Nana Grizol - Love It Love It (2008)

First of all I'd like to apologise for not posting for a long time, my bad, get over it, I am. Now, onto the album eh?

Wow, that's the first thing I should say about this release, just plain "Wow". This is one of those albums that you love from the moment you hear the first track, it's so instantly enjoyable that it's insane. The cover may look like it's going to be a sickly sweet twee-fest, but it isn't (kinda but not really) it's actually a remarkable folk punk album that has some of the quirkiest and most beautiful lyrics you've ever heard.

Their influences are evident; Arcade Fire, Bob Dylan, every Elephant 6 band ever (including NMH) but there's enough there to seperate them from this collective of artists making them their own, unique, band.

This album has so many hooks and lyrics anyone can relate to that it'll surprise me if anyone with a heart doesn't enjoy this in the slightest.

Give it a listen

Folk Punk is the new thing, and so is buying music

The Mostar Diving Club - Don Your Suit Of Lights (2009)

I always hate it when people ask me what kind of music I like. What do I answer back with? Do I go with the always classic "everything but rap and country"? Or maybe the amazingly pretentious "I listen to everything". Y'see, it's a hard question to answer. I couldn't possibly list off all the bands I like, or praise certain genres because that just isn't a very accurate depicition of the music I listen to.

But if you were to ask me what kind of music I LOVE then I think I know what my answer would be. I mean, it helps that I've been asked this once before, but whatever. Just roll with it okay?

I love singer/songwriters who make beautiful, magical records all by themselves. The idea of one guy spilling his heart out, doing his best, making a record as well as he can sends chills down my spine. I love the image of a guy waking up in a small cabin in the middle of nowhere, knowing that he's going to spend the rest of the day writing music, writing what he feels, thinking that maybe today he will finish this record - his masterpiece. He will start off writing and recording simple songs that anyone can appreciate but as time passes he will explore the medium that is song-writing, finding a sound that truly expresses how he feels. These experimental flourishes will be what sets his album aside from everything else.

THAT is the kind of music I love.

But, if anyone ever asks me that question ever again I'll probably just say "The Mostar Driving Club's 'Don Your Suit Of Lights' of course" because it's a lot quicker to say, and it's exactly the kind of record I'm talking about.

Check it out if you like beautiful melodies, touching lyrics and amazingly twee songs about honeybees.

Give it a listen

I can buy this on his myspace, right? (dunno)

Lullatone - The Bedtime Beat (2008)

Wanna be happy and innocent ie. feel like a kid again? Well now you can!

This release from immensly childish japanese indie pop group Lullatone is a surefire way to brighten up your day and make you envious of many a child. Just listen to the opening track (a cute little number that features the playful sound of splish-splahing around in a bath) to see what you make of it. The rest isn't so different.

I will admit that there are a few tracks that aren't so upbeat, but they're still pretty innocent and childish. I think that comes down the the vocals, which are very hush-hush almost like a mother trying not to wake her baby.

Seriously, give it a spin.

Give it a listen

When I was a kid I bought albums