The sound of young Sweden.

I decided that today was a good day to showcase a few bands from one of my favorite labels that make me wish I was born with blonde hair, Labrador.


With strong comparisons to Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura, Acid House Kings are not a band to be judged by their name alone. "Combining the aesthetics of Kraftwerk with Motown girl groups from the 60s and musical influences from Burt Bucharach to The Smiths, Acid House Kings have created a classic album of timeless pop perfection. True to their Swedish origin, the Kings cannot hide a certain debt to the stylish arrangements and crystal clear melodies of ABBA." Around for over 10 years, they originally started with a 10 year plan: a trilogy of albums with one album released exactly every 5th year. Although that 10 years is up, they're back on another plan and I hope they keep spanning the decades for years to come.

From Do What You Wanna Do, available now at Twentyseven Records:
This Heart Is A Stone
Drama Inside
+ Video - "Do What You Wanna Do"
+ Myspace


Last year in one of my myriad of myspace blogs, I gushed over the incredible sound and the Cure'esque-New Order-like twists of Stockholm residents and AHK member sharers, The Legends. It started out in 2003 as just a couple of guys who booked a gig supporting a tour, but had no band or songs. Now? The Legends are a full band with songs that have a grip on my heart.

From Up Against The Legends:
The Kids Just Wanna Have Fun

From their untitled album, set for Fall release:
Play It For Today
+ Myspace

Both Acid House Kings and The Legends are on a short US tour next month, and only death could pull me away from the chance of seeing them live. Mark the local date below in your calendar and don't miss it!

July 6: Athens, GA (at The 40 Watt Club)
July 7: Detroit, MI (TBA)
July 8: New York, NY (at The Cake Shop)
July 9: Brooklyn, NY (at North 6)
July 10: Cambridge, MA (at TT The Bear's)
July 11: Washington, DC (at DC Nine)
July 12: Philadelphia, PA (at Kensington South Forum)

Last but not least, also sharing some members with The Legends and determined to make love with Japanese girls - the Loveninjas are here to make you dance... or laugh. I can't figure out which, but it gets really confusing on the dancefloor. The songs below aren't really an example of their most humorous side, so I recommend watching the video below or going to their myspace and listening to "She Broke His Penis In Two".

From Keep Your Love EP:
Keep Your Love

From I'm Really Sorry EP:
Meet Me Here
+ Video - "I'm Really Sorry (That I Killed You)"
+ Myspace