3 posts tagged “let it snow”
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The first time I mentioned Strawberry Fair, I had no idea it's actually just one person: Jenny Franzén. The talented Franzén wrote, played, recorded, and self-published via CD-R all the music herself.
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Her first proper CD release, I Can't Do Anything, features all the aforementioned writing, producing, recording - down to her drawing of the cover artwork. When I saw the art, I felt as if she's daydreaming about travelling (to a warmer location probably!) or singing on stage and so I've included my drawing reaction.
I was happy to
see a new recording for "Kristoffer" because I have a rough mix
recording of that song from a few years ago.
In fact, Franzén mentioned to me that all the songs on the new EP were written between 2004-2005 and meant to have been included on the My Secret Garden compilation, but she took too long mixing the songs (only "Attack!" made it on the CD).
All these songs have a very 60s girl-pop feel to them, especially "Why Won't He Answer" and "Give Up". Like the 60s girl pop bands, they all seem to involve falling in love - but in Franzén's case, it sounds like she's failing in love and you get the impression that she's painfully shy too.
I just love it!
I have included the main title track, "I Can't Do Anything", which you can download on her myspace.
I'm hoping to hear more songs from Franzén in the future. She definitely has enough songs to release a full length, back in 2003, but the plans didn't fall through. I actually have about 20 songs (from 2003-2005) and since they were all under the 3 minute mark, they all fit in one CD-R for me to listen to in my car.
There's a few gems in the various tracks, so I'm hoping they get remixed or re-recorded and release in the future. These gems includes "Lise Meitner" (a song about the nuclear scientist that was denied the Nobel Peace Prize), "Heaven Only Knows" (a Shangri-Las cover), and "Untitled" (I'm sure she's come up with a proper title now).
I'm also pleased to see that she's recently allowed "Regression" and "Football Star" for download on her last.fm. These songs, along with "Unbuoyancy", appears on her self-titled EP.
I kept skipping back to the beginning, over and over again, on the "Attack!" song, a cover of The Toys. Despite lacking the horns and soulful singing-style of the original, Franzén actually improves on the song. Strawberry Fair's version feels more modern with its lack of doo-wop backing vocals and faster pace. The song constantly moves forward, which reflects the lyrics.
During my
research, I noticed that there is an English traditional song called
"Strawberry Fair" (you can listen to samples the folky song on iTunes).
I haven't verified this, of course, but I'm guessing that Franzén took
this song for her stage name? Edit: the name comes from a My Little Pony of the same name.
As I was going to Strawberry Fair,
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies,
I met a maiden taking her wares, fol-de-dee.
Her eyes were blue and golden her hair,
As she went on to Strawberry Fair.
Well, even if she didn't take that name, the song's still lovely - just like Jenny Franzén.
I Can't Do Anything is out now, head over to facetterad.net for general and ordering information. Also, please be sure to read Strawberry Fair - Where is Alex Taylor Now?.
03/25/2008 00:03:10
vu
my♥posts
myspace.com/strawberryfairswe
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Belle & Sebastian that well-loved band from Glasgow, Scotland, are back with a new Christmas song called "Are You Coming Over for Christmas?". The song is available for download on their official myspace on Christmas day.
Fans of B&S should already have their special Christmas Peel Session from 2002, but in case you don't have it, here the Christmas tracks from that session:
- Oh Come All Ye Faithful
- Christmas Time Is Here
- Santa Claus (The Sonics)
- Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto (James Brown)
- Silent Night
- O Little Town Of Bethlehem
- Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me (Elvis Presley)
- O Come O Come Emmanuel
- I Took Some Time For Christmas
- The Twelve Days of Christmas
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Here's another Christmas song from one of our favorite, The Pipettes. Good luck on finding this 7" single, as there were only two hundred of them made (by hand) and was only available at their Christmas show in 2004. The song, "In the Bleak Midwinter", is an old Lutheran Christmas Hymn, originally written by Gustav Holst.
They're currently on tour through Australia, but they still managed to put together a "Bandzine" The Pipettes Christmas Zine just time for Christmas. I did download the PDF file and it looks very professional for a bandzine.
Tour dates as follows:
12/29/07 The Factory Sydney, AUS
12/30/07 Tasmania Falls Festival Victoria, AUS
12/31/07 Tasmania Falls Festival Victoria, AUS
01/02/08 East Bruswick Melbourne, AUS
01/05/08 Southbound Festival Western Australia
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Meanwhile, Manic Street Preachers is also offering a new Christmas song called "Ghost of Christmas" on their myspace. This is an original song with some jab at expensive technologies::
No xbox and no computers
We just used our imagination
A leather football was perfection
What more could you want
I wouldn't mind a soccer ball to play outside, but unfortunately it's snowing outside so I'm going to stay indoors with my PS3 :)
Anyway, the band is still around, releasing Send Away The Tigers on February 2007, and is actually the only album I don't have from this band. I guess, I'm just waiting to find it really cheap/used and there's really no compelling reason for me to rush out to get the album.
I think the only song I know off of it is "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough" (that song with the Cardigans singer Nina Persson) which I think is quite popular.
Apparently so popular that NME have named MSP the 2008 "God Like Geniuses" Award.
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Finally, remember the awesome Strawberry Fair (Jenny Franzén)? Lately she's been busy with her live band with: Mathias (Kissing Mirrors, Sarto, Twig), Alice (After School Sports, The Never Invited to Parties), David (The Morning Paper), Ida (The Bridal Shop), Maria (The Happy Birthdays[W♥M]), appearing on Digfi playing some Christmas songs.
The two songs she did was "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" and "Winder Wonderland". I thought you can only watch it on Windows Media Player, but I was told that it will work on a mac using flip4mac.
The band was also recently on Rip It Up! 2007, you can watch some clips on youtube.
PS, this may be the last xmas post from me! You're welcome!
12/24/2007 09:41:29
vu
my♥posts
www.weheartmusic.com
It snowed non-stopped yesterday and it finally stopped this morning. I've been pretty much housebound today, watching The Food Network, Best Week Ever and Smallville.
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to compile some snow-winter-related bands and songs.
We really have to start off with Dean Martin's "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"
He's actually not the original singer (Vaughn Monroe was), but Dean "The King of Cool" Martin certain made it famous for his 1959's Christmas album, A Winter Romance.
Jonathan Richman is always fun. This is a pretty typically fun song from Richman, "Abominable Snowman in the Market". I think the title pretty much sums up the song :)
I'll have to do a full entry for Richman later, because he's been around for years and years. A quick history on Richman: he is from Massachusetts, who moved to New York trying to break into the music industry. He eventually left and came back to Boston where he formed The Modern Lovers, around 1972.
Loads of stuff happened, but you probably remember seeing him in "There's Something About Mary"
From Glasgow, Scotland, is Snow Patrol. I first heard of them through Belle & Sebastian's UK record label, Jeepster Records. They left that label for their third album (which proved a massive hit for them) Final Straw.
My favorite Snow Patrol song has got to be "Run", which is the strongest song on Final Straw. Whenever this song is done live, Gary Lightbody's heavy Scottish accent really shines through. You can find the live version on Live Lounge, or if you live in the US, you can find an exclusive EP from Park Ave CDs in Orlando, Florida.
Speaking of "college" band, Keane is my next band. I guess I'm not that keen on Keane, but I did want to talk about "Snowed Under" mostly because I have it through a Best Buy Compilation. I think Best Buy discontinued this tradition of giving away Sweet Tracks album around Christmas time (at least I don't remember getting one last year).
The Sweet Tracks are usually in a tin case and are given away if you shopped at their store and are a Reward Zone member. I've managed to scam a few extra tin by shopping multiple time ... which I'll have to admit is fairly easy for me as I go there every Tuesday. Anyway, perhaps I'll do a full article on each of the Sweet Tracks this xmas if anyone's interested in reading more about these... er... sweet tracks.
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Tour
12/05/07 The Beat Kitchen Chicago, IL 12/06/07 Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, IA 12/07/07 House Show - Norman, OK |
Lara uploaded "Snow in Berlin" - I thought it was just perfect to use for this Snow-related entry.
It seems like an odd title for a band from Austin, Texas, but this is Chris Simpson's latest project. I talked to someone who was big into his old band, Mineral and The Gloria Records, who seemed really excited about Zookeeper's debut album Becoming All Things, telling me about how diverse each of the songs on the album were.
They're currently wrapping up their tour, but you can still catch them for the first week of December.
Yes, there's probably a lot of Snow-related songs out there (including a Stars song, but I think we talk about them way too much!).
12/03/2007 00:14:12
vu
my♥posts
www.weheartmusic.com
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