Janne Bridget
Samae (Sister Flo)
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Here it is again. Another end
of the year list. Probably interesting only to myself, but it's
something I always want to do. It's fun to look back and see what
were the biggest things for me. It's ridicilously long again.
Maybe I'm just trying to make my dick look a little bigger by
showing off how many albums I have bought, maybe I'm just damn
to stupid spend so much money on music (well that's a fact of
course). So don't take it too seriously. It's such a list of music
that I love. Some other day the list might look a little bit different
but the top 20 picks would remain pretty much the same. Anyway,
let's cut the bullshit and start listing. This is what I came
up with after thinking these about two weeks. |
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TOP 40 ALBUMS:
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1.
John McGregor: Joki John McGregor's Joki is just so beautiful folk album. Full of heart. Full of warmth and kindness. In the end it was really easy to name this as my album of the year. I instantly fell in love with and it looks like it won't turn out to be just a small crush. I'm ready to have lifelong relationship with such a beautiful record. Bare and honest lyrics. That guitar still sounds amazing and the songs heal my stressed mind with their everlasting warmth and comfort. John McGregor at Suomen Musiikki |
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2.
Sweatmaster: Tom Tom Bullet Something quite different than my number #1 but as perfect. This hardly ever left my car cd player and going to work was much more tolerable when I was able to kickstart my day by playing this as loud as my ears could handle. I could put 9 songs from Tom Tom Bullet into my "top songs list" and it wouldn't be far from the truth. Songs such as Good Looks, Big Deal and Last Request are just damn great rock tunes. I don't think rock'n'roll could be any better than this. Sweatmaster Website Dirty Rabbit (mp3) Watch the best music video ever in here |
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3. Teenage Fanclub: Man-Made |
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4.
ultrasport: Nothing Can Go Wrong I knew most of the songs before, but that's no worry because it's not possible to get tired of these lovely tunes. Possibly the greatest finnish indie pop band (if Bridget doesn't come back) makes everything shine. Cute boy vocals, charming stories and brilliant songs. I couldn't ask for more. ultrasport Website Nothing Can Go Wrong (mp3) |
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5.
Sufjan Stevens: Illinois One of the most hyped artists of the year, but Sufjan Stevens totally deserves all the recognition he is getting. The first half is totally heavenly. The opener, John Wayne Gazy Jr, Chicago and Casimir Pulaski Day are all magnificent songs. But if I want to sound like a bastard that is never happy, I'll say that the album should have ended after 16th song, because that's the last magical tune on Illinois. But almost everything before that is album of the year caliber. Sufjan Stevens Website |
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6.
The Tunes: Bright Yellow Sun It might be slightly questionable to put The Tunes ahead of The Posies and Brendan Benson whose albums have higher peaks. But Bright Yellow Sun is almost entirely flawless and better album as a whole. Eleven wonderful summery powerpop songs with gorgeous melodies and beautiful singing. The Tunes Website Valerie (mp3) |
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7.
The Posies: Every Kind of Light Like you know. The Posies is the greatest band in the world as far as I'm concerned. Therefore it almost hurts not be able put this into my top three. But if I try to be honest, only 3/4 of this would be worth that place. Especially the songs I Finally Found The Jungle I Like!! and Could He Treat You Better? are almost shockingly bad. However, I do totally love the most of this and Every Kind Of Light contains some truly wonderful powerpop tunes like I Guess You're Right and All in Day's Work. The Posies Website |
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8.
The Arrogants: Always Known When Best To Say Goodbye 23 songs of dreamy pop music and most of the songs are really awesome. Obviously there are a filler or two in the bunch as well, but I don't really mind. The Arrogants is one of my favourite bands at the moment and the singer Jana Heller has a voice that I truly adore. The Arrogants Website Don't Die Before Your Day (mp3) |
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9.
Brendan Benson: Alternative To Love The debut One Mississippi is the only Brendan Benson that I instantly loved. It took me some time to understand the greatness of Lapalco and also this third album Alternative To Love turned out to be a real grower. I did like it at first also, but the final enlightment came few months later. Brendan Benson is one of the best pop singer-songwriters and seem to have almost a guaranteed place in my top 10 every year he puts a record out. Brendan Benson Website |
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10.
Magnolia Electric Co: What Comes After the Blues Jason Molina is a hero of mine and now he is back on great form. A beautiful album that contains some really touching songs like the wonderful North Star Blues. Magnolia Electric Co Website Leave The City (mp3) |
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11.
Red Carpet: The Noise of Red Carpet The finest finnish guitar pop. Golden melodies, touching harmonies, several should-be pop hits and some beautiful ballads. It bothers me that I wasn't able to fit The Noise of Red Carpet to the top 10. Red Carpet Website When You Sign (mp3) |
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12.
Ryan Adams & Cardinals: Cold Roses Ryan Adams' first album of the year Cold Roses is a marvellous effort from this extremely prolific songwriter. Some say this double album was way too long, but I don't feel that way. Maybe he could have cut off a song or two, but most of these songs are just damn great. Meadowlake Street was my favourite. His third album of the year have not yet been released when I'm writing this, but based on the previews it seems Ryan would have had two albums in the top 20 if I have waited until I have that one as well. Ryan Adams Website |
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13. The Positions: Bliss! |
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14. Vashti Bunyan: Lookaftering |
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15.
Boomhauer: Me Think Ok! The rock songs on Me Think Ok! are really good and the country/pop songs are the best thing ever. Boomhauer will rule much more on my song list, but the album is a great one as a whole too. That trio of Lake Norman, She Belongs to Me and This Town Means Well in the middle of the album is probably the most perfect moment I heard in 2005 on any record. Boomhauer Website Lake Norman (mp3) |
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16.
Viola: Anything Can Stop Us Last year's number one still rules. This time Viola left the melancholic side behind and made a happier and more electronic album. Anything Can Stop Us is not as stunning as Tearcandy, but it's still pretty close. Viola Website I Don't Know How to Party (mp3) |
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17. Great Lake Swimmers: Bodies and Minds |
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18.
Wojciech: Ampiainen ompeli This sci-fi trip from Wojciech wasn't the easiest album of the year, but it won my heart over. Unique dreamlike music. This time it also contained a pop tune with hit potential called Haukotellaan (ollaan tylsää seuraa). Wojciech Website |
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19.
Richmond Fontaine: Fitzgerald Dark and sad well-written tales. A great traditional folk/americana record. Not your everyday "feelgood" record, but sometimes you want different things. Listening to Fitzgerald really is like watching Ingmar Bergman's fabulous Winter Light. It's sadness might even hurt you, but it's so worth it. Richmond Fontaine Website |
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20. M.Ward: Transistor Radio |
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21.
The Clientele: Strange Geometry Such a marvellous album and I'm not able to put it even on my top 20. This sure has been a good year. This is a lot better than the second album Violet Hour and gets Clientele back on the right track. Beautiful and mellow pop music. Magical stuff. The Clientele Website |
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22.
Pale Sunday: Summertime? Simple and jangly pop music about girls and relationships. That's the way I like it and this brazilian pop group does it well. Pale Sunday Website |
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23.
Pernice Brothers: Discover a Lovelier You Maybe not as stunning as some of their earlier releases, but I do love everything Joe Pernice have ever done and Discover a Lovelier You is no exception. Pernice Brothers Website |
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24.
The Lucksmiths: Warmer Corners My valuation of this latest The Lucksmiths album has dropped a bit since the release of it. However, it's still one of the finest indiepop records of the year. The Lucksmiths Website |
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25.
Antony & The Johnsons: I am a Bird Now I'm not as ecstatic about Antony & The Johnsons as many seem to be. But hey. It really is a great record that contains several truly stunning and moving songs. Antony does take "jollotus" to a whole another level. Antony & The Johnsons Website |
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26.
Josh Rouse: Nashville New Josh Rouse record was my spring soundtrack. My Love Has Gone is the most stunning song on Nashville, but it's also a wonderful album as a whole. I was a fan before Nashville and now I'm even a bigger fan. Josh Rouse Website |
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27.
The Decemberists: Picaresque I still prefer Castaways... and Her Majesty over this, but Picaresque is another great album from The Decemberists. And even not the greatest The Decemberists album is still better than 99% of the records you hear. The Decemberists Website |
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28.
Richard Swift: Novelist / Walking Without Effort A very last minute entry that maybe could have climbed a little higher, if I've had more time to listen to it. But it already easily deserves a place on this list and he is currently the most played artist at this household. The label describes: "Swift nods to the early 70's solo efforts of McCartney and Harrison, while waving to Burt Bacharach and Van Dyke Parks" Richard Swift Website Lady Day (mp3) As I Go (mp3) |
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29.
The Shortwave Set: Debt Collection Maybe a bit weird release for me to love, because it's slightly bizarre pop record that doesn't play by the normal rules. But despite all that sampling etc, it's not too bizarre for me. Lots of great pop melodies and the vocals are just heavenly. A really interesting release that also some other day might have been slightly higher on this list. Shortwave Set Website |
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30.
Ben's Diapers: Little Pilgrims Way too overlooked release. Even by myself. I haven't praised this enough. There's some amazing powerpop songs like Mixed Signals and In A Good Place on Little Pilgrims. Ben's Diapers Website |
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31.
Okkervil River: Black Sheep Boy Found this one only some weeks ago, but Okkervil River already managed to make a big impact on me. Dark but beautiful songs. I don't love the first two songs that much, but then they left the most passionate moments behind and everything turns to gold. Gorgeous songs. Okkervil River Website |
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32.
Eels: Blinking Lights and Other Revelations Beautiful Freak remains as my favorite Eels album, but this double album is a great one as well. Eels Website |
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33. Baby Sweetcorn: Ghosts and Sunsets |
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34.
Nada Surf: Weight is a Gift Always Love is one of the songs of the year (will easily be in my top 10) and in the end that is enough to lift this album to the list. And obviously there are other great tunes as well. Nada Surf Website |
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35.
Leaky Soles: Simple Songs For Complicated People Debut album from Leaky Soles is definitely my kind of thing. Indie rock with pop melodies. Maybe a couple of average tunes, but the songs are mostly great. Often compared to bands like Weakerthans. I love the guitars on this one. Leaky Soles Website Footprints (mp3) Over You (mp3) |
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36.
Astrid Swan: Poverina A debut album from Astrid Swan is not completely faultless, but it does contain 6 or 7 standout tracks. Good Girl, Dad Said and War seem the greatest at the moment. Astrid Swan Website Poverina (mp3) |
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37.
Comet Gain: City Fallen Leaves Maybe even a slight dissapointment, because I expected that a new Comet Gain album would go to the top 20. City Fallen Leaves is really good all the way, but it doesn't contain such inredible tunes as Why I Try to Look so Bad on their previous album. Really good stuff still. Just One Summer Before I Go (mp3) |
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38.
Kirlian Crossing: S/T They say that "the original idea was to combine acoustic folk songs into soviet union era science fiction in Tarkovsky spirit. It's uncertain where we got lost". Well maybe they got lost in my heart, because I adore most of this. That last almost neverending song might be a bit too artsy for me, but otherwise this debut contains magical music. Kirlian Crossing Website Distance (video, divx) |
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39.
Tullycraft: Disenchanted Hearts Unite A whole lot of fun and some magnificent indiepop tunes. Our Days in Kansas is a brilliant song and there are several other delights as well. Tullycraft Website Our Days in Kansas (mp3) |
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40.
Regina: Katso Maisemaa Let's say I love them when they play live, I really like them on a record. Electropop isn't "the kind of music I love the most" and therefore Katso Maisemaa isn't the most important album for me. But it's a damn good one still. Nyt on jo myöhäistä is among the songs of the year and Olisitko sittenkin halunnut palata is another stunner. It's a great thing that such a good band have gotten some success. They really deserve it. Regina Website |
| and that's the end of it. I first had a top 50, but maybe even top 40 is too much. At least Death Cab For Cutie and Bright Eyes should have made the list. And at one point also Snow Fairies, Joe Algeri, Drowsy, Kind of Like Spitting and Derby were on the list, but that's how it went tonight. Most of the other 30-40 records I own were good as well. Then there's obviously thousands I don't have (at least yet) like 22-pistepirkko, Low, Ville Härkönen & Velvet (I've ordered it but it haven't arrived yet), Scaramangas, My Morning Jacket etc | |
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TOP 50 Songs
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Well this is the most pointless list, because
it's impossible to decide which perfect pop song is better than
the another perfect pop song. So I didn't spend hours to think
about the order. Maybe the first 20 were quite obvious, but after
that I could have deciced the order by flipping a coin. And I'm
quite sure I forgot some important ones. And ruled out at least
one perfect song, because I don't own the album and can't listen
to it on a daily basis (and that's the song I Knew by 22-pistepirkko,
I've heard it and I love it). And I had maximum of two songs per
one artist/band limit. Otherwise there would have something like
seven Sweatmaster songs. |
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TOP 10 Little Discs (ep, cd5, mini-album etc)
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1.
The Sugarrush: Useless Information Well this was no surprise to anyone who knows me. It was the easiest choice of the year. I'm a huge The Sugarrush fan and this was the release that I listened to the most during 2005. These songs could be called even as power pop anthems. The title song is my song of the year and the other songs are almost as great. I really love The Sugarrush. The Sugarrush Website Useless Information (mp3) |
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Cats On Fire: The Seelonce Mayday demo Vaasa takes the number two spot as well. It's only a demo, but it's such a fantastic demo. Someone really should release Seelonce Mayday officially, because it's a crime against humanity that something this great is not available. But the relief is that you can download all the songs in mp3 format on their website Cats On Fire Website Higher Grounds (mp3) |
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3.
Calexico & Iron and Wine: In The Reins A marriage made in heaven. Well quite close at least. I definitely prefer Calexico's and Iron & Wine's own individual releases over this, but this seven song mini-album is a wonderful one as well. There's two not that good tracks but rest are great. Especially The opener He Lays in the Reins is stunning. Iron & Wine Website Calexico Website |
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4.
Math and Physics Club: Movie Ending Romance Great american indiepop. Often compared to even to The Lucksmiths. Math and Physics Club Website Movie Ending Romance (mp3) |
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5.
Wojciech: Haukotellaan (Ollaan Tylsää seuraa) / Kryounihanhet) Wojciech showed some hit potential on the a-side and the b-side was more usual wojciech but equally wonderful. Wojciech Website |
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6.
The Phonies: Gospel Two song single. Doggy Collar is such a fantastic song that The Phonies easily deserves the spot. The Phonies Website Doggy Collar (mp3 clip) |
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7.
Trembling Blue Stars: Bathed in Blue Not the strongest TBS release, but they are still one of my favourite bands in the world. |
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8.
Beacon St. Radiants: First Degree Desperation Finnish americana from Turku. See The Stars is such a great song. Beacon St. Radiants Website See the Stars (mp3) |
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9.
The Happy Couple: Fools in Love Pop duo from Germany. The last song Don't Call It is so marvellous Happy Couple Website |
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10. Jadecroon: Silence Manitou |
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Bubbling under: Acid House Kings, Lovekevins, Cheerleaders United...and
Laurila's demo would probably take the third or fourth place if
i would include it on this. |
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