#16 on the 2012 Musical Bacon Calendar
To The Treetops! by Team Me
Having arrived on the east side of Scandinavia for the artist at #18, we now move to the opposite side of the peninsula, to Norway, for the band at #16. Team Me was another happy discovery thanks to an awesome music video for their song “With My Hands Covering Both Of My Eyes I Am Too Scared To Have A Look At You Now.” They’ve been around for a little under two years, starting with their Norway-only Team Me EP in February of last year. Their debut album, To The Treetops!, was released in October 2011 in Norway, but didn’t make it to the states until March of this year.
From everything I’ve read, the band is HUGE in their homeland of Norway, resulting in the band receiving the “Best Pop Group of 2011” at the Norwegian Grammys (otherwise known as the Spellemann awards). And this album is so good, I’m very surprised to see how little they’re being covered here in the states. They did a brief tour in March surrounding SXSW (which I sadly did not see them at), but beyond that — nothing. There’s not a single article about them over on Pitchfork (which is my sad little bar for “known” or “not known”). What gives?
This album is quite fun. It has equal parts Passion Pit and Mates of State, two bands to which I have much love. And I don’t know what it is about those Scandinavians — just like The Tallest Man On Earth, Team Me doesn’t sound like they hail from a country where English isn’t the first language. This album is invigorating. It could probably fit into your running mix quite well. Electronics, multi-layered vocals, happy kids — it’s all there for your enjoyment. Give it a listen.
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17. The Master: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Jonny Greenwood
18. There’s No Leaving Now by The Tallest Man On Earth
19. Transcendental Youth by The Mountain Goats
20. A Church That Fits Our Needs by Lost In The Trees
21. Hospitality by Hospitality
22. Free Dimensional by Diamond Rings
23. History Speaks by Deep Sea Diver
24. A Different Ship by Here We Go Magic
25. Negotiations by the Helio Sequence
26. Moms by Menomena
27. The Sound of the Life of the Mind by Ben Folds Five
28. Shields by Grizzly Bear
29. Every Child A Daughter, Every Moon A Sun by The Wooden Sky
30. Fragrant World by Yeasayer
31. Reign of Terror by Sleigh Bells
2011 Musical Bacon Calendar
2010 Musical Bacon Calendar
2009 Musical Bacon Calendar