Featured, Finnish music, Headline, Top lists

Top 10 Finnish Songs of the Year 2014

No Comments

Another day, another pointless list. This time I give you my favourite Finnish songs of the year 2014. This was a tough one to make and it really hurts to leave out many of my favourite bands. Thankfully most of them will appear on the forthcoming Finnish albums of the year list.

10. Swaying Wires – Some Blue Sky

First we have Swaying Wires and the title track of their wonderful debut album Some Blue Sky that came out on UK-based Battle Worldwide Recordings early in the year. This is such a perfect ending to that beautiful record.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/135455853″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 
9. Joutomies Aleksei – Kolmipäinen koira

I’ve had a soft spot for this one since I first heard it back in 2010. I’m not sure did I list it then, but I’m going to do it this time around, because Ei-No Records officially released Joutomies Aleksei’s lovely folk album in early 2014. It also contains other highlights like Laulu Tuomolan Äijästä and Jack & Arlene.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134085662″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 
8. Gim Kordon – Sateessa

Gim Kordon’s album has gotten almost a ridiculous amount of air time in this household. If you tried to academically review it, you would run out of paper while listing all the flaws. But if you just hit play, it feels just perfect and you will enjoy every second. The highlight of the album for me is the chorus of this song called Sateessa. That chorus sure captures a moment.

7. Jukka Nousiainen – Ilman sua en elää vois

This might be a little weird favourite song from Huonoa seuraa by Jukka Nousiainen, but I just love it to bits. Minute and a half of perfect Finnish rock’n’roll.

6. Koria Kitten Riot – Cold Cold Arms

Between a Pillow and A Soft Place is probably my favourite song from Koria Kitten Riot’s latest masterpiece Rich Men, Poor Men, Good Men, but because that one took a head start and lured it’s way on my 2013 year end list, I’ll go with the second best this time around. And this awesome song called Cold Cold Arms sure has the quality to be on any list I can think of. Such a great song.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/160086379″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 
5. Pietarin Spektaakkeli – Kuuma mama / Puerto Rico (Haaveissani)

Pietarin Spektaakkeli released a stunning album Rakkauteen that will appear on my top 3 on the forthcoming album list. There’s actually two songs here, because I just couldn’t decide between Kuuma mama / Puerto Rico (Haaveissani). I know those songs are miles away from the music that I normally listen to and I was somewhat surprised that I loved them so passionately. I even tried to resist them at first, but soon I have to give in and admit that they are some of the best songs released in 2014.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/137674095″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 

4. Suomen Zorro & Elämän paineet: 6 syliä

Then something a bit more obscure. This might not even be officially out anywhere, but I don’t really care. I don’t have much rules when I write these lists. It’s just a gut feeling and that tells me 6 syliä by Suomen Zorro & Elämän paineet is one of the best Finnish songs of the year. Absolutely amazing stuff. I can’t wait to hear that Vähäsarja album early next year.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134668969″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 
uusiviljami

3. Viljami Kukkonen – Säkki

At first I thought that I just leave these new Viljami Kukkonen songs for 2015, because I’m quite sure that they will rule my charts when it’s time to write 2015 year end list. However, in the end I just didn’t have the heart to leave his new song out. I’m a huge fan and his debut album Mörönsyötti is the best Finnish album of the current decade. Follow up will hit the stores and our hearts early 2015 and this song called Säkki was/is the first digital single from the forthcoming album.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag6nBJlynNM]

Box-bar_kansi-300x270

2. Ochre Room – Wistful Smiles

It was extremely difficult to pick just one song from Ochre Room’s latest masterpiece Box, Bar & Diamond. In the end, I had to go with Wistful Smiles and that’s mostly because of the singing. I think there are even better compositions and even better lyrics on the record, but the singing. Just ah. That last two minutes of the song leave me speechless. Lauri and Minttu singing together so beautifully. It sounds heavenly good. Even though this appeared on their second album, this was actually the first song that Tomi and Lauri wrote together years ago. Now that’s just not fair to other songwriters. “Oh, hey let’s try it out and see if we can write a song” and the end result is this amazing song. Oh my.

And the Finnish song of the year award goes to:

lacbelot

1. Lac Belot – Elizabeth

I fell in love with Lac Belot’s debut EP Elizabeth a few seconds after I started listening to it and our relationship is still working beautifully. Some might remember that in my original writing I said that Elizabeth might be my least favourite song on the EP. Well recently I have leaned more towards this magnificent title track and therefore it’s worthy of that song of the year award. It’s a close call between Elizabeth and his other song II and could go either way. One thing is certain though. Lac Belot is wonderful and fully deserves his 1st place. This is the Finnish song of the year. Lac Belot and Elizabeth.

Continue Reading

Featured, Headline, International music, Top lists

Top 10 Songs of the Year 2014 – International Edition

No Comments

It’s time to get this listing party started. I don’t think anyone actually cares, but I still love making these. Let’s start with my favourite songs of the year. I didn’t spend ages on this one, because that album of the year list is going to take a huge amount time. The top three are obvious and I kind of agreed on them (with myself) a long time ago. The rest of the spots might look totally different on another day, because I think I could easily come up with 50 songs that I really loved during the year.

Top 10 Songs of the Year 2014 – International edition

10. The Slim City Pickers – About Love

Canadian country rockers, The Slim City Pickers can do the honors and get this ball rolling with their gorgeous song called About Love. This might be rather obscure choice, but I love this simple song so much. One of the most enjoyable things I’ve heard this year.

9. Ryan Tanner – Days To Think Of You

Ryan Tanner’s Together Is Where We Belong album is maybe a little too long, but contains a lot of magical moments. One of them is this sweet little tune Days To Think Of You that will gently destroy you. It’s so subtle, warm and beautiful heartbreaker. Oh how I love the arrangements and those harmonies. Actually it doesn’t destroy me, it makes me whole.

8. Strand Of Oaks – JM

I had some doubts about the new Strand Of Oaks album. I loved half of it, but it had some songs (or should I say some arrangements) that I wasn’t so sure about. However, this Jason Molina tribute JM is just stunning and it took my breath away.

7. Caleb Caudle – Miss You Like Crazy

Caleb Caudle’s wonderful album Paint Another Layer On My Heart has 3-4 excellent candidates for this list, but I had to go with this magnificent ballad Miss You Like Crazy. That moment when Caleb sings the lines “if the lord takes you first / he better takes us both / because I miss you like crazy” might be the most touching moment on any song this year.

6. Marine Dreams – Constant Love

I’m a huge fan of Ian Kehoe aka Marine Dreams. His 2014 album Lemon Tree wasn’t as mind-blowingly awesome as his 2013 album Corner Of The Eye, but it sure is another good one. And it of course contains this amazing pop song called Constant Love.

5. Parker Millsap – At The Bar (Emerald City Blues)

I haven’t even featured Parker Millsap here, because I just ordered a copy a couple of weeks ago and it hasn’t even arrived in the mail yet. But I’ve been spinning it on Spotify and have already fallen in love with it. At The Bar (Emerald City Blues) is probably my favourite, because I’m indeed a sucker for sad songs as well.

4. I Was A King – Oslo Share

I Was A King’s new album wasn’t all about sweet pop harmonies, but I loved their pop songs the most. Oslo Share and Bygdoy 30 are heavenly good pop songs. Either one would be a good pick from these Norwegian heroes, but I’ll go with Oslo Share this time around.

freschard

3. Freschard – Cheese And Crackers

Well I guess this is actually 2013 release. It came out in December 2013. But it’s my blog and my listing rules and I don’t have the heart to leave this out, because this was the year of Freschard for me. I fell in love with her music earlier in the year and I became really addicted to her albums Boom Biddy Boom and Shh.. This song Cheese and Crackers is the loveliest earworm I can think of. This song has been continuously playing in my head for months and I don’t even want to get rid of it (even though I don’t even actually like cheese and crackers). I love it with all my heart. Who wouldn’t? This song is totally irresistible and super catchy.

frontierruckus

2. Frontier Ruckus – Little Henrietta

There would probably be four songs by Frontier Ruckus in the top 10, if I didn’t have this stupid rule that I only include one song per artist. Therefore this was a battle between Little Henrietta and Bathroom Stall Hypnosis and Little Henrietta came on top today. Frontier Ruckus is my favourite band in the world right now.

sunde

And the Song of the Year 2014 award in the international category goes to…

1. J.E.Sunde – A Blinding Flash Of Light

I’m not sure does it make me a sad case, when I tell you that this song A Blinding Flash Of Light by J.E. Sunde is my favourite song of the year 2014 by a large margin. There’s no denying that this extremely fragile song is actually the strongest song of the year. Totally unique and unforgettable. This is A Blinding Flash Of Light by J.E. Sunde.

Continue Reading

Featured, International music, News

While No One Was Looking – Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records

No Comments

bloodshot

One more thing to do before those year-end lists. It’s time to celebrate 20 years of Bloodshot Records. They have given us a huge amount of wonderful music during their existence and they are still one of the finest labels out there. While No One Was Looking – Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records is a new compilation where 38 excellent artists cover classic songs from the Bloodshot Records catalogue. There are way too many great versions to mention, but I really enjoyed (for example) Samantha Crain’s rendition of Cold Forgiver by Ha Ha Tonka, Possessed by Paul James singing I Came Around by Murder by Death and Superchunk covering one of my all-time favourite songs, Come Pick Me Up by Ryan Adams. The list could go on and on. This one below is also excellent. Blitzen Trapper doing another Ryan Adams classic To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High).

Bloodshot Records sure do have a great history, but even more importantly, they are still relevant today and have released a lot of great music during the year 2014. I haven’t really featured their fall releases on the blog even though I’ve been listening to them a lot. So maybe it’s to make amends and shortly go through some of them now.

First we have excellent songwriter Cory Branan and his new should-be hit record called No-Hit Wonder. A really strong record and also a candidate for those year end lists. This is the opener You Make Me that also features mr. Jason Isbell.

Moving on to Luke Winslow-King and his awesome old-fashioned tunes that are timeless and refreshing. His new album Everlasting Arms is absolutely adorable. This is the gorgeous title track Everlasting Arms.

After that it’s time go into darker, but equally beautiful surroundings. Bloodshot’s Danish recruit Maggie Björklund also has a new album out and available. This album called Shaken might not be the closest match with my heart, but it’s still rather convincing effort and I wouldn’t be least bit surprised if someone thinks this is the best piece of music that has been released during the year. Especially this Fro Fro Heart that features Kurt Wagner from Lambchop is just stunning and leaves me speechless.

Bloodshot Records Website

Continue Reading

Finnish music, Headline, News

Common Tones – Broken Heart Sounds & Flannelmouth – I Am The Town

No Comments

Sometimes it feels like One Chord to Another has drifted a bit too far from the starting point, which was to love, praise and promote melodic Finnish guitar pop. Finnish pop music was the reason I started this whole mess over thirteen years ago, so let’s get back to that core at least for one blog entry. These two new new releases perfectly fit under that original idea.

commontones

First we have the new album by Common Tones called Broken Heart Sounds that just came out late last week. I’ve had the chance to listen to it since early summer and I think it’s a wonderful album full of addictive melodies. These boys certainly have a great pop sensibility. You’ll find a couple of fine examples below. The first single Shine from Bandcamp and Finding Life from Spotify. The album is available at least on iTunes and Spotify. Oh and about that thing that drove me insane in the summer. After listening to this album for hours and hours, I came to conclusion that it’s Tommy Keene whose vocal phrasing occasionally came to mind while listening to this.

Common Tones at Facebook

flanneli

Finnish pop veterans Flannelmouth has a new album out, available and ready to hit your heart. It’s called I Am The Town and it came out in early November on Bianca-Pop Music. They have certainly written a really good album once again. They always do this melodramatic and graceful pop music so brilliantly. This first single and music video Forgotten Tapes is a great example of their talent.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1cWS93Y5Kg]

Flannelmouth Website

Continue Reading