly because I was too lazy to pick a new one, but partly also because it felt relevant all that time and still do.

hallelujah

6. Hallelujah The Hills – Have You Ever Done Something Evil?

This list needs a lot of indie rock and a couple of sing-a-long choruses and Boston-based Hallelujah The Hills is the best option to provide that. Especially the first half of Have You Ever Done Something Evil? is unbelievably brilliant. Not that there’s really anything to complain about the latter half of it either. A damn fine album.

freschard

5. Freschard – Boom Biddy Boom

Like I said on the song list. This one is actually December 2013 release, but it’s my blog and my rules. This was a year of Freschard for me and I don’t have the heart to leave this one out. Boom Biddy Boom by Freschard is totally irresistible. I just love her music wholeheartedly. I’m a sucker for sad music, but sometimes it’s good to listen to something that makes me truly happy. For example the first three songs on this album makes me blissfully happy every time and the whole album is magnificent. I can walk around the town for hours just listening to Freschard. She is so brilliant and it’s a bliss to listen to Boom Biddy Boom.

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sunde

4. J.E. Sunde – Shapes That Kiss The Lips Of God

A Blinding Flash of Light is my favourite song of the year and obviously the whole album Shapes That Kiss The Lips Of God by J.E. Sunde is absolutely amazing. I spend most of my free time listening to new music, but I rarely stumble upon something so unique and out of the ordinary that still is somehow easily approachable. The whole thing is gorgeous, but what about Easy Kid and those three songs in the middle, A Blinding Flash of Light, Dream Baby and I’m Gonna Disappoint You. Oh my. That’s a whole another level of greatness. I don’t think they have invented a word to describe that yet.

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markham

3. Daniel Markham – Pretty Bitchin’

I’m not sure do I love that title of Daniel Markham’s new record, but I sure as hell love the record. If I look at my last.fm stats that doesn’t count everything, but gives a fairly good idea, Daniel Markham is the artist that I’ve listened to the most (and by far) during 2014. And this thing came out just a couple of months ago on Halloween. So yeah, you could say that I kind of like this one. Whenever I need some energy, I just play this as loud as possible. This one could put those energy drink companies out of business. Perhaps it’s just rock music, but sometimes that’s everything you need. A brilliant album.

myriam

2. Myriam Gendron – Not So Deep as a Well

And then something completely different. This was love at first sight. Myriam Gendron from Montreal turns Dorothy Parker’s poetry into folk music and does it so beautifully. Not So Deep As A Well is magical and captivating and you can listen to it for hours and hours. Believe me. I’ve tried and you can’t get tired of this one. It’s the most moving piece of music released during the year. Ballade Of a Great Weariness, The Last Question and Song For A Perfect Propriety are my favourites, but everything sounds wonderful.

And the album of the year award goes to…

frontierruckus

1. Frontier Ruckus – Sitcom Afterlife

No surprise there I suppose. Frontier Ruckus is my favourite band at the moment. Eternity Of Dimming was my album of the year last year and this year they do it again. They took a more melodic approach this time around and released the ultimate break-up album called Sitcom Afterlife. Some lines might even be questionable out of context, but it’s kind of like when The Raspberries sang that Go All The Way tune in the 70s. They get away with it, because they just do it so beautifully. Words like “You say that you’ve forgotten But I know that you’re rotten in your sweet little way” have never sounded as beautiful. Bathroom Stall Hypnosis, Crabapples In The Century’s Storm, Little Henrietta, The Splendid World, Darling Anonymity are all among the very best songs of the year and that’s already half of the album. So yeah, In the end it’s fairly easy decision. Sitcom Afterlife by Frontier Ruckus is my favourite album of the year 2014.

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Headline, International music, Top lists

Top 30 Albums of the Year 2014 – International Edition (Part One 30-16)

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Finally time for that Albums of the Year list. Here’s the first chapter and places 30-16. Top 15 to come sometime tomorrow. It was a good year and I could have easily made a top 50, but you have to draw the line somewhere even though it means you have to drop out a lot of great albums. Which is not nice and hurts like hell. Anyway, here’s the first chapter.

TOP 30 Albums of the Year 2014 – International Edition

isle-of-yours

30. I Was A King – Isle Of Yours

My favourite Norwegians I Was a King can do the honors and get this list rolling with their latest album Isle Of Yours. I don’t love this one as much as their 2012 album You Love It Here (which was on my top 3), but this is still gorgeous and contains some of my favourite songs of the year. This is Bygdøy 30 from the album and it sounds absolute perfect to my ears.

arlo

29. Arlo Mckinley & The Lonesome Sound – Arlo Mckinley & The Lonesome Sound

In the real world probably only the selected few are aware of the greatness of Arlo McKinley & The Lonesome Sound, but in the americana blogosphere where I do my online living, he is kind of a big deal and extremely highly regarded. I’ve seen this album on many end of the year lists. Even as #1 on some of them. Thanks to ninebullets for spreading the gospel about Arlo. This is Just Like The Rest from the album.

witheredhandnew

28. Withered Hand – New Gods

Withered Hand’s new album New Gods was surprisingly pop, but that wasn’t a bad thing. I love pop music. I can’t stand the song called Heart Heart and skip it every time, but oher than that, this is a wonderful album. Horseshoe and Black Tambourine should be hits and are an incredibly way to kick of the album.

ryantanner

27. Ryan Tanner – Together Is Where We Belong

Ryan Tanner is up next with his serene and beautiful album Together Is Where We Belong. This is such a heartfelt record. This almost feels spiritual. Maybe it’s a tad too long, but it doesn’t really matter because it’s absolutely magical most of the time. This is Days To Think Of You from the album.

Stinemaybe

26. Caleb Stine – Maybe God Is Lonely Too

Caleb Stine’s new album Maybe God Is Lonely Too is a serene, beautiful and even meditative folk album. You probably can’t find it from many year-end lists, because you can only get it from his shows or by sending him an email. So too few have heard this album that tackles difficult issues beautifully.

The Mountain by Caleb Stine from Allen Moore Films on Vimeo.

lydiaa

25. Lydia Loveless – Somewhere Else

Somewhere Else by Lydia Loveless was one of my early favourites. It’s a great record as it is, but perhaps they could have gotten even more out of these wonderful songs. But I’ll stop that annoying whining right now, because each time I hit play, I enjoy every damn second.

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24. Anthony Atkinson & The Running Mates – Broken Folks

My Australian hero Anthony Atkinson finally released a new album. Together with The Running Mates he delivered a beauty of an album that is filled with wonderful folk-tinged pop music. Broken Folks is another proof that Anthony Atkinson is a great songwriter.

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guycapecelatro

23. Guy Capecelatro III: Scatter The Remains

A couple of months ago I didn’t even know this man existed, but Guy Capecelatro III has been a big addiction during the last month of 2014. His latest album Scatter The Remains is a melancholic beauty that deserves a lot of attention.

otisgibbs

22. Otis Gibbs: Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth

Otis Gibbs is the world’s greatest podcast host, but even more importantly he is an extremely good singer-songwriter and storyteller. My favourite Otis album is still Joe Hill’s Ashes, but it might just be because that’s the first one I heard. The latest one is called Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth and it’s once again a great Otis Gibbs album.

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21. Nikki Lane: All or Nothin’

Maybe Nikki Lane’s new album All or Nothin’ isn’t the second coming of the Christ, but it sure is a great record that has stayed on my playlist since it came out in May 2014. I never seem to get tired of it. Good Man, You Can’t Talk To Me Like That, Man Up… So many damn good songs on this one.

johndavey

20. John Davey – Living Is Trying

John Davey was another fall obsession. You could argue that I spend too much time listening those sad & beautiful folk songs, so it was refreshing to find a singer-songwriter who also has a great sense for pop music. Living Is Trying is a record that I keep on returning to on a weekly basis and I truly enjoy every listening session.

boldt

19. Ryan Boldt – Broadside Ballads

Ryan Boldt is the frontman of the wonderful Canadian band The Deep Dark Woods (who has made the best album of the current decade, The Place I Left Behind) and late in the year he released his first solo album Broadside Ballads. Wonderful traditional folk songs and that voice. That combination had to work and it did work beautifully. It might have gotten further up on the list, If I’ve had the chance to spend more time with it.

ryani

18. Ryan Adams: Ryan Adams

Another Ryan, but a bit more famous one at this point. Where to put the new Ryan Adams album? That was one of the biggest difficulties I had when making this little list. I haven’t really listened to this as much as I should have. For some weird reason I just don’t seem to be appreciate it enough. However, whenever I actually do flip it on the player, I actually love listening to it. So why does my brain tries to resist this awesome album? Weird stuff.

hurrayfortheriffraff

17. Hurray For The Riff Raff – Small Town Heroes

The new Hurray For The Riff Raff album Small Town Heroes leaves a long-lasting impression. Alynda Lee Segarra has written a rather stunning album that deals with difficult issues in a beautiful way. Besides being a great songwriter, she has a unique voice that always sounds perfect to my ears.

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turnercody

16. Turner Cody: Plans and Schemes

This is the real last minute entry, but I had to include Turner Cody. He was one of my biggest songwriter favourites during the year. I spent an awful lot of time listening to his 2013 release The Last of The Big Time Spenders and really loved that record. Somehow I managed to miss his new album Plans and Schemes that came out in the fall. Probably because it wasn’t on his Bandcamp page. Anyway, I picked up a copy a week ago and I’ve been listening to this a lot since. It’s rather difficult to compare this one to to those that I’ve been listening to for 10 months, but because this was a year of Turner Cody here at onechord.net, I have to include it. And a good way to do that is to end this first chapter of the list with his lovely album Plans and Schemes and his lovely song Memories Of You.

You’ll find chapter two by following this link

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