Friday Random Five (#11)

A fairly well and randomly seasoned mix here this week: twee, untwee, old, new, and a music video (which you may recall seeing on Night Trax or Friday Night Videos growing up). Enjoy the weekend, next week's merciful and short.

1- We'll start off with, coincidentally enough, one from today's show's focus, Jens Lekman (see more on him above). The Swedish singer-songwriter will be releasing Oh You're So Silent, Jens next week on Secretly Canadian records. "Black Cab" (MP3) originally appeared on last year's Maple Leaves EP and is included on the new full-length as well.

2- New Zealand imports the Brunettes are apparently the latest signee to the Sub Pop records label, with a new album scheduled for some time in the latter half of 2006. They've been described as an uber-twee marriage of 1965 and 1981. "Dancefloor" (MP3) comes from their 2002 debut, Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks.

3- Catfish Haven are a Chicago-based band named for the trailer park in which frontman George Hunter grew up. Their debut EP, Please Come Back is due out early in 2006 on Secretly Canadian-- here's the title track: "Please Come Back" (MP3).

4- David Dondero has drawn more than a few comparisons to Conor Oberst, mainly for his vocal stylings. It's ironic, then, that Dondero's new full-length, South of the South, is out on Oberst's Team Love label-- and it's pretty good, too. "I've Seen the Love" (MP3) is from it.

5- We close it with one of those music videos I was talking about-- if you're old enough you remember them. Brent Chasenek created the new video for John Vanderslice's excellent "Exodus Damage" (link), from this year's Pixel Revolt. And just for the hell of it, "Big Band Stars" (MP3) goes all the way back to Vanderslice's debut, mass suicide occult figurines.


enjoy. rinse. repeat.