Tragic Waste Of Skin

I think it's time to recognise Timo Räisänen for real now. He's no longer "Håkan Hellstörm's sidekick". He's no longer just the brain behind Her Majesty. He is Timo all together. And now let me tell you why.
Lovers Are Lonely was an adorable pop album when it arrived last year. Filled to the top with catchy melodies and great choruses it was one of the most underrated releases of the year. Many referred to it as "Good, but not as good as Håkan Hellström". I do not agree. Lovers Are Lonely was not in the same league. Surely, they both performed euphoric pop songs like it was the end of the world, and all the euphoria had to get out. However, Timo played in a different sport altogether. It's like comparing Kent and Jumper (not quality-wise); both are similar but still not quite comparable.

Well, the final step away from his old days as a session guitarist can now be put into the history books. The new album is called I'm Indian and I'm blown away.
Take Lovers Are Lonely and add edge, then add some garage and then add a wider sound spectrum. Voilá. I'm Indian features some of the best pop songs I've heard recently. The title track might be the best pop song of the year so far even, and then there is of course the downright great single Fear No Darkness, Promised Child, the explosive Let's Kill Ourselves A Son and the painful When My Tear Hits The Floor. Timo manages to take his music to the next level without losing his unique charm. I hoped I'm Indian would be as good as Lovers Are Lonely. But I'm Indian proved to be better than anything I've heard in the genre for a long time.

I Could Never Be Beyond Repair

A long hard week of stress, frustration, bad news and such similar shittyness makes Rikard a bad blogger.
However, it's the perfect week to get a hold of the seventh Katatonia album The Great Cold Distance, which frequent visitors of this blog (yes, all two of you) will have noticed that I've been very excited about. It's hard to buy an album that you're excited about, because there is always the anxiety. You know what I'm talking about, don't you? You've waited for the goddamn cd for what seems like age, it better be fucking worth the wait.
The Great Cold Distance has been worth the wait. The mood of it is darker and heavier than on Viva Emptiness, which is a vast improvement in Rkard's notebook. What Katatonia pulls off, which very few bands can, is that they create a very thick atmosphere althrough their albums. Listening to TGCD brings out a desserted, windy landscape with pale grey skies, covered in desperation and, what seems to be neverending, pain. The only thing to remark on is that there are very few individual tracks that stand out. However, this was also the case with Discouraged Ones, which I still hold as my favorite Katatonia album.
So no hits, but a solid effort. The band has regained the dark energy from works such as Discouraged Ones and Tonight's Decision and ordered in the supersized depression-combo meal. The perfect soundtrack for a shitty week.

Right Under My Door

The last semifinal for the swedish branch of the Eurovision took place tonight, and just as suspected the homophobic fundamentalist bitch Carola won a place in the finals next week. The always cute Björn Kjellman managed to follow her, despite a horrible outfit and a dorky song.
Carola - horses will neigh - seems to be the huge favorite for the finals but I really hope that Andreas Johnson will do a good performande in Globen next saturday and win every heart over on his side. I can't bare thinking about sending a christian fundamentalist to the Eurovision. Andreas is cute, has a fantastic song with a anthemic chorus. And black eyeliner. Gawd, that's cute.

I just heard The Radio Dept.'s latest single "The Worst Taste In Music" and I was pleased but not blown away. They haven't added much to their successful recipe, but I suppose it's not really called for either. I liked the song but it doesn't "fuck my ears" just yet. Maybe tomorrow, though.

If anyone here plays Maple Story; my nick is RockyDennis. Look me up!

1 fucking day 'till The Great Cold Distance

Below A Broken Cloud

Since the news concerning Ed Harcourt, with the new album, single, possible tour and whatnot, I've been pretty much having sex with my Here Be Monsters CD. I can't tell you how good this album is using human language. You'll just have to get it yourselves and trust my judgement (since I am right about this).
I've been dying to see Ed live ever since I missed him at Arvikafestivalen last year, and then a secret gig he held in Stockholm a few days later. So I downloaded his gig from Hultsfred 2002 and also a gig he held in London the same year. Especially the latter is a really good gig. Dimmed lights, a performer at the very peak of his... everything, and fantastic songs. Sadly, these were all oldies but goodies. I can't wait to hear the fantastic songs from From Every Sphere and Strangers live. Maybe in a smokey little room, maybe I'll be having wine. Sigh.

2 fucking days 'till The Great Cold Distance

Rest Assure I Won't Fail You

Big nee-juws coming in. The tracklist, title and release date for Ed Harcourt's brand new album has finally been announced. The title is The Beautiful Lie and will be released on June 5th, following the first single - which is said to contain three exclusive b-sides, woho! - which should be released soon. Of course this piece of news makes me happy happy joy joy all over the place. Fantastic news, and I'm naturally bouncing off the walls for that first single. And as you can see, Mr Harcourt himself seems very excited about the CD.


Hit me, tiger!

4 fucking days 'till The Great Cold Distance!

Everything But Safe

It's time to give credit to a couple of fantastic human beings, who's dedication and passion is beyond what most people can even imagine. It's time for everyone who hasn't yet heard of Chrono Symphonic to head over to their site and download the whole two discs. I'll just let the artists themselves describe their labor of love.

It’s been a labor of love for everybody that has been a part of it. Initially designed to be the soundtrack for the long-desired Chrono Trigger movie (no, the movie doesn’t exist and probably never will), it encompasses 18 different artists' takes on the way such a film should sound in an orchestral setting, and many more on how it should look and feel. Never has such an abundance of talent been thrown into such a powerful calling, and never has the game Chrono Trigger, which many of us grew up playing, known so much love.

The new version has been worked on by several remixers (all from the excellent site OCRemix) since 2004 and just two months ago they finished the project. As mentioned above, they turned the Mitsuda-san's original pieces into more epic, cinematic versions. A truly admirable quest, and the result is astonishing. Get over there and listen to some magic right now.

And oh;
6 fucking days 'till The Great Cold Distance

You Want The Total Adaption

Tool's new album will be titled 10.000 Years. Seriously, that sounds a lot more like a fucking Nickelback-album than Tool. But I suppose the title doesn't matter, but fuck's sake...

Happier news; Only a week left until Katatonia releases The Great Cold Distance (a good album title) and my expectations are pretty much climbing the ceiling at the moment. After reading some reviews in Classic Rock and Kerrang, it's hard not to get overly excited.
So hereby I start the countdown for what could be the best album of this year (told you: the ceiling!), just to beef up the hype a little and to keep myself busy.

7 fucking days 'till The Great Cold Distance

Heard This Information Before

After being somewhat dead for almost a week both me and my iPod seem to be relatively back to normal. I don't know what it is about sickness that makes me lose control over my ears. I can't listen to anything. It's like my ears get too tired to bother with music at all. So I've mainly been listening to comedy albums, which is a nice change of pace I must admit. Some old Hassan anc Rekordförsök was brought up, and of course I celebrated the 12th year anniversary of Bill Hicks' death by listening through some of his classics.
Mitch Hedberg is another dead comedian which my dad introduced me to. Not at all in Hicks' league, but a more laid back, stoner-type comedian who's short and silly jokes are perfect giggle-material. His albums Strategic Grill Locations and Mitch All Together are definelty worth a check-out.