Jens Lekman

Today sees the American release of Jens Lekman's newest full-length. Secretly Canadian (which, weirdly enough, is based in Bloomington, IN) compares him to Chet Baker. I am thinking more Karen Carpenter or Nina Simone. Kortedala is already a NUMBER ONE HIT in his home country of Sweden. Lekman is still a cult phenomenon in the States, but tunes like "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo," which is about as whimsical as any song could ever be, could change that! Click the album cover above to watch a beautiful video of the song "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar" from the new disc.

Voxtrot

One of Austin, TX's finest bands, Voxtrot has taken the blogosphere by storm with their initial self-released CD EPs. The self-titled debut CD/LP dropped back in May, but the superb Victor Van Vugt-produced album has slipped through the cracks of dwindling record sales.

Returning to Philadelphia for the second time ever, the young (and very cute) men of this pretty, pristine pop band played the First Unitarian Church last night. Ramesh Srivastava was visibly ill and explained he had a tour-related infection that caused an "inflated left leg." To the delight of the small, but rabid audience, they didn't pull a B&S by cancelling the show. They played an abbreviated set that included hits like "Raised By Wolves," "Ghost," and "Kid Gloves."

Little Ones and 1990s both offered noteworthy sets, so it said a lot that Voxtrot brought the energy of the show to an even higher level than these outstanding outfits. Matt Simon's pounding drums fit seemlessly with Jason Chronis' bass. Mitchell Calvert played the lead guitar gorgeously. Apart from Ramesh's precious vocals and heady lyrics, the true secret weapon of the group is Jared Van Fleet's lush keyboards.

Here's an older song that the band closed with after apologizing for the show's brevity. (Ramesh said he was going to the hospital.) Even though it was the end of a wonderful evening, it was "The Start of Something."

Saturday Looks Good To Me

On Wednesday night I saw Saturday Looks Good to Me for the second time. The five piece band — led by mastermind and all around approachable dude Fred Thomas — opened up for the Blow at an intimate show at the First Unitarian Church.

Dishing up material from the upcoming K Records release Fill Up The Room, SLGTM specializes in buzzing, 60s-ish jangle pop tunes. "Make a Plan" was the first song and set the mood of the show. This catchy number can be found on the band's web site and is worth checking out for the vintage, warped pop sound fans have come to expect. Despite a lively, upbeat approach, the audience was less rapt than when I first saw them last summer in New York City. Maybe that's because Philadelphia has a preference for emotionally charged women singing Beyonce-rejected songs disguised as karaoke. No dis to the Blow, as she and her backing tracks were spectacular in a whole different way.

For me, the evening's highlight was "Money in the Afterlife." That song has a killer riff (it reminds me a bit of the Boss) and Thomas' vocals are as sweet as always. You can find it both on the forthcoming CD/LP and on a shiny black 7" courtesy of Ernest Jennings Records.

The Brunettes (Lil' Chief / SubPop Records)

Ever-deserving of the title, the Cute Band Alert of October 2007 should be awarded to none other than Aukland, NZ's The Brunettes. Headlining a show with Ferraby Lionheart and Philadelphia's The Cobbs opening at Johnny Brenda's on October 04/07, The Brunettes stole the show. Using YMCA-styled hand signals to spell out the first track chorus to "Brunettes Against Bubblegum Youth" (also spelled out in bodily gestures as) 'B-A-B-Y' from their new album "Structure & Cosmetics" (Lil' Chief/SubPop), The Brunettes perked up the whole room with their sugar-y sounds and lively set.

Looking lovely on lead-glockenspiel (!), and suited in a canary yellow dress tied with a red ribbon and ruby shoes to match, Heather Mansfield (lead vocalist of The Brunettes) shone while she tinkled the glock's metal keys to lead-guitarist and also lead vocalist Jonathan Bree's charming banter and witty lyrical stylings. The band was on tour as a five-person crack unit, which normally records as a duo.

Take a listen to their song: Brunettes Against Bubblegum Youth and tell me you're not utterly charmed!