Meet the scene.

Please. It's about time. As a big music fan and one especially interested in and obsessed about guitar pop, I've been excited about the amount and high standard of new Finnish English-writing pop bands for quite some time. There is a whole bunch of them, and they are really good - much better than you would think, probably, for you haven't really heard of them, have you? Even in their native Finland, these bands have went practically unnoticed, writing good songs and playing great shows with virtually nobody really giving them them the recognition and appreciation they certainly deserve. Criminally ignored, that's what most of the bands on this compilation are. But the increase in bands doing their various interpretations of independent pop certainly marks a possibility. There is a group of people into this thing, and there's an opportunity there might be more music fans who could enjoy the catchy song, the ringing, buzzing guitar and the classic line in the lyrics that makes you think it's like your own life. If only they knew these bands are doing it. And doing it well.

In a way I hate to use the word "scene", as it usually means a defensive, elitistic and introverted group of prententious snobs, but then again, why couldn't it mean something positive? I have tried to think of a "scene" as a loose association of different bands, all working as independent units, but with some common elements in their song writing or musical aspirations and a will to collaborate, help each other out and be friends. There is a range of styles on this record, and one could argue there are bands that have nothing in common with each other, but that's the point: why build these imaginary walls between various hard-to-define sub-genres, when we can have fun, and for example, release a fantastic record together?

This compilation was pieced together, to quote the Flamin' Groovies, to shake some action: to create awareness of all this brilliant music and to create a sense of community among the bands and the fans in Finland and first and foremost to promote the bands to pop fans home and abroad. The bands themselves helped me financially to put it together, so it's as much a venture of theirs as it is the debut release of my new tiny record label. Thanks to all the bands involved for helping me realize this long-time dream of starting out with a compilation of the best of Finnish pop. It became a great one.

Mikko Lappalainen
The Rhythm Barrel
the compiler & executive producer

 

©P

 

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