Why We Love Sweden / December 31, 2015 by E

A short and compiled list of a few of our favorite Swedish acts of the year.

Ms. Henrik's "1994" sounds innocent enough at first, but breaking lyrics and unforgiving lines that build to these blatant truths will stick with you long after you're done listening, and have you reaching out for more music.

There may not be a prettier track than Mavrick's "Remedy". The stark, black and white video keeps the focus on the lyrics and lulling piano riffs that have already pulled in so many lucky listeners, but a good lyrical focus and careful lead-ins raise this above any other pure pop track. Listen to his acoustic Soundtrade Session for something that will have you proclaiming Mavrick as, possibly, the best new Swedish act of the year.

Leo Skywell's "Leisure/Desperation" is a dreamy-nearing-psychedelic techno track that swirls and builds and unwinds in dizzying ease. We don't have much to say on the track, because we'd rather let you form your own opinion on an even track we just wouldn't be able to stand taking anything away from.

Not the first, and neither the last, time that Sameblod has been featured on this site, we're glad to add their hypnotic mix of electropop to this list. While most electronic tracks skip the lyrics in lieu of a hitting chorus, Sameblod insists on keeping the verses as worthy of play as the sweet sing-along choruses they so easily put out, and we can't wait to hear more from them in 2016.

As far as debut singles go, MIRA's "Ghost" is utterly impressive. Its even approach and unnerving tones come together in a dreamy twist that feels so human in all its obscure influences. Listen, form your own opinion, and download it for free while you still can.

Patrik Jakubowski releases the starkest love song of the year, for the ocean. The simply shot video shows the love and dedication it takes to surf on Gotland, Sweden and the song unwinds with a simple, aching purity you've got to hear to understand.

Club 8's enticingly dark "Skin" is a whispering of hazy memories and dark clubs and sweaty dances and nearly remembered moments from one night, shoved into a song sure to have you taking a better listen.

Young and fun, we've not spent too much time with Factory Brains, but we know they're one we really want to hear more from in 2016; check out "Modern Day".

Perhaps the most hitting single we got in this year, Violet Days' "Screaming Colors" is undeniable greatness, wrapped up in four short minutes you'll be left playing over and over. As stated previously, the song comes off like coming out on the other side of depression, a bit like falling down the rabbit hole into something much more brilliant and full of honest life than the statuesque pretenses that lived before it. Cathartic, catchy, developed, honest; what's not to love?

Nitty Gritty & Fuckin' Good / December 31, 2015 by E

With a sense of hard, fast, and easy we were gifted lo-fi, hard rock roots/throwbacks this year; unnerving undertones, drawn out bass and all, and it was so, so good.

Tim Muddiman and The Strange stayed at the forefront with each song darker than the last, in just the best way possible. It's authentic and pure and too good to pass over before it's forgotten in the wave of new music 2016 will bring. Listen to "Wildwood Stone" and don't forget to check out "Your Drugs" and "Rolling Stones".

Midnight Barbers' "Damascus" was nothing short of hypnotic with running, old school riffs, harsh beats, and this echoing, uncontrolled brilliant reverb that demanded your full attention. It'll take a second listen before you can even begin to focus on lyrics and another just to watch a video as wonderfully twisted as the track itself.

Guaranteed to make you smile with its off-the-beat, drunken sounding lyrics and fun, fun riffs, The Savage Nomads "Rosy Tan" is like the just having come of age drunken love song you never knew you kind of really needed. Chill and unrestricted, it just gets better with each listen.

Electro rock deserves a shout out if only for its intrinsically 'hot mess' promised sound. The Singularity's "Wetter" is like a shot of 80's pop falling in with catchy hooks and hard beats and lyrics that just don't give a fuck in the absolute best way possible. Everything about the track, video, and drawn out guitar solo of a bridge screams throwback, and we're pretty glad this exists.

We're not going to say we love this solely because they're one of few all female bands delving into this lo-fi, dark and dreamy category, but we're super into this and it is so very cool to be able to feature some women in a genre that's largely dominated by men. Dreamy and unwinding in a drugged haze, Dolores Haze's "Touch Me" are all the hypnotic riffs you'll need to have you begging for more.

Rah Rah's "Be Your Man" is like a spacey, folk version of lo-fi grit, with its perked up chorus and pretty instrumentation, but put together in such a laissez-faire way that it hangs off the fringes of dreamy post-punk, rock on the upswing, alternatively imperfect and that's okay vocals, with some unforgiving lyrics for show. Really, be sure to check this one.

Car Seat Headrest's gasping, desperate lo-fi sound culminates nicely on irrepressible single "Something Soon". Mental illness, loneliness, teenage boredom, cathartic releases, and a video featuring the 'death' of the lead singer; it's got all the makings of a good grunge/rock/underground comeback, but with something wholly new and twisted you should already be on-board with.

Dance Like A Freak Videos / December 31, 2015 by E

All the videos that made us feel better about our mundane moves, featured dance as a respected art, or which inspired a lot of our own poor jumps and twirls that would never be acceptable for public viewing; we loved them all.

No surprise that The Amazons are on this list. Cut out the ridiculous riffs, the prominent move your damn feet beats, and lyrics that mark the chorus as one you just can't sit quietly through, and you're left with a video of simply the most honest bedroom dance moves of the year.

There's an undeniable and stark charm to the simplicity and authenticity of Big Strong Brute's Napolean Dynamite inspired video for "Wait". A lot of flowery descriptions that boil down to the fact that we really like this. It's honest, sweet, fun, and there's a dog! Throw in a vastly underrated song and this has been on repeat here for months.

While much more choreographed and beautiful than the others, Bec Sandridge's "In The Fog, In The Flame" gives us a great baton twirling dance in the making with visions of greatness that linger just outside the frames. Plus, the chorus is made for dancing and twirling with friends on sunny Saturdays.

Expected but well worth the mention, Phonat's "Fire" (featuring Jolie and the Key) should not only be added to your weights playlist, but should be (even more) widely watched for all its great moves. Seriously, we're jealous and laughably uncoordinated in comparison to people this awesome.

Always ready to talk up the truly amazing Kimberly Anne, while lyrics and secure riffs feel like something you want to lay back and listen to for hours, the video features a pretty mix of performance art that we're super into. Watch it for fun, press replay for your new addiction.

Downtempo, longing, and featuring less straightforward 'dance' than any of the others in this list, Neon Hitch's "Sparks" is here more-so and simply because of the feelings it invokes. Ultimate freedom and a sense of being uncontrolled; what else do you need to get you dancing? Don't miss our interview with Neon Hitch where she talks about the latest album, Eleutheromaniac.

Possibly our favorite 'find' of the year, Castlecomer never fails to put out absolutely perfect lyrics, matched in greatness only by running riffs and persistent, just off kilter beats we can't get enough of. Watch "Fire Alarm" and give the band a few more months to define their sound; they'll be unstoppable.

Wrapping it up, The Elwins' "Show Me How To Move" is just so damn cute and honest without missing a beat you've got to smile.

Christmas / December 24, 2015 by E

Here's a sweet playlist with a good mix of all the things that make the holidays just so great with songs so charming, fun, and light they were made to play in the background while drinking warm, sweet gluhwein with friends. From us to you, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.