The Sounds are a band from Sweden whose sound is rooted in a mix of punk rock and 80s pop, with driving guitars/bass, danceable beats and catchy keyboard lines and vocals. I can definitely hear the influence of The Cars (driving guitars, catchy keyboards…), along with Blondie and Kim Wilde.

Maja Ivarsson, photo from AfterEllen.com

Deborah Harry, photo from allposters.com

The band totally looks like they could be from the 80s and the singer, Maja Ivarsson reminded me of Deborah Harry of Blondie, then I heard her sing. When the vocals kicked in I thought of British singer Kim Wilde right away. I will admit that the title of this tune, “Living In America” reminded me of “Kids In America” by Kim Wilde right off the bat, but I think she really sounds like her… a lot. So for fun, here is “Living In America,” released in 2002 by The Sounds and “Kids In America” from Kim Wilde, originally released in 1981.

Sexy talk with The Sounds’ Maja Ivarsson, for piece running in Miami New Times and New Times Broward-Palm Beach. 

Maja Ivarsson doesn’t like to talk about being a sex symbol. Despite this, the lead singer of Swedish new-wave rockers the Soundsunderstands it’s a topic of interest. The openly bisexual beauty — whose name is pronounced “Maya” — answers the questions with sincerity and a refreshing dollop of humor.

Continue reading.

I really wasn’t lying when I said that I fail at keeping up with things. It’s been a full week since I last wrote. Typed. Blogged. I don’t know. This.

I’ve only had five days of school thus far, and I already hate it. But Science Fiction makes it worth going. Confession: I’m a crazy sci-fi kid. No one knows that. Seriously. Until now. It was probably fairly easy to guess if you knew me and what I liked, but I’ve never flat out screamed “ZOMG I HEART SCIFI LOLZ!!”
I’m an odd kid. Weird shit is my favorite. Hey hey. Speaking of sci-fi, check out an awesome song by an awesome band, maybe? “Sci-Fi Kid” by Blitzen Trapper. MySpace that shit. NAO.

There’s been an abundance of lolspeak in this post. I’ll stop that now. Maybe.

I think Maja Ivarsson is fucking adorably badass.

Yeah, I’d go lesbian for her.

Dacoda.

Things i have learnt, or done, this summer.

- I have learnt i really do enjoy a bit of Cheryl Cole. Looking at her face makes me smile. And this, i enjoy. I can watch The X Factor with the sound off and still have a jolly good time because her smile is so damn infectious. Unfortunately, there is no chance of this happening as my Nana, with whom i watch The X Factor, has the TV on so loud it hurts to listen and so you can barely hear, which in effect is the same thing i guess.

- If you are ten feet in the air and stuck up a tree, don’t imagine your friends, or even your girlfriend would catch you. Because when it comes to it and your hurtling through the air at them, they all dodge you in the end.

- I spent most of my nights falling asleep with Fionn Regan in my ears. Musically, of course. Not in some perverted, abstainers all the way but in the ear is fine, way. No. Just…. no.

- Don’t refer to someone who isn’t your girlfriend as “The fittest person you have ever met” to your current girlfriend. Don’t be a dick and split up with your girlfriend mid argument (Twice), it doesn’t go down to well. Infact overall, just don’t be a shit girlfriend.

- I also learnt alot about my friends that i have had for along time. Some good, some bad. Some… slightly confusing. I also realised who are my real friends, cliche as this sounds, who are not and who are never gonna change the way they feel.

- Clearly, i can not watch an episode of Deal or No Deal without crying.

- When a description of a film includes the words “Strong Erotic Violence” never, ever watch it. No matter what it is about, who is in it, or who said it was good. These three simple words straight away should scream NO! I learnt this the hard way and i had to suffer not only the worst acting ever, but i also had to endure strong erotic violence. I guess i should have seen it coming. By the way, no it wasn’t porn, it was an actual well know-ish (i think) film, but it might as well have been porn. *vomits*

- I seem to becoming more and more addicted to drugs, and when i come back from uni, usually i think fuck, I’m fucked. This summer i learnt the best place to get drugs in this beautiful city is from my equally beautiful, younger cousin. And when he gets me what i need and all my money is gone, he buys us beer so we can have quality time together. The next day though, when we are sat side by side on our Nana’s settee and she’s giving us the “knowing look”, whilst i am white and my cousin is gurning away, it doesn’t always seem like the best of ideas. Gia Carangi has nothing on us… i wonder who will play me in the movie.

- I also found out that all my Aunties are apparently eagerly awaiting the arrival of my first child. I am not pregnant, nor do i feel i am old enough to have a child, nor do i feel my girlfriend would be overly pleased if i suddenly announced the new addition to our little family.

- No matter how long it takes to drive to London, to wait for a plane to arrive, to board, to set off, to fly to Spain, to collect bags, to get on two buses that take you seven hours deep in to the middle of nowhere in the Spanish mountains, if i get there and my tent is wet and cold, i will leave the very next day even if my flight home is not scheduled for another month.

- I have read the same two books, one three times and one twice.

- Realised the best parts of the summer is when me and Tor are in the middle of the woods, in the middle of no where, with a hand drawn map that we are not even sure is the right way up. Walking about for hours in the summers heat, looking for fossils and getting lost, eventuality finding a pub and getting drunk. Enjoyed it so much, we did the same a good few times. I had fun.

- Also realised that i cant get though a day with out Tor. Stupid as it sounds its getting harder and harder to be apart from her.

- Dressing up as a giant cat, in a full body furry cat suit, will every time, cause the dog to try and rape you. Every time. On the same note, don’t eat pasta in front of a dog with dysfunctional spit glands, and so resulting in dribble soaked pants. On the same note, again, don’t tease said dog with his favorite ball, prompting him to bite your face, breaking your nose. Just don’t.

- I drank some off milk, it gave me the shits. Just as this cleared up, i fancied some milk. It tasted like fish, this is yet to fuck me up.

- Having three people sit in the front of a car, that has two seats in the front, is apparently totally illegal. Especially when one of them is off her face on a bottle of vodka and a spiked joint. *cough* Yep, you!! Tut Tut. Ha.

- I  also stumbled upon my love for Shania Twain again. Its been a while as Tor forbids me from listening to her in our house. Which is a shame because he songs make me smile, to even Cheryl Cole standards! In fact i forgot all about her, especially when referring to The Hot List. A few posts back it was debated who should be number five, (After Gillian Anderson, Maja Ivarsson, Lily Loveless, and Elizabeth Mitchell.) It came about that it was a toss up between Milla Jovovich and Jessica Biel. Unfortunately, i am unsure who was decided upon but, alas to say, with the realisation that Shania does actually exist, she is number five. And calling to the unearthly hotness of Milla and Jessica, they can be joint 6th.

Thank god that’s sorted. Thats it, now piss off!

Today my shuffle stopped for this song. A great sound, from a great band (The Sounds). They are fantastic live, this summer they played in Sweden at Hultsfred. The band is american/swedish. I simply love Maja Ivarsson. She’s got it all. Amazing voice, the style, attitude, you name it. Did you know she was born i Skåne? This song is from their third (and latest) record, and it brings back memories.

I’ve seen people losing all of their faith
before they knew what they were looking for
I swore I’d never ever do it again
till this day

Words are all I have to give to you
you never seem to see it my way
Standing in the shadows I hear
people say

(Bridge)
I’ve got confessions to make
listen up
no one sleeps when I’m awake

(Chorus)
The dreams I dream
the song I sing for you
they’re coming from my heart
is my message getting through?
You know it hurts so bad
just like i knew that it would
but I’d do it again
do it again if I could
do it again if I could.

I don’t think you know what it’s like
you should be careful what you’re wishing for
and try to set your ego aside
you will find
a false piece of mind
you fall behind
and everybody’s getting tired of you
standing in the shadows i hear
people say

(Bridge)
I’ve got confessions to make
listen up
no one sleeps when i’m awake

(Chorus)
The dreams I dream
the song I sing for you
and they’re coming from my heart
is my message getting through?
You know it hurts so bad
just like i knew that it would
but I’d do it again
do it again if I could

Hey heeey heeey
i want you to know (know know know…)
hey hey heeeeeeeeeeeeey heeeeeeey

Cause the dreams that i dream
and the songs that i sing
when I lost myself and a different meaning
Shot down and post, imagine although it’s
hundreds of dreams
Taking place around you

(Chorus)
It hurts so bad
just like I knew that it would
but I’d do it again, I’d do it again if i could.
but I’d do it again, I’d do it again if I could.

I’d do it again
I’d do it again
I’d do it again
I’d do it again if I could!

Sabe quando uma música de uma banda casa com um vídeo de outra completamente diferente? A gente nunca imaginou que faria isso, mas dia desses fizemos!

Assim, chiveta juntou os britânicos do Iron Maiden com os suecos do The Sounds, tocando, respectivamente, Run To The Hills (do clássico The Number Of The Beast) e Underground (presente em Crossing the Rubicon), nascendo…

Maiden Of The Sounds e o vídeo Run To The Underground!

Com direito a Bruce Dickinson fazendo solinho de teclado com a boca, dancinhas e backing vocals sincronizados!

Let’s face it, The Sounds kill it. Their synth-pop rock paired with Maja Ivarsson’s high kicks and radiant aura makes this band great to see live and/or pump through your headphones (We suggest both).
Their new album Crossing the Rubicon has just been released, and is going to be pulling us through the rest of the summer here at the Ballast HQ.

Watch the video for the single: ‘Noone Sleeps When I’m Awake’ below. Download it free HERE

Crossing the Rubicon Track Listing

1. No One Sleeps When I’m Awake
2. 4 Songs & A Fight
3. My Lover
4. Dorchester Hotel
5. Beatbox
6. Underground
7. Crossing The Rubicon
8. Midnight Sun
9. Lost In Love
10. The Only Ones
11. Home Is Where Your Heart Is
12. Goodnight Freddy

The Sounds formed their own label and used their own money to record what has became Crossing the Rubicon, despite the fact that offers were now flying in from majors all over the world. “It feels good to have more control over our music and the direction we want the band to take,” says Jesper. The band has partnered with independent label Original Signal Recordings for the North American release.

DOWNLOAD The Sounds | Crossing The Rubicon HERE

Det var upplagt för ett segertåg, min tionde arvikafestival. I obruten följd. När jag lämnade festivalen förra sommaren bestämde jag mig för att no matter what så skulle ajg på något vis finns i Arvika och bevista festivalen. Om så bara en enda dag.

Sen bokade man Depeche Mode och jag har längtat sedan i oktober.

Jag fick ledigt torsdagen och fredagen och hade inga som helst besvär med att vara med på hela festiveln. Packade och åkte upp onsdagen den förste juli. Kom sent som tusan på grund av tågstrul i Malmö men väl framme och incheckad på lugna campingen (mer om det sen asså) kunde jag bekanta mig med mina grannar. Det visade sig att gamle KF-räven och numera MP-politikerna Johan Hellström skulle upp med lite vänner så vi camperade ihop. Perfekt för en ensamseglare som mig själv.

Jag snickarade ihop en diger lista med “saker som kan vara värda att se”. Den längsta någonsin. Årets uppställning var förmodligen den mest lovande på flera år, inte så fruktansvärt mycket stort för min del men desto mer halvintressanta-ganska instressanta småakter. DM knep väl hela kassan för stora bokningar i synth-facket.
Nedan följer sedvanliga snabbrecensioner av det jag såg. Målet var tre per dag och det infriades utan problem. (tre/dag == ungefär 100:-/spelning, ett mer än okej pris.)

Men först en notis om lugna campingen. Först var det kärlek. När jag tog mig bort till vattenprylen och borstade tänderna på natten passerade jag över hela campingen. Rent och mysigt. Folk hade sina bord och stolar och andra prylar framme, ett helt otänkbart scenario på stora campingen. Huvudvägarna på campingen var inte bara uppmärkta, det var vita plastmojänger, alltså “riktiga” vägar. Wunderbar om det blir regn liksom.
Liten besvikelse infann sig dock på torsdagen när vi upptäckte att man var tvungen att gå in genom stora entré (på andra sidan festivalområdet) istället för Apolloentrén som låg 150 meter från campingen. Feltänk++
Å andra sidan så löste man detta tills tidiga kvällen så det hindret var bortröjt. Istället för att stå i milslånga köer till toaletter på området kunde man ta sig till campingen och de rena bajjamajorna, ibland med kö och i så fall markant kortare om någon.
Åker jag som besökare nästa år så blir det mer än gärna en repris på lugna campingen.

Kolla in denna fotokavalkad från festivalen först!

Torsdag

P3 Sommarsession: Detektivbyrån (Andromeda)
Detektivbyåran hade en “riktig” spelning vid åtta på kvällen men jag välde ändå att se den som gjordes för P3 mitt på dagen. Egentligen ingen större anledning bakom beslutet men i efterhand så är jag nöjd med det. Svårt att värdera spelningen då det blir sönderhackat av att det är radio med osv.
Bra leverans, lekfullt, skön publik.

The Sounds (Vintergatan)
Jag tror inte att jag har sett Maja och gänget sedan Vintergatan 2004(?), då var det fel scen. Bättre nu, det är inte många som fixar Vintergatan – ej heller Maja =)
Det märks att The Sounds har vuxit en hel del sedan sist. Många spelningar i bagaget och det är leverans rakt igenom. Man blandar och ger från nytt och gammalt. Det är bra som tusan. Det enda som får publiken att stanna upp något så här tidigt på eftermiddagen (17tiden) är den stekheta solen. Undra hur många som mådde dåligt av det.
Klart värt tiden att se The Sounds.

Röyksopp (Apollo)
Årets felbokning.
Inte fel band eller så utan fel scen. De fyllde tältet. De fyllde grusplanen utanför tälet. De fyllde ölserveringen. Många kom för att se Robyn så det lättade en del efter hennes framträdande som nummer tre eller fyra. Men ändå. Massor med folk och sjujäkla spelning. Ryktet om besök från Lykke Li och Karin Dreijer infriades till 50% med Karin uppklädd till Uggla.
Klart värt att se Röyksopp i ett överfyllt Apollo-tält!

Nine Inch Nails (Vintergatan)
Det här är inte min grejj men är de i Arvika så ska jag se dem iaf.
Sista Svergiespelningen vad det verkar. NIN har ändå funnits där då och då i spellistan.
Kan inte precis bedöma det men den delen av spelningen jag var där såg och lät bra iaf, jag lämnade lite tidigare.

Elegant Machinery (Apollo)
Förra gången spelade de på Vintergatan. För stor scen. Apollo är mer lagom men så här som sista band ut kunde de gott kört tajt på Andromeda. Publiken var lagom stor för att det skulle bli härligt packat framför scenen där.
Levererade, inte jättekul men klart värt tiden.

Fredag

Frida Hyvönen (Apollo)
<3
Helt perfekt inledning. Tokvarmt i Apollo, massa kärlek och helt underbart. Det blev lite tårar, Frida har tagit mig igenom en del händelser. Kan man få en repris kanske?

Welle: Erdball (Apollo)
När Welle senast var i Arvika kom det ett skyfall när ajg gick från stora campingen till Andromeda. Jag var helt genomblöt när spelningen började då. I år gällde samma visa, massa regn på väg till Apollo.
Vi dansade oss varma och regnvattnet övergick nog i svett. Helt sanslöst bra spelning. Welle har tagit sin redan sköna scenshow till nya höjder och körde med massa nya leksaker, både som presenter till publiken och för effekter på scen.
Noch ein mal!

Emil Jensen (Jamobilen)
Eftersom det var skottpengar på de som inte kollade Emil i campet så var det bara att falla på knä. Visst var det lika bra som vanligt, jag stannade en stund och skaffade sedan mat innan jag vandrade till baka till campingen. Ett par finfina kängor delades ut i mellansnacket och Emil visar att han är en mer komplett artist än många andra.

Depeche Mode (Vintergatan)
Årets höjdpunkt och helt galet.
Jag har aldrig sett så många människor på en så liten yta. Hela festivalområdet var en stor kö mot Vintergatan till. Sanslöst!
Det går inte riktigt att beskriva det med ord men jag är mer än nöjd med spelningen. Den når inte upp till min första upplevelse där på sittplats i Skandinavium men fan va bra det var!

Fever Ray (Apollo)
Om någon var orolig för att den maffiga upplevelsen med DM skulle göra det svårt att se nåt annat efter så fick den en käftsmäll av Karin.
Utan att i förväg veta vad scenshowen skulle bjuda och med toköppet sinne fick jag insupa installationen Fever Ray. Laserspel, samklang och tokoreograferat (antar jag=)). Jag är fortfarande tagen, så stort. Toppar inte The Knife eller Kraftwerk som upplevelser men det är i hasorna. Oerhört stort!

Lördag

Florence Valentin (Apollo)
Hängde på de andra till Florence, inte min grejj men det funkar ju. Leverade finfint, kunde dock dra ned lite på det fjantiga mellansnacket eller åtminstone träna på argumenten. Det är inte sexigt med folk som ska vara politiska som inte får ihop det och istället tar till svordomar.
Spelningen som helhet var bra. Inget särskilt.

Anna Ternheim (Vintergatan)
Anna på Vintergatan? Fanns väl inte utrymme på Apollo och en mindre scen kanske inte hade funkat så bra. Anna var så där härlig och fin som bara hon kan vara. Jättenöjd med spelningen och sånt men ser fram emot en lite mindre klubbspelning eller liknande vid senare tillfälle som kompensation.

Fleet Foxes (Apollo)
I konkurrens med Little Boots blev jag övertalad att välja Fleet Foxes. Det var bra. Oerhört bra. På många sätt. Jag har inte så oerhört bra koll på dem sen tidigare men har lyssnat en del på radio och Spotify så klart. De var med i typ P3 Pop eller nåt som jag lyssnade på när ajg körde bil. Sköna snubbar och spelningen gick i samma anda. Jag gör gärna om det, tror dock att lite mysigt sällskap kan vara en bonus.

Thåström (Vintergatan)
Sist var Thåström astråkig och drog över och var allmänt gubbig. Bättre denna gången. På avstånd i ölområdet och det levererades lite gamla låtar och lite nya låtar. Så länge han väljer rätt i låtlistan är det ju bra skit.

Arvikafestivalen 2009 var oerhört bra.

Slutligen kan man bara konstatera att jag missade eller struntade i vissa saker som jag så här i efterhand ångrar lite. Thermostatic, Emmon, Bob Hund, Alice in Videoland, KoRn, Mind.in.a.box, DAF, Jenny Wilson, First Aid Kit och I are droid ex.

Läs även andra bloggares åsikter om arvika, arvika 2009, arvikafestivalen, detektivbyrån, p3 sommarsession, the sounds, maja ivarsson, röyksopp, robyn, karin dreijer, the knife, nine inch nails, elegant machinery, frida hyvönen, welle: erdball, emil jensen, jamobilen, depeche mode, ferver ray, florence valentin, anna ternheim, jenny wilson, fleet foxes, thåström, imperiet

Crossing the Rubicon isn’t quite an appropriate name for the Sounds’ third album. Halfway Across the Rubicon would have been closer–”crossing” denotes a radical departure, which the album is not. It is, however, an admirable attempt on the part of the Sounds to stretch their boundaries beyond the New Wave of their first two albums.

Attempts, even if admirable, do not always succeed, and Crossing the Rubicon can either be judged a qualified success or an ambitious failure, depending on whether you’re a glass-half-full or half-empty kind of guy.

As with their first two albums, Crossing opens with a killer single, “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake,” ready-made for the party-pleasing best-of that’s in the Sounds’ future if current trends continue.

As we advance, the cracks begin to show. The quality of Sounds lyrics has always been up and down, but it’s a real problem on Crossing the Rubicon. Jumping from their usual slightly-cynical posture to lovey-dovey or idealistic is incongruous and bespeaks a band having a little trouble nailing down its identity.

This results in one major missed opportunity. “Home Is Where Your Heart Is” has a glorious pop melody, and, if balanced with some dialed-back lyrics, could have been stunning. Instead, the lyrics serve up so much corn the listener could be excused for thinking the Sounds were from Iowa rather than Sweden.

Another error in judgment is the hip-hop/New Wave combo “Beatbox,” in which lead singer Maja Ivarsson decides that she can rap and makes Debbie Harry sound like Eminem in the process. The pisser here is that everything in the song that isn’t “rap” is terrific, and it could have been great if the Sounds had recognized their limitations and brought in a skilled MC as a collaborator. Perhaps a remix is in order.

Not every experiment is a failure, though. “The Only Ones” is something new for the Sounds, an epic number that seems to be set against a backdrop of political violence. Suddenly, the maudlin lyrics transform from a negative to a huge positive as they impart a heartbreaking wistfulness. Despite its scope or because of it, it’s the most human moment on the record.

Crossing the Rubicon is the work of a band in transition. While a letdown after the excellent Dying to Say This to You, it does provide plenty of reasons to believe that the Sounds have another great album in them once they’ve finished crossing.

The Sounds – “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake”

The Sounds – “The Only Ones”

Maja Ivarsson is the lead singer to one of my all time favorite bands, The Sounds. I think she embodies what it means to be a true female rocker. What more can I say about a girl who only performs in vintage shoes and has half of her head shaved?

You can view the rest of the photos from the above concert HERE.

So, my lover (ha) Victoria, affectionately known as Tor, to you and i, has just left me yet again. Not because i tried to stick my finger up her bum during sex, oh no, if you ask me she wanted that. No, she has gone home, to her house, two hours away from my house. Sucks.

She has things to do, Jobs to find. I, however, have fuck all to do. I say that, what i mean is i have loads to do but I’m not going to do it, i am a lazy cunt and we shall leave it at that. Plus i just spent all my money on tickets to get to Tor’s house in exactly seven days time, so i cant really leave the house. Due to lack of funds. More time for me to watch American Dad and update my Twitter, because who knows what the fuck i might miss on that bitch if i leave the house.

Anyway, after she left i found my camera wire i had been looking for. Only after i had spent nearly £15 getting a new one did it decide to slither out from under my bed. Plus, the nice nice people at the on-line shop i got it from wont take them back. So now i have three wires  exactly the same. Jealous much??

So after a while she got home came on-line we chatted, i suggested we cyber, she said no  (still a little frosty after the bum + finger incident), we ended up talking about The Loveless for a very long time. Now, if you don’t know who The Loveless is SHAME.ON.YOU. I wont really go in to it as she is a contact on my Twitter, so its quite plausible for her to be reading this right now, which if you are Lilly…. Dude, hey. Tor wants your babies. ha! Don’t be offended by whats coming next.

So Tor and i, we placed the Loveless number three on the list of hottest people. Well, i did. Tor, however, didn’t decide at all. She went for the… “There is just to many hot people.” Between you and me, this means Slag. Ooooo, I’m kidding. She’s my girlfriend, i love her. We are having babies, called Eason and Juliet one day. Sweet right?!

Right, bored of this now. I’m off to bed, early rise see.  I will, though, leave you with this:

The top Four. ( As number five is yet to be decided. )

1: Gillian Anderson.
2: Maja Ivarsson.
3: Lilly Loveless.
4: Elizabeth Mitchell.

Oh yes.

One of the appeals of seeing a concert by Swedish band the Sounds is their determination that everyone in the audience have a great time, since they’re seeing, after all, the greatest band in the world. Super charismatic lead singer Maja Ivarsson introduces songs by saying, “Here comes another hit,” and the band plays with such passion and commitment that for the duration of the song, it’s not just a hit, it’s a super hit! For their third album, Crossing The Rubicon, they haven’t altered their formula much: It’s more of the same propulsive New Wave and punk inspired pop they’ve been doing since their 2003 debut, Living In America. They sound rather like a less serious minded the Killers, albeit with a heavy Blondie influence and a singer with a Swedish accent, though they are no less ambitious. They’re at their best with their dance rock numbers, like the opener and current single, “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake,” and later tracks like “Beatbox” and “Underground.” Their slower numbers tend towards the sentimental, as on “Home Is Where The Heart Is,” case in point, but that said, “Dorchester Hotel” and “Midnight Sun” are album highlights as well, the latter track coming in a second half that features slower numbers in general. When they’re at the top of their game, the Sounds make some pretty irresistible dance music, and Crossing The Rubicon features enough of them at the top of their game to make it a worthwhile listen for fans and people looking for unpretentious and unabashedly entertaining pop.

http://www.myspace.com/thesounds

Conheci o The Sounds em 2003 com seu primeiro disco “Living in America“, que tem uma sonoridade bastante punk-rock, em 2006 eles lançaram seu segundo álbum “Dying to Say This to You” onde fizeram uma mistura muito boa do punk com new wave, deixando o som muito dançante. Estes dois primeiros álbuns são muito bons, recomendo muito. O pouco que escutei do terceiro álbum, “Crossing the Rubicon“, lançado dia 2 de junho, pareceu deixar a desejar em relação aos anteriores, mas de qualquer forma vale baixar e assistir os vídeos, a performance da vocalista Maja Ivarsson ao vivo é muito boa.

01. No One Sleeps When Im Awake
02. 4 Songs & A Fight
03. My Lover
04. Dorchester Hotel
05. Beatbox
06. Underground
07. Crossing The Rubicon
08. Midnight Sun
09. Lost In Love
10. The Only Ones
11. Home Is Where Your Heart Is
12. Goodnight Freddy
Baixar – The Sounds – Crossing the Rubicon (2009)

It’s list time, and everyone has their 100 Hottest Hotties. Here are 10 women whose music is just as hot as their physiques, and in no particular order:

Melissa Livaudais (Telepathe)

Sara Quin (Tegan and Sara)

Molly Siegel (Ponytail)

Maja Ivarsson (The Sounds)

Kelly Harris (Von Iva)

Kim Ann Foxman (Hercules and Love Affair)

Kate Cooper (An Horse)

Jen Markowitz (Dance Yourself to Death)

Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney)

Hannah Blilie (The Gossip)

Have a good weekend! (even though I will be stuck inside studying for finals!)

Swedish New Wave band The Sounds have a new single out as of last week. The single, titled “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake,” is a delicious example of why the band is so extraordinary. It’s an upbeat but semi-balladic New Wave wake-up call.  The song’s title is not so literal, as the song suggests people should “wake up” and live life in the here and now instead of faking their way through it, so the song gives some light philosophy in it’s lyrical content.

As much as I adore pure synthpop, a band like The Sounds offers incredible versatility and fullness of content. First and foremost, all respects must be paid to the lovely Maja Ivarsson, who’s powerful husky voice delivers songs both sweet and strong. She kicks out a tune unlike any other female performer I know today. Couple her with axman Felix Rodriguez, who is among the fiercest guitar players today, and the bright and snappy synths of Jesper Anderberg.

The entire combination works together extremely well on the latest single with Maja’s sexy vocals providing a wistful turn in the verses with a bridge that ramps up into a splashy, vibrant chorus. I love the instrumental clash that occurs around the 2-minute mark and gives way to the chorus around 2:20. The way the synths sneak in is totally awesome and incredibly pleasing to the ear.

Altogether The Sounds constitute a truly complete band turning out terrific pop music with an edge. It reminds me much of what Andy Taylor had to say about Duran Duran in his recent book. Taylor contended his addition to the band–an accomplished rock guitar–gave the band significant sonic appeal over many of their New Romantic contemporaries, who were dominated by airy synthesizers to the point of disregarding strings altogether.

The Sounds have captured that same dynamic to produce wonderful New Wave tunes. They rank, in my mind, alongside Ladytron and Franz Ferdinand as the best bands of the past decade. Their next album Crossing the Rubicon, scheduled for release on June 2, is among my top 10 most anticipated albums of the year.

This bonus song today was my song of the day on 3/6, and totally deserved it! Now you have to understand I had only heard of “The Sounds” in February 2009. I am now obsessed. As a sweet bonus for me personally, I am going to get to see them in concert in the near future because they are going to be within a day’s drive. (Review of the concert to come after the show for sure, assuming I don’t explode from experience!)

AND as a double bonus they have a new album, “Crossing the Rubicon” coming June 2nd 2009!!! (You can sign up to be notified by Amazon when it is available here. I did.) You can hear one of The Sounds’ new singles, “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake”, ahead of time here: http://www.myspace.com/thesounds

I am questioning how I did not hear of them until this year. I think I know the answer though. I got stuck in a musical rut the past couple years. Listening to new music by the 500+ artists I already knew, and nothing else. But that is over now. I am getting back in touch thanks to sites like NPR’s All Songs Considered, Pandora Radio, and my eMusic subscription & recommendations. I’m also starting to ask everyone I know what they’re listening to all the time. I don’t want to miss out anymore!

So if you are not familiar with “The Sounds”, watch the video above. Then go to their site and listen to everything there. Then go buy all their albums and enjoy!

Why am I obsessed? They have that post-punk revival sound. Edgy yet honest lyrics, a driving danceable beat, a touch of the 70s/80s pop & punk, and a “don’t mess with me or I will kill you and throw a party like its 1999 on your skull” kind of attitude …AND they are Swedish. How could you not love that!? Also, do you not love the video? Oh I can’t wait to see them!

PS: Maja Ivarsson is also totally channeling Deborah Harry, lead singer of “Blondie”. Observe and you decide:

Deborah Harry: http://www.mary-kateandashley.com/upload_images/cms/deborahharry.jpg

Maja Ivarsson: http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l84/pikku_sari/top%20ten/majaivarsson.jpg

Click here for more info on The Sounds – Dying To Say This To You – “Painted By Numbers”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

The Sounds - Dying To Say This To You