The San Marinos wrote the other day with an update and 2 new songs. They’re to be looking for a cheap place to record their lofi songs in a slightly more hifi way. So if you know of a great cheap studio in the Stockholm area give them a jingle on their MySpace page but let me just say I love them them just the way they are. Of course, if they had true production values I could easily see their music coming out in a nice The Beautiful South shape.

Anyway these two songs are perfect twee pop: the lilting vocals, wistful themes, simple beats and romantic ideas all add up to form the ideal indie pop tune.

I’ll give you one of these new songs today. But if you beg and plead in the comments section I’ll add the second one tomorrow.

On Our Way

P.S. Songs:Illinois has had three great days of music with posts about Willie Nelson, Ramblin Jack Elliott and Phil Lee.

(Illustration by Zohar Lazar)

Before we get to the music here’s some meta stuff about people that bring you the music:

It’s A Trap is nominated as best Swedish mp3 blog by Svenska Podradiopriset.

Discobelle is also nominated and was recently featured at the blog/label/licensing site rcrd lbl.

Now on to the music:

Burning World has something new from The Radio Dept.

Friction NYC has the glorious dream pop of Air France.

The Panic Manuel has Britpop by way of Sweden and the band The Ruling Class.

Nine Bulletts linked to a couple of songs I haven’t by Sweden’s best americana group The Lancaster Orchestra.

The newish Dutch blog Angmoh has some unclassifiably great music from the Swedish/Japan group The Informations.

Undomondo has the neo soul of Sweden’s Kissy Asplund.

You simply can’t over analyze the songs of Bare Knees. They are what they are and generally no more. Usually the song title tells you almost all you need to know. For fans of lo fi pop though there is nothing better than the simple, forthright songs of Bare Knees.

Their latest project is a split lp with the UK’s Ray Rumours on the Swedish label Cosy Den. Despite the extremely lo-fi sound the packaging looks absolutely charming (to match the songs I guess). I’ve shed a lot of ink on the Bare Knees here, here and here.

Both of the songs below, and probably most of the songs on the split, are about escaping the mundane realities of grownup life and becoming an innocent kid once again without a care in the world. Thus the title of the record – Songs To Play At Sleepovers.

Wine Stains On The Kitchen Floor

Bonus song from Ray Rumors:

Close The Door