MP3: Simon Says No! - Shiver

More 90s indie nostalgia? Sure, why not! Norway's Simon Says No! doesn't really mine the same territory as say, Sad Day for Puppets -- they've got more in common with bands like Culkin or maybe Giant Boar, 'cept that's not right either. Simon Says No! is more muscular, heavier. I'm actually reminded a lot of fellow Norwegian act Cadillac who evoked similar 90s alt-rock feelings with a bit more of a detached stoner vibe. There might be a little Motorpsycho and 120 Days in there too, however the one band that's the strongest touchstone for me would have to be Chavez. Especially on tracks like "Shiver", with its big, beefy riffs and that continually buzzing part persisting throughout. It's a good formula, even if the song itself loses its luster once you get past the immediacy of the big guitars. Too many starts and stops, not enough memorable melodies to latch onto. Still, as demo bands go, I can't complain. There's potential.

Simon Says No! - Shiver

Norwegian rockers Cadillac are reuniting for a one-off show this Saturday, October 18 at Blæst in Trondheim.

MP3: Cadillac - Locomotive

I posted Cadillac's cover of "Arabian knights" by Siouxsie and the Banshees way, way back when the album "Magnetic city" first came out, but now with the band broken up and moving on to new projects (New Violators and The Moving Ooos, for example), I figure it's time to revisit 'em. Opening track "Locomotive" provides the best example of what the band was capable of- killer fuzz riffs, breakneck drumming and surprising melodies. I love the rhythm section breakdown on the verse; the toms are so ridiculously busy, but that's what gives the track its tremendous momentum, thus befitting the title. If you dig quirky hard rock like countrymates Motorpsycho or even Queens of the Stone Age, you'll dig this too.

Cadillac - Locomotive

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Disfear - Deadweight
02. TALK 1
03. The Social Services - Up in arms
04. Kaka - The hotspurs (the less know the faster we go)
05. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Manic panic
06. TALK 2
07. Tiger Lou - Patterns
08. Paper - My life is going under
09. Dreamboy - Stars
10. TALK 3
11. Lack - Watchmen
12. Don't Be A Stranger - Mon chi-chi
13. Ea Philippa - Heslenes sang
14. TALK 4
15. Ef - Thrills
16. Isolation Years - Yellow cross on blue
17. Frivolvol - Satellite kids
18. TALK 5
19. Enslaved - Eld
20. The Grand Opening - Secrets revealed
21. Ultralyd - Comphonie V
22. TALK 8
23. Firefok AK - Techno tears
24. The Indecision Alarm - Alienation process
25. Looptroop Rockers - Marinate
26. TALK 7
27. Markus Krunegård - Jag är en vampyr
28. The End Will Be Kicks - Exit ramps
29. Cadillac - Locomotive
30. TALK 8
31. Lukestar - Lake Toba
32. Commando M Pigg - Baby doll
33. Printer - Minds out
34. TALK 9
35. Seven Feet Four - Auto emotion
36. Tobias Hellkvist - Abomination
37. Barra Head - Undermine
38. TALK 10
39. Britta Persson - Happy hour
40. Anna Leong - Guillotine
41. Ted Gärdestad - Can't stop this train
42. TALK 11

Check out The Moving Ooos, a new retro-rock act just signed to Kong Tiki: http://www.myspace.com/movingoos
The band features members from illustrious acts such as International Tussler Society, New Violators, Dadafon and Cadillac. Their debut album "Peace and love" will be out January 29.

According to Bates Motel, Per Borten of Norwegian act Cadillac has a new band called New Violators who apparently takes cues from the sounds of the 80s. Just what we need, right?

Here's the tracklist for the new comp "Never too loud - A tribute to Backstreet Girls":

01. Cockroach Clan - Backstreet Boogie
02. Gluecifer - Going Down
03. Bazooka Boppers - Take the pain away
04. Trashcan Darlings - Never too loud
05. The Psychedelic Mormones - Any minute now
06. Bronco Busters - Hangover in Hamburg
07. Cadillac - Mad dog in Soho
08. Los Plantronics - Gypo
09. Casino Steel - Party Crashin'
10. The Carburetors - Gimme just a second
11. Jetsurfers - Hard work
12. Sideburn Satan - Awright Awright Awright
13. The Yum Yums - Blame it on Suzie
14. Ingvild Hammer/ Vidar Busk - Walking Downtown
15. The Raptorz - Rock 'n' roll christmas
16. The Beat Tornados - Speedway to heaven
17. Backstreet Girls - Jailbreak Opera (1985 demo w/Tom Kristensen on vocals)

There will be a record release party at Elm Street in Oslo on March 17 featuring Trashcan Darlings, Jetsurfers, Bronco Busters and maybe Mormones and Yum-Yums.

Norwegian rock act Cadillac will see their most-recent album "Magnetic city" released in the UK in September along with the single "Locomotive".

Cadillac's most recent album "Magnetic city" will get a UK release in August. Download the track "Top of my guarantees" here: http://www.cadillacweb.com/booking/top_of_my_guarantees.mp3

Cadillac
Magnetic city
Kong Tiki Records

At times this albums sounds like Television, at other times Queens of the Stone Age springs to mind (hell, on the title track Cadillac's singer even sings "I sing to the deaf"), but most of the times I want to turn the stereo off. Facts such as Cadillac simultaneously screams and sings "normally" now and then (e.g. "Locomotive"), and that "Top of my guaranties" could have been an outtake from Randy's "Cheater" EP (or something by a very young The Hives), all speak in Cadillac's favor, but unfortunately these moments are way too rare for me wanting to recommend "Magnetic City" to anyone. But please do have a listen to "Top of my guaranties" because it's a rather nice little rock'n'roll number.
- Simon Tagestam

New mp3 today from Norway's Cadillac, a cover of "Arabian Knights" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. They're kind of a schizophrenic band - sometimes they sound like a Norwegian version of Him Kerosene with their use of thick chords and sharp start/stop rhythms, but other times they approximate the sounds of older Motorpsycho, The Cult and Queens of the Stone Age. The new album "Magnetic City" was produced by Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes and recorded at Carriage House Studios in Connecticut with engineer Chris Ribando (Black Crowes, Mary J Blige). I've only barely scratched the surface of the record so far, but I think it's easily their best work to-date. It's dark and dirty and balanced with just the right amount of both heaviness and melody.

Check out two videos from Norwegian rockers Cadillac:

01. Locomotive
02. Galaxy of nobodies

The clips themselves aren't super-hot, but the music is definitely worth checking out.

A grand total of 100 (!!!) new bands were confirmed for Roskilde Fest today. Some of the acts mentioned include The Cardigans, Christian Kjellvander, Immortal, The Hellacopters, TSOOL, Satirnine, Gåte, Turbonegro, The Sounds, Cato Salsa Experience and The Raveonettes and a plethora of Scandinavian hip-hop artists: Advance Patrol (SWE), Denmarks Finest (DK), Equicez (NOR), Loose Cannons (SWE), Mad Con (NOR), Organism 12 (SWE), Son Of Light (NOR), Static & Nat Ill (DK) and Suspekt (DK). Read more.

Did you miss Hardcore Superstar last night at Chalmers in Göteborg? Well, you can watch a video of the song "Honey Tongue" from that performance.

Lullacry has postponed the release of their new single "Alright Tonight" to May. No reason was given for the delay.

Norway's Gluecifer has announced a couple dates for this summer:

05/31 - Jæren, NOR
06/06 - Working Class Hero Festival, Drammen NOR
08/16 - Raumarock festival Åndalsnes NOR

The band also reiterated their plans to come back to the US, hopefully this coming fall. Their exact words from the website: "For our very patient fans in the US... we are R E A L L Y looking forward to coming back & playin' for y'all!!!!!"

New Line Records has finally launced a website which of course has info and downloads for label darlings The Sounds.

Misconduct has been confirmed for the Kaktus Festival which will take place at an airfield in Arboga on July 18-19. Other artists playing include The Venue, Peter, Björn and John, The Virtues and Charta 77.

Stockholm Records artists Thee Ultra Bimboos are doing a few dates around Scandinavia in May:

05/02 - Västerås, Rockstad Västerås (Culturen)
05/03 - Malmö, KB
05/04 - Oslo, So What
05/05 - Göteborg, Pusterviksbaren
05/07 - Hultsfred, Metropol
05/08 - Stockholm, Nalen

Motorpsycho is planning a Japanese tour for December, but there's no details yet. Their side-project The International Tussler Society will also be doing some shows around Norway in August such as the Øya festival in Oslo on August 7-9. There may be some dates in Europe, too. Stay tuned.

Silence Records has put up a streaming sample of "Happy Endings" from First Floor Power.

In other Silence-related news, Träd, Gräs & Stenar are heading over to England to two dates in England and Brighton on May 21 and 22 respectively. The full list of their upcoming dates:

05/21 - London, 291 Gallery w/No-Neck Blues Band
05/22 - Brighton w/No-Neck Blues Band
05/28 - Västerås, Taj Mahal
05/29 - Oslo, So What
07/19 - Möja (Stockholm archipelago)

Watch the video for "New Direction" from David & the Citizens.

Turbonegro has announced the addition of a new gig at the Garage in London on May 12. Here's what their upcoming European tour itinerary now looks like:

04/30 - Göteborg, Lisebergshallen
05/01 - Stockholm, Munchen Bryggeriet
05/02 - Malmö, KB
05/03 - Hamburg, Grosse Freiheit, DE w/Division of Laura Lee
05/04 - Hamburg, Grosse Freiheit, DE w/DoLL
05/06 - Amsterdam, Melkweg, NL w/DoLL
05/07 - London, Garage, UK w/DoLL
05/08 - Glasgow, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, UK w/DoLL
05/09 - Manchester, Hope & Grape, UK w/DoLL
05/10 - Birmingham, Acedemy 2, UK w/DoLL
05/11 - Dublin, Whealans, IRL w/DoLL
05/12 - London, Garage, UK w/DoLL
05/13 - Paris, La Tranbendo, F w/DoLL
05/15 - Bergara, Sala Jam, E w/DoLL
05/16 - Madrid, Aqualung, E w/DoLL
05/17 - Barcelona, Apolo, E w/DoLL
05/19 - Milano, Transilvania, IT w/DoLL
05/20 - Zurich, Rote Fabriek, CH w/DoLL
05/21 - Stuttgart, Longhorn, DE w/DoLL
05/22 - Munchen, Elserhalle, DE w/DoLL
05/23 - Köln, E-werk, DE w/DoLL
05/24 - Bielefeld, PC 69, DE w/DoLL
05/25 - Berlin, Columbia halle, DE w/DoLL
05/27 - Stavanger, Siddishallen
05/28 - Bergen, Haukelandshallen
05/29 - Trondheim, Trondheim Spektrum/Nidarøhallen
05/31 - Oslo, Oslo Spektrum

Due to an undisclosed family emergency, Millencolin has been forced to cancel the remaining dates on the second leg of their US tour to return back home to Sweden.

MTVE.com has the new video for "You're the Storm" from The Cardigans.

If you didn't already see it listed, Robyn is doing some touring this summer:

06/28 - Gamleby, Folkets Park
07/05 - Sundsvall, Sundsvalls Gatufest
07/23 - Tylösand, Hot Tylösand
07/24 - Hudiksvall, Stadsfesten
07/25 - Gävle, Rocknatta
07/26 - Piteå, Piteå Dansar och Ler
08/02 - Östersund, Storsjöyran
08/10 - Göteborg, Liseberg
08/15 - Stockholm, Gröna Lund

Here's a MIC Norway profile on Sondre Lerche with links to a number of interviews such as the CNN one linked here yesterday. Among other things, it says that Lerche is featured on the cover of this month's Index Magazine and he is also currently in Bergen, Norway working on his new album with producer Jørgen Træen (aka Sir Duperman). Look for him on tour in the US in May with Nada Surf and Ed Hartcourt.

Also by way of MIC Norway come this article on the Music Export Norway showcase as South by Southwest in Austin last March. Featured bands included the aforementioned Sondre Lerche, Madrugada, Ralph Myerz & the Jack Herren Band, Cadillac, Span and We.

This is pretty amazing: Junior Senior - "Move Your Feet". Definitely not the sort of thing I'm normally into, but that video is just too awesome.

Did you know the last Saturday in May is 'Swedish Music Day'? Me neither.

The following acts have been confirmed for the Siesta fest in Hässleholm on May 30-31: The Ark, Marit Bergman, Dynamo Chapel, David & The Citizens, Christian Kjellvander, $1000 Playboys, Her Majesty, Whyte Seeds, Last Days Of April, Lotta Wenglén Band, Joddla med Siv, Pete Thompson, Loserville plus a number of yet-to-be-named demo bands.

Lars Winnerbäck, Mikael Wiehe and Wilmer X have all been added to the bill of the Piteå Dansar Och Ler fest.

Entombed-side project Project Hate has set "Hate, Dominate, Congregate, Eliminate" as the name of their new album. Look for it later this year from Entombed's own Threeman Recordings label.

Dimmu Borgir has lined up a couple dates in the Netherlands for October:

10/02 – Amsterdam, NETH @ Paradiso
10/03 – Tilburg, NETH @ 013

In other news, the band has reportedly spent the last few weeks at Studio Fredman recording a new album. No word on when to expect it.