Kentuckyseven

Photo: Jessica Nettelbladt

There are some artists, that just create magic, what ever they touch. Nina Persson is one of those artists.

Listening to those Cardigans albums, with her exquisite voice all over them, it kind of makes you feel that this is something that will last for a long long time. It is timeless, and beautiful Swedish pop music. The song ”Lovefool”  topped lists all over the world in the middle of the nineties, and for a good reason. The last album from the band, Super Extra Gravity was no exception. Great pop, as it should be.

Her musical career is astounding and amazing in many ways, just ponder that A Camp is her next step, away from the band. Strong, independent pop music, with magical tunes and harmonies. And then the lyrics on top.

Her last project, a movie and concerts, ”Jag är min egen Dolly Parton (I am my own Dolly Parton)” where an ensemble performs Dolly Parton songs, is something for all Dolly fans, and great stories of women of today.

We caught up with Nina, to see what she’s got going on in her headphones…

What are you listening to – right now?
– ”Astrid Lindgrens Favoriter”, any Trojan-box, and Brian Eno’s ”Music for airports” and ”Thursday afternoon”.

Best book read during 2010?
– Karl-Ove Knaustgård ”Min Kamp”

Your hopes for this year?
– That hard times will pass.

Two artists who inspire you?
– John Bauer, Francesca Woodman.

Who deserves a breakthru in 2011?
– Joan As Policewoman

Check out the back catalogue of The Cardigans and A Camp @ Spotify, and if you get the chance to go see the Dolly move or the concert, enjoy!

Photo: Olle Kirchmeier

The Concretes, one of Sweden’s unhidden treasures in indiepop-music, are on the road, ripping the US apart from coast to coast.

The band has released four full-length albums, since 2003, and has been alive since 1995. After the album ”Hey Trouble” in 2007, the band was on hold for a while, but regrouped stronger than ever and released the album WYWH in the autumn of 2010.

We caught up with Lisa Milberg, multi-talented singer of the awesome band, on the road, to see what gets her going on the tour-bus…

What are you listening to – right now?

– At this very moment: Running On Empty by Jackson Browne. Because apparently it’s a required listen when on the way to LA in a tour bus…

– Other than that I am all about R Kelly now.

Best book read during 2010?

– Just Kids by Patti Smith. Such a beautiful read.

Your hopes for this year?

– Peace, love, understanding. and a driver’s license.

Three artists who inspire you?

– Right now Alex Colville’s images really speak to me. They all have at least one song in them.

– Dirty Beaches Lord Know Best remains stuck in my mind.

– And Joni Mitchell warms my heart. Now and forever. Generally I find I am back to a lot the classics again. People who I have always loved, I love now more than ever.

Who deserves a breakthru in 2011?

– How To Dress Well.

Check out The Concretes @ The Concretes.com or on Spotify

Kentuckyseven proudly presents Howard Eliott Payne.

In 2009 one record ruled them all. Bright Light Ballads, from the brit HEP. An album which still mesmerizes, captures and clings. It’s been on heavy rotation since I first bought it.

Howard has been writing stuff for other artists, but lets us know that he is planning something for himself. For us.

The artist is dylanesque, to say the least, yet very personal and gripping in his singing. If you have missed his album, go get it, right now.

We got in touch with the man:

What are you listening to?

– Elvis Costello and the Attractions: This Years Model
– Aaron Neville: Hercules
– Elliott Smith: XO
– Dr John: Gris Gris

Best book read during 2010?

– Tearing Down The Wall Of Sound, The Rise And Fall of Phil Spector by Mick Brown

Who deserves a breakthrough in 2011?

– Ren Harvieu, She’s something else.

Let’s say you haven’t heard HEP, please check him out here @ YouTube

I´ve loved Langhorne Slim, or Sean Scolnick if you will, since the first day I heard him sing. It´s something about him. Something wonderful and unique. One day I will shake his hand and buy him a cold one. That is a promise.

His last album hit the scene 2009, and instantly became my #1 album of the year. Since then this 30 year old folkrocker from Langhorne, Pennsylvania has been on stage. On every road, as Mark Knopfler said. He is wandering the soil of America and you can hear it in his voice.

Kentuckyseven is proud to present a smalltalk (a WAYLT) with Slim. Check out his next gig = Jan 19 Belly Up Tavern CA, Jan 20 Galaxy Concert Theatre CA, Jan 21 The Music Box CA, Jan 22 The Fillmore CA.

And let´s give him a hrmph for admiring the K7-darling book.

Langhorne, what are you listening to right now?

”Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall.  It is amazing!”

Best book read during 2010?
”The Master and Margarita.”

Who deserves a breakthru in 2011?
”We are currently on tour with an artist from Scotland named Ryan Lauder and we love him.  Check him out!!”

Langhorne – Home, Langhorne – Myspace, Langhorne – Spotify.

Photo:  Henrik Burman

One of the best albums of 2010 was a debut album, an album that is pure magic. Made The Harbour by Mountain Man is a beautiful piece of musical art.

The feeling of beeing right there, just when the music is played for the first time is very present. You can hear the silence in the room, just before the powerful voices of Molly Erin Sarle, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, Amelia Randall Meath fills it up with an amazing ambiance. The mighty sound of steelstringed guitars, banjos and the ambiance itself.

The voices of Mountain Man is something you need to experince for yourself. You will fall in love, just as Kentuckyseven did.

We caught up with Amelia just as she was moving, but she took the time to tell us what she listens to:

What are you listening to?

– Right now I can’t stop listening to Dire Straits (s/t). Mark Knopfler has this incredible ability to distill an entire experience into a lyric, but he does not get complicated with what he is trying to convey. He trusts himself. His songs are also honest to the point of cheesiness. My favorite song off the album is Wild West End.

Major Lazer has been listened to a lot recently.

Michael Hurley- first songs is always on heavy rotation

And Wonderwall Music by George Harrison ( the soundtrack to the film that Oasis wrote the song about) is one of my favorite albums.

M. Ward – I’ll be yr bird can make me have an emotional reaction no matter where I am.

Best book read during 2010?

– Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, which is an old one, but it sure is amazing.

Who deserves a breakthrough in 2011?

– Tooth ache, Paleo, Made of Oak, and  Dana & Faith

Meet Mountain Man:

@ Mountain Man Bandcamp

@ MySpace

Photo: Christopher Nelson

We really got into Rocky Votolato during 2007. His album The Brag and Cuss hit Kentuckyseven´s toplist of the year.

Rocky is still very much with us, often late at night when the going gets tough and we need a little te-te-tenderness. There he shows up with his voice and his harmonica. A dear friend.

Votolato´s latest album True Devotion could be his finest work up to date. He was born in rural Texas, lives in rainy Seattle (cheers from rainy Gothenburg), and makes music sweet and rare.

This is a guy to follow to the bitter end, and his concept of Living Room Shows (he gets into your house!) is pure genius. We got hold of Rocky on the road, asked him a couple of questions.

Photo: Rebecca Miller

”If you’d like me to, I’ll try to be brave like you.”

Alessi Laurent-Marke, the british singer songwriter beeing Alessi’s Ark, keeps us standing on our toes. After numerous marvelous songs, ep:s , we are in love. If you haven’t experienced her music, you haven’t yet learned what the rest of us have been enjoying for quite some time now.

It’s mysterious, grand, small, sensitive, it’s all you ever wanted it to be. We are just wondering when she is going to appear in Sweden. Kentuckyseven is certain that she will overpower all the cold nights, the rainy days and the darkness of autumn. Alessi’s Ark will take you to that comfort place in your dreams, and keep you there. We are still there.

Alessi’s Ark recently released the EP ”Soul Proprietor” on Bella Union, go fetch it.

We snuck up on Alessi and asked her:

What are you listening to?

– Albums, Epic by Sharon Van Etten, In My Own Time by Karen Dalton,
– Songs, Don’t Mind Me by O Emperor and Elvis by Denis Jones.

Best book read during 2010 ?

– Letters To A Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

Who deserves breakthru in 2011? .

– Coal Beautiere, Sons of Noel and Adrian and Jake Bellows (of Neva Dinova).

We’d love to follow onboard the Ark, and see where we would end up. If you haven’t been onboard yet, we suggest you take closer look at:

Alessi’s Ark @ Spotify or just visit Bella Union and get to know her yourself…

Rhode Island has given the world a lot of good things. Most commonly known by us swedes is probably the sallad dressing, which probably would cause a frown or two on a real Rhode Islander, since it probably only exists in sweden.

One thing thing that really do exist in Rhode Island is the extraordinary band Deer Tick. A high voltage live band that has spellbound a lot of people, and definately us on Kentuckyseven. The band plays the kind of music that appeals to people who really appreciate real music. The alt-country sound mixed up with relevant rocksounds from decades back in time.

The band has released three astounding albums, War Elephant (2008), Born on Flag Day (2009) and The Black Dirt Sessions (2010). We are pretty sure that the latter will be on a great number of Best of 2010 lists, it will surely be on Kentuckyseven’s.

The band has just ended their north-american tour, which we hope was seen by those able. Deer Tick is a Kentuckyseven favorite, and we hope and pray to see them in Sweden. Soon.

Deer Tick released all their  albums on Partisan Records, who seems to find the core artists, in the genre. And then some.

We got a hold of Ian O’Neil of Deer Tick…

What are you listening to?

– I’ll try to speak for the whole band as much as I can. I can safely say that a good few of us can’t get The Replacements ”Tim”, J. Roddy Walston and the Business’ latest album and Mark Sultan’s latest record out of our van. I’ve been getting back into Bob Dylan’s ”John Wesley Harding” and ”Nashville Skyline”.

Best book read during 2010?

– We have some pretty different tastes in books. Lots of true crime for John, looks of Three Musketeers stuff for Chris, Robbie can devour anything in record time. I’ve loved reading Raymond Carver’s poems ”Aqua Marine” and ”Norwood” by Charles Portis. Both bangin stuff. I think I’ve seen ”The Rum Diary” by Hunter Thompson traded around.

Who deserves breakthru in 2011?

– My vote would be that J. Roddy Walston and the Business make a ton of money.

If you have missed Deer Tick, don’t kill yourself about it. Their entire catalog is available from Partisan Records, on iTunes,  and on vinyl in well-sorted recordstores. Go get it.

@Partisan Records @ Myspace @ Facebook @ Twitter

Photo: Sarah Jurado

Kentuckyseven proudly presents, Al James from Dolorean.

The acclaimed Portland band Dolorean, came with their debut Not Exotic in 2003, The New York Times said in their review ”The songs gesture at folk and country, but they do it quietly and slowly, as if hesitant to disturb Mr. James’s delicate parables. And yet, despite the stillness, this is a wild, passionate album.” Since then Dolorean has released Violence in the Snowy Fields 2004, You Can’t Win in 2007, and now releasing their fourth album The Unfazed  in january 2011.

We got a sneak preview of The Unfazed, and it will be reviewed soon here on Kentuckyseven. The titlesong can be heard on Dolorean’s website below.

What are you listening to?

–  I mostly listen to music on my turntable early in the morning when I wake up or in the evening while I’m fixing dinner.  My favorite music right now is a combination of new and old records.  I love the new Deerhunter album Halcyon Digest, Gonjasufi – A Sufi and a Killer, Damien Jurado’s Saint Bartlett, Lightning Dust’s Infinite Light, Woods – At Echo Lake, and Kurt Vile – Constant Hitmaker.  The older re-issues I’m loving are Bob Desper – New Sounds, Ted Lucas – The Om Record, and Lazy Smoke’s Corridor of Faces.

Best book read during 2010?

– Man, I love to read but don’t get as much time to read as I’d like.  My favorite contemporary author is Willy Vlautin.  I love his most recent novel that came out in 2010 – Lean On Pete.  Definitely the best book this year.

Who deserves a breakthrough in 2011?

– To be honest, I hope Dolorean has a big year in 2011.  We’ve been working so hard for so long.  I really want to reach more people with our music next year.  In addition to Dolorean, I hope that Mara Miller’s band Bosque Brown has a great 2011.  She sang a duet with me on The Unfazed.  I’m a huge fan of her voice and her songs.  She definitely deserves a bigger audience.

Kentuckyseven is hoping for a big year for Dolorean as well. If you haven’t met them yet, get to know Portlands finest at:

Dolorean @ Myspace @Spotify @Facebook @Partisanrecords or just check out Doloreanmusic