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Background information Origin Sweden Genre(s) Twee pop
Indie pop Years active 1991 – present Label(s) Twentyseven
Labrador
Shelflife Website acidhousekings.com Members
Joakim Ă–dlund
Niklas AngergĂĄrd
Johan AngergĂĄrd
Julia Lannerheim
Acid House Kings is a Swedish indie pop band. It was founded in 1991 by Joakim Ă–dlund (also in the bands Poprace, Double Dan, and Starlet) and brothers Niklas (Red Sleeping Beauty) and Johan AngergĂĄrd (Club 8, The Legends, Poprace).
With the release of their first album, Pop, Look & Listen, they supposedly decided on a 10 year plan to release an album every five years to have a trilogy of albums released by the year 2002, a plan that eventually worked out exactly as scheduled.
According to plan, they released Advantage Acid House Kings in 1997 and the album proved to be a huge step forward to form their trademark sound of jangly, catchy guitar oriented indie-pop. The album featured Julia Lannerheim as guest vocalist on a couple of songs, who eventually joined the band officially as a full time member in 2001.
In 2002 they released their third album Mondays Are Like Tuesdays And Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays, again excelling their previous record in terms of sophistication, with a record filled with breezy, catchy guitar pop tunes.
Their 4th album Sing Along With Acid House Kings was initially released as a limited edition featuring a bonus DVD consisting of instrumental karaoke versions of the complete album, accompanied by home made videos showing the band members doing various everyday tasks.
The critically acclaimed album saw the band further perfecting their sound established on the previous records. In the summer of 2007 they entered the studio again to record their 5th album, due to be released in 2008.
Discography
Studio Albums
* Pop, Look & Listen! (1992)
* Advantage Acid House Kings (1997)
* Mondays Are Like Tuesdays and Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays (2002)
* Sing Along with Acid House Kings (2005)
EPs
* Play Pop EP (1992)
Compilations
* The Sound of Summer (2000)
Singles
* Monaco GP (1994)
* Yes! You Love Me (1997)
* We Are the Acid House Kings (2001)
* Say Yes If You Love Me (2002)
* Do What You Wanna Do (2005)
* Everyone Sings Along With Acid House Kings (2006)
Formed in 1985 by Rob Sekula, 14 Iced Bears ably blended shambolic pop with a psychedelic punk edge that set them apart from their C86 contemporaries. Inspired by bands like the Stooges, Velvet Underground, 13th Floor Elevators and Echo & the Bunnymen, Sekula injected the then-nascent indie-pop sound with a twisted dose of noise and experimental menace. While still owing plenty to the Byrds/Ramones influences evident in the output of labels like Creation and Pink, it was this dark 60s flavor that always set the ‘Bears apart.
The first single, Inside, appeared on TV Personality Mark Flunder’s Frank label in late 1986 and was an instant success. BBC recording sessions for John Peel and fanzine/music weekly adulation quickly followed. A second single for Frank, Balloon Song, further consolidated their following. The band toured England and Europe and the press was ecstatic. The late 80s revival of classic guitar-based pop was kind to the ‘Bears, and Sekula’s talent at penning catchy, twisted melodies earned them a coveted spot as one of the best of the lot. A third single sealed the deal, the raucous Come Get Me on the then-new label Sarah.
The band went on the release their self-titled debut album in 1988; it was a masterpiece of psychedelic pop that turned a lot of heads with it’s ambition and skilled songcraft. A raft of singles and a second album in 1991 followed, and the band quietly disbanded in 1992.
In The Beginning compiles those classic first three singles in their entirely, along with eight never before released BBC session cuts and four demos/live tracks. This is the complete story of the band’s most seminal, influential recordings. Upbeat, punky songs like “Inside” and “Balloon Song” are tempered by dreamy ballads like “Cut” and the folky “Like A Dolphin.” Every tune is a perfect little gem, combining memorable melodies with punchy guitar noise and infectious enthusiasm. These songs have had an undeniable influence on indie pop in the years since, and the ‘Bears stand tall with contemporaries like The Pastels and The June Brides as cornerstones of the indie scene.
Discography
Albums and EPs
* 14 Iced Bears (Thunderball Records, 1988)
* Precision (Thunderball Records, 1990) – a compilation of singles
* Wonder (Borderline Records, 1991)
* In the Beginning (Slumberland Records, 2001) – a compilation of previously released material and live recordings
Singles
* “Inside” / “Bluesuit” / “Cut” (Frank Records, 1986)
* “Balloon Song” / “Like a Dolphin” (Frank Records, 1987)
* “Lie To Choose” (Penetration, 1987) (7″ flexi, split with Splendour In The Grass)
* “Come Get Me” (Sarah Records, 1988)
* “World I Love” (Thunderball Records, 1989)
* “Mother Sleep” (Thunderball Records, 1989)
* “Falling Backwards”/”World I Love” (Surfacer, 199?) (split EP with Crocodile Ride)
* “Hold On” (Borderline Records, 1991)
* “Inside” / “Balloon Song” (Slumberland Records, 2001)
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid ’80s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early ’80s such as Orange Juice and Josef K and the dominant UK independent band of the mid eighties, The Smiths. While the term ‘indie’ had been used for some time to describe artists on independent labels (and the labels themselves), the key moment in the naming of the genre was the release of NME’s C86 tape in 1986. Although featuring a wide range of bands including Primal Scream, The Pastels, and The Shop Assistants, it over time became shorthand for a genre known by a variety of terms. Initially it was dubbed ‘C86′ (after the tape itself), the more ambiguous Indiepop, Cutie or a term coined by John Peel: shambling bands.
Retrospectively the term; Twee was used, initially ironically, due to what commentators called the “revolt into childhood” of its followers.
Musically its key characteristics were jangling guitars, a love of sixties pop and often fey, innocent lyrics. A UK label, Sarah Records and its most popular band, The Field Mice, were probably its most typical proponents. Scenes later developed in the United States particularly around labels such as K Records. Genres such as Riot Grrrl and bands as diverse as Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers, and Belle and Sebastian have all acknowledged its influence.
In the mid to late 80s, indie pop was criticized for its tweeness and underachievement but many now argue that C86 and the birth of the genre was a pivotal moment for independent music in the UK. It continues to have a strong following and inspire musicians, not just in the UK but around the world with new labels, clubs and bands devoted to the sound.
The British definition of twee is overly precious or nice, excessively or affectedly quaint, sentimental or mawkish, sometimes coupled with words like nauseatingly. It appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century to mean something dainty or sweet, a girly and gushing word. It appears to have developed from tweet, not the noise a bird makes, but a childish attempt at saying sweet.
Twee pop has spun off into a fashion style too! Like most indie dress styles, it’s all about being yourself & comfortable with what you’re wearing. That being said, there are certain pieces that come up often in twee fashion. Scarves, home knit hats & mittens, polka dot patterns, stripes, BIG glasses, cardigans and bright, warm colors are the basics. Don’t forget to accessorize though! Little kid headbands, barrettes, hairpins, chunky plastic rings and pins printed with indie style cartoons are all fun ways to dress up an outfit (actually, the twee look is not unlike the geek or nerd look).
Get some tunes. There’s no point in being twee if you’ve never heard the music! Check out “Twee” by Tullycraft, “Six Layer Cake” by Unrest and “Let Me Go Home” by Camera Obscura to get a good idea of the sound. Be prepared to be humming silly tunes all day.
Twee is also a state of mind. Be happy! Pessimism has no place in twee. Always try to look on the bright side of things. That makes you genuinely twee. Don’t wear too much make-up. A little eye make-up is fine, but don’t overdo it.
Learn to knit! You’ll save tons of money! Try shopping at thrift & antique stores. You can find some really unique pieces for cheap if you don’t mind wearing used.
Bands to check out: Tullycraft, Beat Happening, Belle & Sebastian, Second Hand Furniture, Heavenly, Tiger Trap, Talulah Gosh, Komon, Camera Obscura, The Lucksmiths, 14 Iced Bears
Some Examples of the Totally Twee Look
Although he is an actor, and not associated with indie pop/twee music in any way, Urkle is the epitomy of twee fashion with his huge glasses, striped shirt, and overalls with suspenders.
Camera Obscura - Lloyd I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken
Camera Obscura was formed in 1996 by Tracyanne Campbell, John Henderson, and Gavin Dunbar. The band’s first releases were the singles “Park and Ride” and “Your Sound” in 1998. The Rare UK Bird EP followed in 1999.
Camera Obscura’s first album, Biggest Bluest Hi Fi, was recorded in 2000 and released in 2001. The album was supported by John Peel and charted in several independent music charts. The band’s second album Underachievers Please Try Harder was released in 2003 and was followed by Camera Obscura’s first full tour of Britain and Ireland and the band’s first tour of the United States. Founding member John Henderson left Camera Obscura following this tour.
Camera Obscura recorded their third album, Let’s Get Out of This Country, in 2005. It was released June 6, 2006. The first single, “Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken”, is a response to Lloyd Cole and the Commotions’ song “Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?”
