Artist: Alf
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Alf's first album (from last year) was superb and although it got a lot of critical acclaim, Alf's career never properly took off. His second album is a really nice follow up to all those super melodic songs from "Augustibrev", since it feels like Alf's taken a step forward, without leaving his first album completely behind him. The songs are more complex, and where "Augustibrev" stuck in your head at first impact with your ears, "Alf's andra" (Swedish for "Alf's second" – what an clever title!) took me a few listening before I really got into it. The lyrics are also a bit darker, which works as a nice contrast to the happy-go-lucky songs from "Augustibrev". Thankfully, none of this means that Alf isn't able to write hits anymore (see "Kunde vart jag"). So, if you're hungry for some catchy Swedish music sung in Swedish, you should get this album (preferably accompanied by "Augustibrev").
- Simon Tagestam
This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (01) Kristian Anttila - "Paul Weller"
02. (02) Tiga - "You Gonna Want Me"
03. (07) Hard Fi - "Hard to Beat"
04. (03) Death Cab for Cutie - "Soul Meets Body"
05. (04) Bloc Party - "Two More Years"
06. (NY) Tiger Lou - "The Loyal"
07. (06) Röyksopp - "What Else is There?"
08. (NY) CDOASS - "A Fair Resort"
09. (09) Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - "Loop Duplicate My Heart"
10. (NY) Princess Superstar - "My Machine"
11. (14) Pharrell - "Can I Have It Like That (med Gwen Stefani)"
12. (10) Kanye West - "Golddigger"
13. (11) Alf - "Sött/salt"
14. (12) Weeping Willows - "I'm Gonna Let Love Find Me"
15. (15) Audio Bullys - "I'm In Love"
16. (05) Acid House Kings - "Tonight is Forever"
17. (NY) System of a Down - "Question"
18. (NY) Paris - "Captain Morgan"
19. (NY) Lil' Kim - "Lighters Up"
20. (08) Svenska Akademien & Promoe - "En varning"
Leaving the chart: Franz Ferdinand, Jem, Panthers, Stars, Tegan and Sara and Turbonegro.
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Darin - Darin
02. Björn Afzelius - Björn Afzelius bästa
03. Ulf Lundell - Lazarus
04. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
05. Mauro Scocco - Herr Jimsons äventyr
06. Laleh - Laleh
07. Weeping Willows - Singles Again
08. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
09. Amy Diamond - This Is Me Now
10. Peter LeMarc - Sjutton sånger - LeMarc sjunger LeMarc
11. Louise Hoffsten - From Linköping to Memphis
12. Tommy Nilsson - Tiden Före Nu
13. Kent - Du & jag Döden
14. Ted Gärdestad - Sol Vind & Vatten
15. Robyn - Robyn
16. Tom Levin - Me, My Band that I älskar
17. Musikal - Mamma Mia
18. Moneybrother - To Die Alone
19. Alf - Alfs andra
20. Ebba Grön - Samlingen
The website for Madrugada/Ricochets fuzz-rock sideproject My Midnight Creeps is now up and running with fall tourdays around Norway and a few songs for download: http://www.mymidnightcreeps.com/
This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (01) Kristian Anttila - "Paul Weller"
02. (02) Tiga - "You Gonna Want Me"
03. (08) Death Cab for Cutie - "Soul Meets Body"
04. (13) Bloc Party - "Two More Years"
05. (03) Acid House Kings - "Tonight is Forever"
06. (07) Röyksopp - "What Else is There?"
07. (05) Hard Fi - "Hard to Beat"
08. (06) Svenska Akademien & Promoe - "En varning"
09. (09) Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - "Loop Duplicate My Heart"
10. (04) Kanye West - "Golddigger"
11. (14) Alf - "Sött/salt"
12. (ÅT) Weeping Willows - "I'm Gonna Let Love Find Me"
13. (17) Stars - "Ageless Beauty"
14. (NY) Pharell - "Can I Have It Like That" (w/Gwen Stefani)
15. (NY) Audio Bully's - "I'm in Love"
16. (ÅT) Turbonegro - "City of Satan"
17. (ÅT) Panthers - "Thanks for the Simulacra"
18. (11) Jem - "Just a Ride"
19. (12) Franz Ferdinand - "Do You Want To"
20. (NY) Tegan and Sara - "Speak Low"
Leaving the chart: Embassy, The Greatest Hits, Hello Saferide, Randy, The Legends and They Live By Night.
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Darin - Darin
02. Ulf Lundell - Lazarus
03. Mauro Scocco - Herr Jimsons äventyr
04. Björn Afzelius - Björn Afzelius bästa
05. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
06. Laleh - Laleh
07. Weeping Willows - Singles Again
08. Peter LeMarc - Sjutton sånger - LeMarc sjunger LeMarc
09. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
10. Amy Diamond - This Is Me Now
11. Louise Hoffsten - From Linköping to Memphis
12. Musikal - Mamma Mia
13. Alf - Alfs andra
14. Ebba Grön - Samlingen
15. Moneybrother - To Die Alone
16. Robyn - Robyn
17. Tommy Nilsson - Tiden Före Nu
18. Hello Saferide - Introducing... Hello Saferide
19. Ted Gärdestad - Sol Vind & Vatten
20. Kent - Du & jag Döden
This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (NY) Kristian Anttila - "Paul Weller"
02. (NY) Tiga - "You Gonna Want Me"
03. (01) Acid House Kings - "Tonight is Forever"
04. (05) Kanye West - "Golddigger"
05. (NY) Hard Fi - "Hard to Beat"
06. (NY) Svenska Akademien & Promoe - "En varning"
07. (04) Röyksopp - "What Else is There?"
08. (02) Death Cab for Cutie - "Soul Meets Body"
09. (08) Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - "Loop Duplicate My Heart"
10. (ÅT) Embassy - "Some Indulgence"
11. (09) Jem - "Just a Ride"
12. (06) Franz Ferdinand - "Do You Want To"
13. (NY) Bloc Party - "Two More Years"
14. (NY) Alf - "Söttsalt"
15. (NY) Randy - "Razorblade"
16. (07) The Greatest Hits - "Give it to Me Baby (med Jesse)"
17. (NY) Stars - "Ageless Beauty"
18. (10) Hello Saferide - "If I don't Write This Song, Somehone I Love Will Die"
19. (13) They Live by Night - "Truth or Dare"
20. (14) The Legends - "He Knows the Sun"
Alf now has a website where you can stream the single "Kunda vart jag": http://www.alfshemsida.com/
His new album "Alfs andra" comes out September 28 via Dolores Recordings. The next single "Sött/Salt" comes out soon.
Alf sings in Swedish and makes charming pop songs. His last album "Augustibrev", from 2004, is a little gem that deserved more recognition (and sales). "Kunde vart jag" sounds a lot like the best songs from "Augustibrev", which is of course great, just great. Hopefully Alf will soon be propelled into the lush stardom that he so rightly deserves. You can have a look at the annoying video to the song here.
- Simon Tagestam
Dolores Recordings will be reissueing the 1985 album "Södra Esplanaden #4" from Swedish garage/pop/folk act The Backdoor Men on May 31. Also coming up from Dolores is the new album and single "Kunde vart jag" from Alf. More info to come.
The nominees for the Swedish radio P3 Gold awards have been announced:
Best female artist:
Ayesha - Jade Fever
Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
Stina Nordenstam - The World Is Saved
Marit Bergman - Baby Dry Your Eye
Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
Best male artists:
Promoe - The Long Distance Runner
Christian Walz - Paint By Numbers
Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
Alf - Augustibrev
Jens Lekman - When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog
Best group:
Teddybears STHLM - Fresh
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Origin Vol 1
The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
Silverbullit - Arclight
Sahara Hotnights - Kiss & Tell
Best newcomer:
Raymond & Maria
Tough Alliance
Fibes, Oh Fibes!
Anna Ternheim
Jens Lekman
Best song:
Call on me - Eric Prydz
Mr Cool - Snook
Det gör ont - Lena Philipsson
Hey Boy - Teddybears STHLM feat. Swing Fly
Ingen vill veta var du köpt din tröja - Raymond & Maria
Guldmicken (best live):
Marit Bergman
Svenska Akademien
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives
Infinite Mass
In Flames
Best rock/metal:
Nasum - Shift
The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
In Flames - Soundtrack To Your Escape
The Haunted - rEVOLVEr
Cult of Luna - Salvation
Best hip-hop/soul:
Embee - Tellings From Solitaria
Ison & Fille - Ison & Fille
Promoe - The Long Distance Runner
Natalie Gardiner - Natalie Gardiner
Ayesha - Jade Fever
Best dance:
Hird - Moving On
Cari Lekebusch - The Architect
Andreas Tilliander - World Industries
Eric Prydz - Samlad produktion 2004
Stonebridge - Can't Get Enough
Best pop:
Mattias Alkberg BD - Tunaskolan
Stina Nordenstam - The World Is Saved
Testbild! - The Inexplicable Feeling Of September
Hans Appelqvist - Bremort
Jens Lekman - When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog
Vote here: http://www.sr.se/p3/p3guld/
Twenty-four new bands confirmed for Malmöfestivalen: The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (US), Moonbabies, Koma, Alf, Bob Log III (US), Moder Jords Massiva, Hip Whips, Ramses Revolution, Nils Ericsson, Peter Lundblad, Fibes, Oh Fibes!, Death By Stereo (US), Voice Of A Generation, Division Of Laura Lee, Ane Brun, Cirera, Misteltein, Totalt Jävla Mörker, Barbi Esco, Snook, MBMA feat. DJ Large, Organism 12 & PST/Q, Her Majesty, Universal Poplab and Kitty & the K.
Check out the e-card for the new Alf single "Gröna Linjen": http://www.emi.se/ecard/alf/alf-video.htm
Also in the works from Dolores is the debut album "Augustibrev" from Alf. It also comes out May 12 and features the production talent of Karl von Hall and Jonas Lundqvist from Bad Cash Quartet. Cover art: http://www.doloresrecordings.com/covers/alf_augustibrev.jpg