Some 14 CD albums more or less randomly chosen from the collection, based on being interesting albums that I haven’t heard for a while - and a DVD I bought for one euro at a flea market just before Easter. Well worth the euro too. Enjoy the last red day before the working week.
Eurythmics: We Too Are One (a last highmark before breakdown, it would take 10 years to the next Eurythmics album. Decent album, here with five bonuses. The theme in King And Queen of America is still current, and it is also the best track here, actually in both album and bonus 12” versions. Not a favorite album by Eurythmics, but still good, especially in this remastered version with bonuses.
Laakso: My Gods (After Laskso we don’t need any more Swedish bands, according to the entertainment newspaper Nöjesguiden. Well, not really. Laakso sure have talent and attitude and there is much to like on My Gods, a great indiepop album, no doubt. High Drama, for example, impresses. Would like to hear it’s driving beat and desperation live. Same goes for Never Satisfied, and so on. And with a song titled Hamburg Night, how could you ever go wrong?).
Freundeskreis: FK10 1997-2007 (CD+DVD) (10 year anniversary compilation by the gifted Stuttgart hiphop crew. New songs, anniversary FK 10, and political Das Prinzip Hoffnung, are among the highlights, but greatest of all is the wonderful history-themed Leg Dein Ohr Auf Die Schiene Der Geschichte, pure magic. Reggae-song Halt Dich An Deiner Liebe Fest moves nicely and the cool vibes continues on You Can’t Run Away, where FK are guest artists on a groovy Udo Lindenberg cut. Esperanto, Exklusivinterview, Erste Schritte/Retroperspektive, Mit Dir. All Pure Ace too. And then we have the DVD too. A fine 56 mins band documentary. This is an awesome way to celebrate 10 years.
Marian Valinta: Maagiset Kirjaimet (DIY EP-album with eight songs, white label, truly homemade. The black disc is hand-sprayed or -coloured black, but underneath you still see, and can read, that it’s an ordinary, recordable computer-CD. Actually rather cool, Marian Valinta has made a hand-written cover too. They show attitude and it looks alt indie or punk, and definitely is cool - if the music lives up to expectations. Recorded in Kajaani 2002, we are informed. Not a clean and beautiful voice, but there is something appealing in the mellow soundscapes and sweet performances. It brings an amateurish Leevi and The Leavings to mind, without Göstas beautiful singing voice, his brilliant lyrics, and the harmonic well-performed melodies. However, this is an album with some nice, mellow and appealing performances, and with a vibe and atmosphere reminding of Leevi & co. And that alone is valuable. Ending Herää Jo is also a beautiful, short instrumental. This is not bad, not bad at all, Marian Valinta.
Hurriganes: Rock And Roll All Night Long - 50th Anniversary Edition (Classic debut album by the most legendary Finnish rock band Hurriganes. This is pure rock’n’roll, and with such performative power by the trio Remu, Cisse and Albert. It is especially a showpiece of the virtuoso guitar god of Finnish rock, Albert Järvinen, with the wonderfully tight rhythm section of Remu (Drums) and Cisse (Bass). The latter is on this album named Rock Häkkinen, and he certainly was the live concert wild man on stage. Half the album was recorded live, the other half in studio, and it’s especially the live cuts that shines. This anniversary version has eight bonus songs, six before released and two previously unreleased. The latter two are the real pearls here, both are great bonuses. The album is remastered, and especially the bonus songs sounds fresher than ever, the album proper was already well remastered before and don’t sound that much better now. All in all, a stunning album, and better than ever.
Nieminen & Litmanen: Third (Had almost forgot how great N&L are, so great to listen through the record collection occasionally. Beautiful Hammond sounds and stable swingin’ drumming, and Paleface does a fantastic guest rap on groovin’ highlight Vaalirahakynnytys, not forgetting guest vocals by Jonna Tervomaa on the great and jazzy Marraskuu. Wonderful record of pure stadin jaska (Helsinki jazz), with inspirations from rocksteady, tango, swing, twist and more.
Funf Sterne Deluxe: Alles Muss Raus (cool compilation but very wide and unruly in content. Aimed strictly at fans of FSD. Schund (Apollo Lovemachine RMX) is a first funky highlight. Followed by some joke-like wordplay in 49 sec and then another cool tune, Discotizer 100 bpm remix. The Apollo Lovemachine remixes is where it really is at here. Ja ja… Deine Mutter! (Hamburg Deadline Sebus Rmx) is another highlight. Prof. Professor feels like experimental time-waste before the beat of Silliun (Arj Snoek Rmx) relentlessly starts pumpin’.. Always interesting and occasionally wonderful compilation by this fine Hamburg crew. Fan club-CD limited to 500 copies and originally released with a skateboard. Mixed compilation Just sit back, for 77+ mins and enjoy the flow.
Tocotronic: Golden Years (Tocotronic made the greatest song of 2024 and a superb album. Golden Years follow suit, another sign of strength by this great Hamburg crew. Der Tod Ist Nur Ein Traum is a powerful start on an album that also includes life-affirming songs like Bleib Am Leben, wistful title track Golden Years, strongly political Denn Sie Wissen, Was Sie Tun and other highlights, like Bye Bye Berlin. Almost as good as their prime album and prime cut from 2024. And that doesn’t say little. This is a great album by a band still in their absolute prime. Cool.
2Pac: The Best Of - Part 1: Thug (The best of is in two parts, forming the 2Pac line Thug Life. There was room for more than 11 cuts on the first, CD-version, but what 11. After 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted (with Snoop Dogg) and California Love (original mix feat Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) you already know you’re in the presence of genius. ”Thug Life” mentioned, on his chest, in strongly personal tale So Many Tears. And among all conscious ghetto life-cuts also the sweet and honest declaration of love to Dear Mama. No fillers, only killers and thrillers on this compilation. Superb depictions from a reality and spatial place middle-class America never comes across in established media. Truly ”Black CNN”. Stunning.
2Pac: The Best Of - Part 2: Life (The second part of The Best Of 2Pac. Sequencing could be questioned, like why is Definition of a thug nigga here and not on the Thug part, or why is Dear Mama not here on Life. Anyway, the parts need to be heard together and you need them both. Early classic Brenda’s Got A Baby is here, together with another 10 great cuts. I think the Thug part is the better album, but both are essential.
Christian Falk: Hosts Swedish Open - Dirty Dancing (worth noticing that there is s different album from 1999 that is plainly titled Swedish Open. This one takes us further into electronica/dance territory, and the styles of house, future jazz and deep house. Hiphop vibes too, in highlight Men, Women, Boys, Girls. I’m In Love is a fine funky dance cut while Gypsy King features a distinct Latin soundscape before heavier percussion-drums characterize Oriental Wind. A rather varied and club-intense album on theme dirty dance moves. Party on!
Rio Reiser: Familienalbum - Eine Hommage (Various Artists) (Sehr schön, great tribute to rock and songwriting legend Rio Reiser. 15 cuts including one bonus and one by Rio himself. Hard to pick any favorites here, but already the start - with Söhne Mannheims, Fettes Brot, Ferris MC, and Rio himself superb on Herzverloren - is outstanding. And it certainly doesn’t end there and then. Internationally the perhaps most well-known artist here, Nena, presents a fine cover of Schritt Fur Schritt Ins Paradies. Wonderful vibe throughout on this Familienalbum. This is an hommage album to return to.
Rio Reiser: Familienalbum, Band 2 (Various Artists) (Another hommage to Rio Reiser with 18 cuts reminding of his songwriting skills. His own live recording from 1988 of Fur Immer Und Dich is one of the highlights here, as is a sensitive B Seite by Annett Louisan, followed by an intense Bis Ans Ende Der Welt. Klee’s vulnerable Lass Uns Ein Wunder Sein, the great bass-drive in Komm Schlaf Bei Mir by Clueso feat. Stefan Kerth and catching Mensch Meier by Keimzeit are other highlights on this second strong hommage album to Rio Reiser.
Scorpions: Tokyo Tapes (One of the great legendary hardrock/heavy metal live albums from the late 1970’s - early 1980’s. This live album from 1978 was also Ulrich Roth’s farewell album and tour with Scorpions. The band is in prime, superb, form and deliver ultimate versions of some tracks, perhaps especially favorite Steamrock Fever and Speedy’s Coming. This version was without Polar Night, as it is a remastered one-CD version from 2001. Still brilliant. A stunning live album.
The Real Group: Live At Stockholm Concert Hall (DVD) (Wonderful a cappella performance from 2005 by highly praised Swedish quintet vocal ensemble The Real Group. Strong stage presence and beautiful voices that elegantly fit together in chorus. Highly skilled performers that mesmerized the concert hall audience with their voices. Five great singers perform a strong repertoire. At just 56 mins, it is a tad short, including two sets and three encores. First part is brighter, and the sets differ in mood, like a daytime set and a late night set. The sets end with a impressive Count Basie Medley. The absolutely brilliant and enjoyable encores are all in Swedish, including a stunning version of Den Makalösa Manicken, and ends with Underbart Är Kort (Wonderful Is Short), which feels like a very fun and fitting end to this superb 56 mins concert DVD.
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