Kordan‘s Fantasy Nation kicks right into gear with an almost, dare I say it, “crunk” feel. The intensity hits you harder than an ex-girlfriend’s unexpected blow. Then the madness truly sets in. With a touch of Joy Division, these New York rockers bring glam rock meets punk to a new extreme. This isn’t your older brother’s 80′s influenced rock band. This is the real 80-proof keyboard-ripping sound once known worldwide, and now rearranged to fit the new times.

The strength behind the title track “Fantasy Nation” feels like the aura you once felt in the strobe lights of a roller rink in Junior High. Your heart races like something is going to happen, you just don’t know what. Then the cute girl asks you to slow skate to a Mariah Carey song, and your heart spills out of your chest (by this personal exploration, I’m really talking about the chorus, hooks, and overall feel – OK, I might need therapy). And this potency rarely slows down. If it does, it’s only to lead into something even more worthy of bobbing heads and the falling into complete awe. “Tokyo Tears” (such an 80′s title) rips through the vertebrate of rock and roll and shows it to the laughing acid-filled skull of the beholder. There is something strange (or strangely personal) happening throughout Fantasy Nation that can only be described in obscure analogies.

There have been many groups with similar ideas as those put forth by Kordan. We all know the power of Duran Duran and skinny jeans. But trust me, this is completely different. This is war against the music gods. This is full-fledged anarchy when compared to the likes of The Killers and The Bravery. This is the spirit of electronic rock that has been desperately seeking a place in existence for some time. This is simply amazing!

Kordan: Fantasy Nation [mp3]

TwentySeven Records [CDEP, 2009]

1. Fantasy Nation
2. Tokyo Tears
3. Slouchy Girl
4. Hologram
5. Re-L

As I’ve noted countless times in my reviews, I am a firm believer that the sweetest and best of indie-pop from around the world comes from Sweden. While The Legends kicked off this phase, my attention was not focused on that country until I discovered label mates Acid House Kings. With the success of their cherished Sing Along With The Acid House Kings (2005, Labrador) comes the smash hit single “Do What You Wanna Do” in a Single/EP of the same name, this time on the Florida label TwentySeven Records with four exclusive tracks—one of which is exclusive to the US release of the single.

I list Johan Angergård as someone I would like to meet, and it is true. His music strikes a chord with me, whether he’s recording with Club 8, Acid House Kings or The Legends. He is, in my opinion, one of the most creative musicians around. But with the Acid House Kings comes something more: a quartet of talented indie-pop musicians who can easily be listed among greats like Belle & Sebastian and Morrissey. Why Sweden doesn’t have the pop stigma of Glasgow, I am sure that it is coming.

The first time I heard “Do What You Wanna Do”, I thought it was the latest single by The Legends. The song features hand claps and a consistent tambourine—you can almost hear the producer telling the group I gotta have more hand claps like Bruce Dickinson to Gene Frenkle with the cowbell. While the Bruce and Gene sketch warrants a laugh, “Do What You Wanna Do” warrants applause as I gave it the runner-up position to “Best Song of 2005”, second only to Voxtrot’s “The Start of Something.”

“Come Josephine” features Julia Lannerheim’s sweet vocal stylings while “Drama Aside” adds the vocals of Angergård brothers Johan and Niklas. “The Camera” features piano and Julia on vocals for one of the softest, most beautiful songs Acid House Kings has recorded to date. In many ways, it has hints of the softer side of Saint Etienne’s latest album. “This Heart is a Stone” is the other track from Sing Along With… and, in many ways, is single worthy itself. “Keep Your Love” is exclusive to the US release of the EP/Single and is the most up-tempo of those found on Do What You Wanna Do with exception of the title track. The exclusives, with exception of “Keep Your Love,” are slower and softer than most tracks on Sing Along With, but do not detract from the overall power of the album.

Against Sing Along With…, the Do What You Wanna Do Single/EP holds steady the course of not only one of the most prominent bands in Europe, but one of the greatest bands worldwide. Props to the Kings!

This review was originally published July 25, 2006 on the old version of FensePost. Acid House Kings are currently working on their follow-up to Sing Along With; follow Acid House Kings on Twitter, and you may hear more as the currently unknown/unannounced release date approaches.

Acid House Kings: Do What You Wanna Do [mp3]

TwentySeven Records [CDEP, 2005]

1. Do What You Wanna Do
2. Come Josephine
3. This Heart Is A Stone
4. Drama Inside
5. This Camera
6. Keep Your Love

After receiving London Bridges in the mail from Ivy League‘s Ryland Blackinton, I excitedly ripped open the package to find an album with quite interesting cover art. My sole thought was this: how odd. But only after cracking the jewel case to find a web address for the artist, Hope Gangloff, did I understand the power behind the drawing.

Hope’s art depicts young urbanites in common situations—very fitting for the cover of a folk-pop album. She sketches the toils of urban nightlife and images of alcohol and cigarettes and sex and other vices. Swirling with urban culture, the imagery is fascinating when compared to imagery found in folk-pop groups like Ivy League—a group consisting of young 20-something urbanites taking a leap of faith in the music they create.

There’s an existential quality to the art, a nonchalant invasion of everyday life combined with the utilization of the most common of artistic tools: the ball-point pen. Following closely to the visual cover art is the folk-pop of Ivy League, weaving common stories into lyrical beauty backed by lightly plucked acoustic guitars. This is one group that must be followed, one group to keep an eye on, and one group to definitely check out when they cruise through a town near you.

Ivy League is Alex Suarez and Ryland Blackinton. Alex and Ryland go way back, but it was only recently that they reconnected and formed the folk-pop group known as Ivy League. This Brooklyn duo release their debut EP/Single for “London Bridges” on August 1st, 2006 thanks to TwentySeven Records. Boasting four tracks, Ivy League draws similarities to Simon & Garfunkel, Belle & Sebastian, Iron & Wine, and Kings of Convenience, all while keeping the sound concise and their own.

With a light shuffle and dual vocals the group has come to define themselves by, “London Bridges” is sure to sweep the indie-pop world with fervor and grace. “P is for Penelope” conjures strong images of Erlend Øye and Kings of Convenience in the plucking of guitar chords as well as in vocal stylings. The “Penelope” outro is a surprising breakdown for the duo, taking the group electric in both guitars and percussion. While a somewhat odd addition to the song and album, it is catchy and interesting and provides for an outstanding intermission. “June” has been a favorite since first discovering this group, consisting of strong references to The Graduate and Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends. “Crown of Love” deserves it’s own paragraph, so here goes:

In a similar fashion to Iron & Wine’s cover of “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service, Ivy League has taken a song from a somewhat well-known group and re-crafted it with a folk base for the London Bridges EP/Single. This song, “Crown of Love”, was initially released on Funeral by The Arcade Fire. Ryland oversaw this project, stripping down the song to its folk roots with lightly plucked guitar patterns backing his clean harmony vocals. A near perfect conclusion to their debut release, the duo has proved themselves a force to reckon with in both folk music and indie-pop—one that promises a bright and successful future.

In summation, Ivy League now has my vote for the best new band and London Bridges the best EP of 2006. It will be difficult to rival in the closing months of the year, one already bright with soon-to-be classics. And Ivy League will be at their forefront.

This review was originally published July 19, 2006 on the old version of FensePost. When this review was first published, the group recorded under the name Ivy League. After discovering another group existed previously under that name, they expanded to This Is Ivy League. They have since released their debut LP.

This Is Ivy League: London Bridges [mp3]

TwentySeven Records [CDEP, 2006]

1. London Bridges
2. P Is For Penelope
3. June
4. Crown Of Love