My favourite Labrador artists - The Radio Dept. - are back at it with a new EP: Freddie and the Trojan Horse, and an upcoming new album (titled Clinging to a Scheme) due September 10. At least, this EP was freshly released when I first started to write this post… damned summer apathy.

These Swedish sweethearts slapped us with sincere shoegaze (holy alliteration!) with their 2003 album Lesser Matters. This delicate collection of melodic pop-rock reminiscent of The Field Mice on horse tranquilizers was praised as being not only an achievement in the genre, but a gem of the year. I had a really hard time only choosing one to post. Get this album, I mean it!

Following with Pet Grief in 2006, the boys (as they were now lacking their female vocalist) changed the direction of their music by introducing a drum machine and upping the focus on 80s-toned synth. They still retained their characteristic fuzziness but I think it lacked the charm of their debut disk. Despite this, “The Worst Taste In Music” is seductive for championing the indie-sentiment that a true love could abandon their beau based on their sub-par music preferences. Ah, the indie-kid superiority complex. So cute.

“Freddie and the Trojan Horse” introduced some heavy piano and followed up on the sad-sack mentality, but I’m still loving it. I tossed the new one on here for your perusal, as well as some old favourites and the video to the EP-only “Pulling Our Weight”. As a sidenote, I think that clouds are completely appropriate for a dreampop vid.

The Radio Dept. - Where Damage Isn’t Already Done [2003, Lesser Matters]
The Radio Dept. - The Worst Taste in Music [2006, Pet Grief]
The Radio Dept. - Freddie and the Trojan Horse [2008, FATTH EP]

Their influences are obvious, and they tend not to hide them. Clearly obsessed with noise upon noise of The Jesus and Mary Chain foremost, and after that the chugging electronic beats of Cabaret Voltaire and Suicide, The Raveonettes (Website | MySpace) don’t really think they’re making any progression in music. They make music true to to their idols, which although it belongs to some rejected music community between 1977 and 1985, still sounds refreshing today.

First, let me apologize. This album didn’t even come out this year, and 5 months is about a dynasty in the internet age. But I’ve got lots of recently released music (and some not released yet) and I keep going back to Lust, Lust, Lust by The Raveonettes. A December 2007 release, nothing is going to stop it from sneaking into my end of year list.

As I’m writing this post, my sister just walks into the room  ”It sounds like death!”. I disagree. She’s wrong in the same way as Juno saying that Sonic Youth is “just noise“. But I was the same in grade 9 when I heard Psychocandy and couldn’t really understand the Beach Boys comparisons. I do now. It’s brilliant melody and emotion hidden behind the raw energy of amp gains turned to 11.

The best Raveonettes album yet. Their music videos are crap and youtube sound quality just wouldn’t do, so download these if you like. Headphones is a must.

The Raveonettes - Lust
The Raveonettes - Dead Sound
The Raveonettes - Black Satin