Animal Alpha's entire new album "You pay for the whole seat, but you'll only need the edge" is currently streaming on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/animalalpha
I like this a lot more than I thought I would. Nothing mindblowing, mind you, but if you think the idea of mainstream hard-rock band with a screamy female vocalist sounds vaguely interesting, it might be worth checking out. At the very least, they are good at what they do.

Animal Alpha is utilizing the Radiohead "pay what you want" model for the release of their new album "You pay for the whole seat but you'll only need the edge", 'cept with a twist - instead of anonymity of the internet, they'll be selling the album in-person on January 25 in Oslo. They'll also be offering it in a multitude of formats including USB thumb drives and Bluetooth transfer, something I think is even more interesting than the pricing scheme. Read more for details: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=11767843&blogID=348363538

Norwegian female-fronted metal act Animal Alpha have a new track on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/animalalpha
Their new album "You pay for the whole seat, but you'll only need the edge" is out on January 28.

Norwegian act Animal Alpha has confirmed that their new album "You pay for the whole seat but you'll only need the edge" will be released on January 28. Said album was recorded live at Propeller Studio in Oslo with producer Mike Hartung (JR Ewing, Skambankt, Marit Larsen, etc.).

Norwegian act Animal Alpha will have a new album out in January.

MIC Norway on goofy shock-rockers Animal Alpha and their recent introduction to US markets: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2006042712510357633325

The Pitchfork guide to SXSW includes tips on many acts, including Scandinavians Serena Maneesh (natch), Figurines, The Ark, Sign, Disco Ensemble, Astrid Swan, Quit Your Dayjob, Animal Alpha, Sarah Hepburn and of course, José González. I'd also recommend tracking down Loney, Dear and Kristofer Åström.

MIC Norway spotlights pseudo-metal band Animal Alpha: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2006020711525712451361

Ratatosk Online interviews up-and-coming Finnish singer/songwriter Astrid Swan: http://www.ratatoskonline.net/?axelref=news&id=294
Also posted at the site are pics of Dungen and Animal Alpha from the recent Eurosonic festival.

The nominees for this year's Spellemann (the Norwegian Grammy) have been announced:

Female artist:
Ane Brun - A Temporary Dive (Det Er Mine/V2)
Lene Marlin - Lost In A Moment (EMI)
Marthe Valle - It's A Bag Of Candy (Grammar Records)
Maria Mena - Apparently Unaffected (Sony BMG)
Simone - Last Days And Nights (Daworks)

Male artist
Alejandro Fuentes - Diamonds Or Pearls (Sony BMG)
Magnet - The Tourniquet (Atlantic)
Robert Post - Robert Post (Universal)
Sofian - This Is Sofian (C+C Records)

Pop group:
Jim Stärk - Jim Stärk (Sweet Recordings)
Ravi & Dj Løv - Den Nye Arbæidsdagn (Sony BMG)
Röyksopp - The Understanding (EMI)

Electronica:
Alog - Miniatures (Rune Grammofon)
Datarock - Datarock Datarock (Yap/VME)
Toy - Toy (Smalltown Supersound)

Rock:
Bigbang - Poetic Terrorism (Gransport Records)
JR Ewing - Maelstrom (Sony BMG)
Madrugada - The Deep End (EMI)
My Midnight Creeps - My Midnight Creeps (MMC Records)
Serena-Maneesh - Serena-Maneesh (Honeymilk)

Metal:
Audrey Horne - No Hay Banda (Dog Job/Tuba Records)
El Caco - The Search (Black Balloon Records)
Extol - Blueprint (Century Media)
Stonegard - Arrows (Bonnier)

Hip-hop/Rnb:
Cast - Problembarn (Pass It Records)
Paperboys - When Worlds Collide (Bonnier)
Tommy Tee - Tommy Tycker Om Mej (Tee Productions/C+C Records)

Jazz:
Hans Mathisen - Quiet Songs (Curling Legs AS)
Jimmy Rosenberg/Stian Carstensen - Rose Room (Hot Club Records)
Karin Krog/Bergen Big Band - Seagull (Grappa Musikkforlag AS)
Sigurd Køhn Quartet - This Place (Heidi Køhn)
Solveig Slettahjell - Pixiedust (Curling Legs AS)

Open class:
Arild Andersen Group - Electra (ECM/Grappa)
Beady Belle - Closer (Jazzland)
Jaga Jazzist - What We Must (Smalltown Supersound)
Nils Petter Molvær - Er (Universal)
Shining - In The Kingdom Of Kitsch You Will Be A Monster (Rune Grammofon)

Best newcomer:
Animal Alpha - Pheromones (Racing Junior)
Audrey Horne - No Hay Banda (Dog Job/Tuba Records)
Draumir - Draumir (Playground/Little Hill)
Marthe Valle - It's A Bag Of Candy (Grammar Records)
Sofian - This Is Sofian (C+C Records)

Best song:
Alejandro Fuentes - Stars (Sony BMG)
Kurt Nilsen - Never Easy (Sony BMG)
Madrugada w/Ane Brun - Lift Me (Det Er Mine/V2/EMI)
Maria Mena - Miss You Love (Sony BMG)
Ravi & Dj Løv - Tsjeriåu Me De Månråus (Sony BMG)

Music video:
Maria Mena - Miss You Love (Sony BMG)
Animal Alpha - Bundy (Racing Junior)
Ravi & Dj Løv - E-Ore (Sony BMG)
Robert Post - Got None (Universal)
Röyksopp - What Else Is There (EMI)

For all categories, go here: http://www.ifpi.no/spellemann/nomlst.html
Winners will be announced on January 28.

The nominees for this year's Alarm awards, the alternative to the Spellemansprisen (Norway's version of the Grammy):

Rock:
Richochets - Isolation
Madrugada - The Deep End
Serena-Maneesh - Serena-Maneesh
JR Ewing - Maelstrom
My Midnight Creeps - My Midnight Creeps

Pop:
Ane Brun - A Temporary Dive
Loch Ness Mouse - 11-22
Maria Mena - Apparently Unaffected
Anja Garbarek - Briefly Shaking
Sofian - This Is Sofian

Metal:
Stonegard - Arrows
Grimfist - 10 Steps To Hell
El Caco - The Search
Scum - Gospel For The Sick
Solefald - Red For Fire

Hip-hop:
Paperboys - When Worlds Collide
Cast - Problembarn
Onkl P - Det kunne vært deg
Warlocks - The Never Ending Story
Tommy Tee - Tommy Tycker Om Mej

Free music/electronica:
Jaga Jazzist - What We Must
Cloroform - Cracked Wide Open
Toy - Toy
Supersilent - 7
Alog - Miniatures

Club:
Røyksopp - The Understanding
Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas - Lindtrøm & Prins Thomas
Datarock - Datarock Datarock
Annie - DJ Kicks
Future Prophecies - Warlords Rising

Jazz:
Kornstad/Wiik - Eight Tunes We Like
Shining - In The Kingdom Of Kitch
The Thing - Live At Blå
Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground
Atomic - Bikini Tapes

Song:
Madrugada - The Kids Are On High Street
Röyksopp - What Else Is There
Ane Brun - My Lover Will Go
Superfamily - Taxi Dancing
Mira Craig - Boogieman

Live:
Madrugada
Turbonegro
Purified in Blood
Richochets
Kaizers Orchestra

Newcomer of the year:
My Midnight Creeps
Mira Craig
Sofian
Superfamily
Animal Alpha

Vote for your favorites here: http://www.alarmprisen.no/

Norway's Animal Alpha is playing a few London shows later this month:

11/21 - Underworld, London
11/22 - Plan B Brixton London
11/23 - Tea Factory, Liverpool

Head over to Bates Motel for downloads on new tracks from Animal Alpha and Ane Brun along with some other interesting Norwegian music tidbits.

Norway's Animal Alpha will finally release their debut full-length album on September 5. As mentioned before, the record was recorded at Radio Star Studios in Weed, CA with producer Sylvia Massy (Johnny Cash, Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, etc.).

Check out the video for "Bundy" from Animal Alpha: http://www.racingjunior.com/Videos/animalalpha.mpeg