Lesser Matters by The Radio Dept.

Wow, I think I must've completely missed this one last year (or I guess 2003 if I lived in Sweden). Much talk around here about it? Maybe before obner came along? Sounds like something right down my music alley. Might go well with my pick of the Moonbabies The Orange Billboard by another Swedish duo as one of my favorites of last year too

From http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/10664.html
Occasionally - once a year in you're lucky - a record comes along and falls into your lap that is so good, so wonderful, that a journalist is positively fearful of writing about it. How can he put into words what only a few bands can put to music? How can one person convey the beauty of a recording without sullying it with mere misplaced words?

'Lesser Matters' is one of those records. The brainchild of Swedish duo Martin Larsson and Johan Duncanson who are the core of The Radio Dept., their long-incubated debut LP is a thing of great fuzzy wonder. Sounding like it was recorded in a world where four tracks are the most heavenly of all creations, the record gently fizzes along on a train of buzzing guitars and strained keyboards, with vocals gently focussing in the background. It has the same majesty and ethereal wonder contained in the best works of the Flaming Lips, Boo Radleys, My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain and Mercury Rev, plus tens of other bands who have bled their soul onto acetate.

Thank you, Davey, for reminding me to add this to my list. I've been hearing murmurs of The Radio Dept and keep forgetting to check them out.

Sidenote: Dave, based on your music interests, check out Bedroom Walls. They're a local LA band who are getting a bit of notice these days. I think they might be up your alley -- www.bedroomwalls.com

Thanks Tania, I'll give em a listen.

Know The Test Dept. Do not know The Radio Dept. Sounds interesting.

it's funny you should post this now...i've just recently d/l 'lesser matters'. there was some talk of the radio dept. back on the old cmj board, but for some reason they got lost in the shuffle for me. i'm glad i remembered about them though, because that album is really good. also check out their new ep, 'pulling our weight'.

He said acetate.

I think this album is amazing.

I dig the Test Dept.! I also know Hate Dept.

Neither are from Sweden, I don't think.

If anyone else is interested, there are three full length mp3 songs available from the album as well as a lot of press stuff at http://www.shelflife.com/shop/shelflife/life049.html and also another newer track at http://www.labrador.se/mp3/theradiodept-pulling_our_weight.mp3 that sounds really good, probably the best of them all in fact.

Sounds pretty good, although maybe not too distinctive on first listen. I do really like that "Pulling Our Weight" quite a lot, but overall the vocals and the music are maybe a bit too soft and hushed. Guess I'll take a wait and see on this one

I have been talking about them and maybe even brought it up too much. I pointed them out to you on “How important is original music to you” post. I love this album and will make my top 10 of 2004.

Oops! Are you implying that I should start reading the replys to my own threads? Hehehe, yeah, I guess I must've not seen all of that one. Sometimes my threads sneak down the page pretty quick and by the time I have a chance to get back to one, I've forgotten about it already. Sorry. Looks like the same review link and everything. Hey, maybe I did read it afterall and just tucked it away for a few days!

Actually I think I got there by way of the best of the year lists at metacritic where the music editor had them in his top 10 and so I clicked on it. But it shoulda been through your post

Metacritic.com Music Editor
1 The Futureheads by The Futureheads
2 Funeral by Arcade Fire
3 Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
4 The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads [2004 Version] by Talking Heads
5 Bows & Arrows by The Walkmen
6 The Power Out by Electrelane
7 ONoffON by Mission Of Burma
8 Sonic Nurse by Sonic Youth
9 Lesser Matters by The Radio Dept.
10 Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes by TV On The Radio
Great 2003 Album Not Heard Until 2004:
Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts by M83