The Best for 2009, June 9, 2009

As Bloodshy and Avant, Swedish producers Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg have worked with acts like Madonna, Kylie, and Britney ("Toxic"). As Miike Snow, they team with singer/songwriter Andrew Wyatt to produce sublime Indie Electro-pop much removed from their work as producers, and more comparable to the sound of The Whitest Boy Alive, or a spare Röyksopp.Opening cut "Animal" is a lightly bouncy Reggae-tinged song. "Don't forget to cry at your own burial" you'll find yourself singing along on the floaty "Burial", adding some black to the dazzling white hue. "Song for no one" is more upbeat with a really catchy keyboard riff and semi whispered vocals from Wyatt, one of my favourites. "Black and blue" is a slice of guitar/piano garnished quivery Pop, while the dreamy "Sans soleil" (with reverbing guitars, killer harmonies, and a lulling seaside feel) and the icy sounding piano song "Faker" (with Beatles-style harmonies) are the closest things to ballads...

Maybe they've been putting something in the water these past few decades, but it seems like ever since ABBA took over the world in the `70s Sweden has been a hotbed of wildly addictive pop music, no more so than in this new millennium. From the Cardigans, Robyn, and the Concretes, to Peter Bjorn & John, the Hives, the Shout Out Louds and now production "supergroup" Miike Snow, Sweden's been assaulting the rest of the world's charts in their own charming way for years. A little late to the coming-out party but still retaining all the trademarks of Swedish indie pop, Miike Snow combines the songwriting and production talents of Bloodshy & Avant (Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg) with American producer and lead singer Andrew Wyatt. With such an impressive hit-making resumé behind them, it should come as little surprise that Miike Snow is the kind of brain-imprinting electro that gets in your head and refuses to go away.Given Bloodshy & Avant's history, working...

Whoa. I picked up the first song "Animal" on the KEXP Song of the Day podcast and knew I had to have this CD RIGHT NOW. This is the best I've picked up for some time. This whole playlist is easy on your ears and I haven't been able to be still for hours. Load this into your MP3 and drift away. Awesome for walking or workout. Animal, Black and Blue, Sans Soleil, A Horse is Not a Home, Faker... What a great set of songs... I believe this is a Swedish trio. Irregardless, this is the best of 2009. It'll take you way high.