The award-winning Danish band Mew is one of the latest Scandinavian indie ensembles to make a go of it in the States, and its new video "Introducing Palace Players" debuts today. The group features singer Jonas Bjerre, guitarist Bo Madsen, and drummer Silas Utke Graae Jorgensen, friends since the seventh grade whose recordings reflect the close relationship of its members. Though Mew was inspired by the Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, and Dinosaur, Jr., their new album, No More Stories, enhances those darker colors with brighter, melodic pop elements. The album's tracks are framed mainly in prog-ish settings, its lyrics not a mandatory read since the Mew experience is about its music, not its mewsings. The best tracks, like "Hawaii" (from which the album's title is derived), the slight rocker "Repeaterbeater," the wild ballad "Sometimes Life Isn't Easy," and its current emphasis track (and video, displayed below) "Introducing Palace Players," are the tastiest moments of this Eurostew, but it's all just a big mix of spacey, melodic fun.
1. New Terrain
2. Introducing Palace Players
3. Beach
4. Repeaterbeater
5. Intermezzo 1
6. Silas The Magic Car
7. Cartoons and Macrame Wounds
8. Hawaii Dream
9. Hawaii
10. Vaccine
11. Tricks
12. Intermezzo 2
13. Sometimes Life Isn't Easy
14. Reprise
Mew Tour Dates with NIN:
8.22.09 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
8.24.09 - Brooklyn, NY @ Williamsburg Music Hall
8.26.09- New York, NY @ Terminal 5 w/Nine Inch Nails
8.28.09 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon w/Nine Inch Nails
8.29.09 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon w/Nine Inch Nails
8.30.09 - Ontario @ Virgin Music Festival
9.01.09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
9.02.09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/Nine Inch Nails
9.03.09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda w/Nine Inch Nails
9.04.09 - San Francisco, CA @ Independent