Feeling a bit under pressure! Haven’t come across anything new and good recently. As much as I dislike the fact that I have to work, I always enjoy the time it takes me to drive to school. The joys of commuting – I really love driving my car ( I haven't got an electronic donkey yet) and listening to music.
After reading about their gig at the Haldern Pop bar last weekend, I checked out You say France & I Whistle – nice enough and I imagine seeing them live is heaps of fun, but to me they sound too much like Los Campesinos. Which in itself is not bad if you feel like jumping around to shrill female (and male) vocals, staccato guitars, electronic noise and musical bling-bling in the background. Don’t let song titles like ‘When lovers die’ mislead you – a lot of feel good party potential there.
Speaking of song titles, I’m also not too happy about the lyrics. It’s a Swedish indie band, and maybe I am prejudiced in some way ever since Friska Viljor spilled out some horrible lyrics, but but lines like ‘ I always want to fuck ‘cause there’s nothing wrong with my potency’ (Prom Queens) really turn me off. Even though songs like OMG prove that most of it is probably meant ironically. I like listening to songs that tell a story, have a message, deeper meaning. That’s why I find it difficult to listen to something that makes me want to pull my hair out.
Now, You say France & I Whistle’s happy tunes certainly relieve a lot of tension, and some exceptions to the rule like ‘Second thoughts’ are quite enjoyable. I don’t know why they just don’t sound right to me. Must have something to do with the fact that their music doesn’t seem to stick. And that it's not that original in terms of genre, Los Campesinos did quite a good job there already. Maybe it's also related to the time of year, I'll doublecheck soon, once winter is over.
Until then I keep listening to the brilliant Frank Turner to cheer me up. And beware, I am planning on doing a huge feature of him some time soon!
PS: If you have a spare ticket to one of their shows, I wouldn't mind seeing them live, tho!
HAHA. Did a little bit of research on the band, and their homepage tells us about their
ReplyDeleteMajor accomplishments:
•The band has played over 100 shows in Sweden, Europe and USA.
•The band has played six of the biggest festivals in Sweden; Peace & Love, Hultsfred, Umeå Open, Malmö festival, Euro Pride and Popaganda.
•The band has played on the Culture Collide Festival in LA and CMJ in NY.
•The band has filled up Debaser Medis, the biggest rock club in Stockholm.
•The band has played live on the biggest TV morning show in Sweden.
•The song "Can you feel it", written by You Say France & I Whistle, got performed by One Night Only in a worldwide Coca Cola campaign.
•The band has several other songs placed in commercials for, amongst others; GAP, Orbit Gum/Wrigley, Mc Donalds and Viasat.
•Tiger Jeans Sweden chose the band as one of the hottest Swedish indie acts for their Dressing Room Sessions.
•The band has played in Milan Fashion Week for the french fashion company Costume National (C'N'C).
•The music video for OMG has got over a 100 000 views on MyVideo.de, one of the leading video sites in Germany.
I believe that this is NOT meant ironically. ^^
Heya. Frank Turner is coming to Hurricane/Southside. :-)
DeleteLine Ups this year are really good...if you exclude some Headliners. ;-)
Wieso, haste was gegen Blink-182 und die Ärzte? Ist doch bombe!
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