It's imported, so its gotta be good

Still plugging away at these album reviews. I still accidentally fill out a lot of dated material with 2007 in the year category, so I think that means I can still get away with my 2007 reviews. It's kind of like getting a handicap for being handicapped. If I could somehow swing a blue tag for my car due to this problem with my brain, then I'd really be on easy street.

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Today is Presidents Day. Do all 43 presidents feel like they are being honored by this holiday? Are we supposed to be honoring all of them? I know that Presidents Day falls between Washington and Lincoln's birthday so the holiday was originallymade with their birthays in mind, but then what about Jefferson and Roosevelt? They are on Mount Rushmore too, don't they get a holiday?

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Here's another thing I don't get. Why is February "Black History Month"? Shouldn't it be in January when Martin Luther King's birthday is? Is there a reason why February is the designated month? Was there some peice of historical civil rights legislation signed in this month? I feel like I should know why given that this month is supposed to be dedicated to the study of Black History. And I do know a lot about black history, except for why this month is the month to emphasize it. I know that April was the month that the Confederate Army surrendered to the Union army and was the start to the abolishment of slavery. I also know that April was the month that Martin Luther King was assasinated. Maybe April would be a better month?

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NUMBER 7: Jens Lekman "Night Falls over Kortedala" - With a name like Jens Lekman, you are probably not surprised to hear he is not from America. He is actually from the area in which the most overated consumer products originate, Sweden. From massagers and cars, to furniture and hand cream, being from Sweden is probably the number one attraction tag on a luxury product. I think France and Germany are very close behind, but only because "From Sweden" is used more because Americans are not really sure where or what Sweden really is and can't distinguish it from Norway or Finland. Apparently, being "From Sweden" is like being from some magical winter wonderland where people have nothing better to do but come up with products that are better than American products. I would like Geraldo to do an investigation as to how many products that claim to be from Sweden are actually A) from sweden and B) worth the cost of importing/brand costs over similar American products.

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Okay, back to Jens, who is not over-rated, but actually more of an undiscovered talent. His music really is a lot of fun and his style makes you believe that he is your friends foreign exchange student messing around with your dads old music. Jens music just feels really accessibile because its foundations are quirky/funny lyrics and simple hooks. His boyish voice and his old crooner sample technique is so easy and yet so creative, you almost think that you could do it. But you can't, there is a real talent to his work, but the amateur style makes you want to give him a pat on the back no matter what he creates. He creates songs about funny jokes, meeting the parents of his lesbian friend, having a crush on his hair stylist, being jealous of your sisters success, first kisses, and being in love. No song has an uncreative look on any topic and his lyrics are a must read cause they are a scream. Mixed with his music, its probably the most fun to listen to album on this list.

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His first major release in 2005, "Oh, You're So Silent Jens" was a release of all his music that he created between 2000-2005 and was a great album. I was unsure of what to expect from 2007's "Night Falls over Kortedala" since it took him 5 years to create 15 songs on " Oh, You're SoSilent..", I was wary that maybe he forced himself to lay down tracks to cash in on his past successes, but in retrospect there is no need to be afraid as this album shines with not only great songs, but a slightly different feel than the first album. The samples are a mix of old vintage big band cuts, but he also messes with some newer chorus sounds, electronic mixing and modern guitar melodies. All of these newer items are subtle and un-noticeable unless you listen to the 2 albums back to back, but I can pretty much guarantee that you will like them both very much. "Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig"is probably the most prevelent direction of where Jens should be heading.

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His performances live would not impress many. Jens is forced to carry a band for music he created as a one man dynamo. Recreating his samples live is next to impossible, so his live performances are really only a treat to those who know the albums so well. However, Jens' stage personality is as charming as he sounds. Either way, you have to be in a good mood to listen to Jens, because his sillyness only works when you are ready to accept it.

There are no good samples on youtube because Jens is pretty unknown around here, so here is the link to his MySpace page that has numerous samples.

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