#15 on the 2015 Bacon Top 31

Shake Shook Shaken by The dø

You’re going to start noticing a theme here on the Top 31. This band, The dø, from Paris, fits a mold you first heard at #17 in the Swedish band, Amason: strong, lyrical, female vocals backed by a mix of analog and synthesized electrified sound. I’m not sure if it’s me that’s in a phase that is particularly drawn to this formula, or if there just happens to be a plethora of really good indie pop music coming out right now. Either way, I’m happy.

Shake Shook Shaken is the band’s third full-length, and it technically came out in 2014 in other parts of the world, but since I didn’t hear of it until recently, I’m using the U.S. release date (January 27, 2015) to allow the album to be on this year’s countdown. It’s my Top 31, dammit. I do what I want.

Plus, this album is so good, I want to give it maximum exposure. The dø are a duo, Olivia Merilahti and Dan Levy, who met ten years ago. I haven’t been able to check out their other two albums, but I hope to soon. According to the peak chart positions of their albums, as shown on Wikipedia, the French sure do love them some dø. I’m guessing you will, too.

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16. La Di Da Di by Battles
17. Sky City by Amason
18. What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World by The Decemberists
19. Untethered Moon by Built to Spill
20. Viet Cong by Viet Cong
21. The Magic Whip by Blur
22. Savage Hills Ballroom by Youth Lagoon
23. Not Real by Stealing Sheep
24. Beat the Champ by The Mountain Goats
25. Gliss Riffer by Dan Deacon
26. Dark Bird is Home by The Tallest Man on Earth
27. Gunnera by Pfarmers
28. Swimmer to a Liquid Armchair by Ricked Wickey
29. To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
30. Live in Seattle by Moufang / Czamanski
31. High by Royal Headache

What is the Bacon Top 31?
Past years’ Top 31s

#17 on the 2015 Bacon Top 31

Sky City by Amason

I like Sweden. Like Iceland, if an album from a Swedish artist lands in my lap, I’ll most likely enjoy it. Amason is the second Swedish band on this year’s countdown. Another Swedish favorite of mine, Dungen, also came out with a new album this year, and I didn’t hear it until I’d already started the countdown, unfortunately too late to get it into the countdown.

All three of these Swedish bands mentioned above have connections beyond their country of origin. Amanda Bergman (also known as Idiot Wind), lead singer of Amason, used to be married to Kristian Matsson (also known as The Tallest Man on Earth, and whose divorce from Bergman creatively fueled his album Dark Bird is Home, #26 on this year’s countdown). Gustav Ejstes, guitarist in Amason, is a founding member of Dungen. Amason could be called a “Swedish super group” in the same sense that Broken Social Scene is a “Canadian super group.” I’m a big fan of super groups. Pooling talent always seems to net great music.

Amason is no different. I first featured them on the Bacon Review back in February, when they were suggested to me by a Swedish friend of mine. Since then I’ve listened to the album many, many times. It falls into the psychedelic-indie-rock mold, with lots of echo-chamber vocals and time signature changes. If you’ve liked Dungen or other prog- / psych-rock acts in the past, you’ll have a lot to like in Sky City.

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18. What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World by The Decemberists
19. Untethered Moon by Built to Spill
20. Viet Cong by Viet Cong
21. The Magic Whip by Blur
22. Savage Hills Ballroom by Youth Lagoon
23. Not Real by Stealing Sheep
24. Beat the Champ by The Mountain Goats
25. Gliss Riffer by Dan Deacon
26. Dark Bird is Home by The Tallest Man on Earth
27. Gunnera by Pfarmers
28. Swimmer to a Liquid Armchair by Ricked Wickey
29. To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
30. Live in Seattle by Moufang / Czamanski
31. High by Royal Headache

What is the Bacon Top 31?
Past years’ Top 31s

Amason — Duvan

Here’s a kooky video from a new band out of Sweden, Amason. Amason formed in 2012 as a side project for members of other well-known Swedish bands, Miike Snow and Dungen. After releasing a few singles and an EP throughout 2013 and 2014, the band’s excellent debut album, Sky City, came out last month. Check it out.