This band reminds me of other bands more so than just about any other band. But mostly, they remind me of the 60’s.

Maybe it’s the reverb that makes me think of ghosts and the past, the simplicity of patterns, the old school punk voice, who knows. Either way, Love Is All comes off pretty uniquely, bolstered by raw energy and vocal harmonies that smoothly bend boundaries of post-punk.

Throughout the album, a discopunk drumbeat carries oft-screeching guitar and wailing brass, but with a fresh lack of irony that these Swedes exhibit. Josephine Olausson’s frantic vocals provide most of the drive, especially in “Talk Talk Talk Talk” and “Make Out Fall Out Make Up”. While feigning punk, they’re not without catchiness. “Aging Had Never Been His Friend” seemingly mixes Bloc Party with Arcade Fire into another toe-tapping, manic milkshake that fill the album.

This record spills both decadence and innocence, and in that juxtaposition is a learned, but raw panache. It’s like they’re subconsciously ripping off 15 bands, but turning it into their own, all with a coy grin. The album isn’t quite out yet, and they’ve only toured a few spots in America, but I hope they blow up and take their What’s Your Rupture? label for a ride.

Related: One of Brooklyn Vegan’s features

While I normally don’t go out for lunch on weekdays, when I do, it’s by far most often to Pizzapalooza. It’s a little pizza joint on Needham St. that serves their pizza “palooza-style”. I don’t know what that means, but I’m assuming it’s Italian for “freaking tasty”.

They pile on tons of fresh ingredients and heat it up for you. Today, I got chicken & peppers. Last time, I got shrimp scampi. They tend to be more “gourmet” toppings, but they definitely have pepperoni sitting around too.

There used to be a Brookline location down the street from me, but now it’s apparently in Wellesley. Oo la la. Not. Screw Wellesley.

Anyway, it’s ridiculicious. I highly recommend it.

Official site: Pizzapalooza.net

Since Pinback kindly informed everyone on Myspace that they’d be hosting Subterranean on MTV2 this week, and I got lucky enough to be scanning channels when it was about to come on, I decided to watch the whole thing. It’s about as good as indie music gets near MTV. It keeps the old 180 Minutes/M2 spirit alive.

Anyway, they showed decent videos last night, including:

Metric - “Monster Hospital”
Interpol - “C’mere”
Pinback - “Fortress”
Arcade Fire - “Neighborhood #2 (Laika)”

The MTV2 website will probably have them online soon. They also showed videos from eels, Bright Eyes, and other good ones that I can’t remember now. Subterranean will be back on January 8th.

This was all after I watched Coldplay on Austin City Limits. They dragged Michael Stipe on stage for a couple of songs, including the song Chris Martin called the greatest song ever written, “Nightswimming”. And they covered “Ring of Fire”. I enjoyed it.

Update: Coldplay/Stipe mp3s @ muzzle of bees

Dubya addresses nation about Iraq

Last night’s speech was basically a big F%#@ YOU to America. Dubya told us that he hears criticism but doesn’t care. He said that it could take God-Knows-How-Long to get out of there. He labelled his opposition as “defeatists”.

Dubya is the leader of new brand of destruction: Errorism. He’s taking us down from the inside.

Swaziland shocked by royal leopard skin theft

Apparently, any clothing worn by a Swazi king that gets stolen has a curse on it. That was started back in 1893 when the king’s underwear was stolen, which unleashed a plague of crabs and warts across the countryside.

He’s adored for his arrest record, love of the bottle

From my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, this dude has been arrested 969 times for various drunken activities, and has become a legend in his own time. I say we give him his own day.

Scarlett Johansson’s dress banned by British customs

If you’ve seen the pics, you know why. If you haven’t, here it is: Barely SFW