In-stock and ready for order: Moto Boy - s/t
The debut album from Sweden's newest indie/pop hope! Also now available to order, though not quite in stock just yet:
Britta Persson - Kill Hollywood me (CD)
Commando M Pigg - Decenniet 1980-90 (CD)
Don't Be a Stranger - Frutti di mare (CD)
v/a - Svensk Punkklassiker vol. 2 (2CD)
Freddie Wadling - Klassiker (2CD)
Restocks of Hello Saferide and Laakso on the way too!
MNW has finally posted details for the newest editions in their ever-expanding Klassiker series: http://www.mnwmusic.com/
I'm not familiar with Dan Hylander, but will be getting a few copies of the others (Freddie Wadling, "Proggen", "Punkklassiker vol. 2" in for review/resale soon.
It's not quite as cool as a proper Cortex reissue, but MNW is putting out a 2CD Freddie Wadling (Fläskkvartetten, Blue For Two, etc.) compilation on December 27 as part of their ever-expanding Klassiker series.
I've been accumulating so much amazing early 80s Swedish postpunk these past few months, I could probably spend every Friday talking about it for the rest of the year. In fact, I'm quite tempted to do just that. Today's band: Cortex, the band that Freddie Wadling fronted after Liket Lever and Straitjackets. His other band The Leather Nun acheived far more widespread success (mostly after he left the group), but I find Cortex to be a far better band. On the other hand, today's song "Arkham" is definitely not their best material, but who can resist musical references to HP Lovecraft? In film, that's a whole different story - for the love of god, don't ever see "Cthulhu" should someone be dumb enough to finance a proper release, even on DVD. This fact alone is probably telling: Tori Spelling is the best thing about the movie. I saw the premiere and people practically ran from the theater to avoid the Q&A with the writer and director. Anyhow, back to Cortex... Unsurprisingly, the band's later material such as 1986's "You can't kill the boogeyman" (from which this song comes) tends to be overproduced and drenched in 80s excess, but I think their talent still shines through in this extended dirge. "A dream for some / A nightmare to others / Like a dream within a dream" Awesome.
Cortex - Arkham
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Björn Skifs - Decennier sånger från en annan tid
02. Son of a Plumber - Son of a Plumber
03. Jill Johnson - The christmas in you
04. Monica Zetterlund - Z - det bästa med monica zetterlund
05. Darin - Darin
06. Lena Philipsson - Jag ångrar ingenting
07. Thåström - Skebokvarnsv 209
08. Amy Diamond - This Is Me Now
09. Björn Afzelius - Björn Afzelius bästa
10. Nanne - Alltid på väg
11. Eva Dahlgren - Snö
12. Laleh - Laleh
13. The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
14. Brolle Jr - Brolle jr tolkar cornelis - en stund på jorden
15. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
16. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - A present from the past
17. Sophie Zelmani - A decade of dreams 1995-2005
18. Carola - Jul i betlehem
19. Jussi Björling - Från operans värld till svenska sånger
20. Peter Lemarc - Sjutton sånger - lemarc sjunger lemarc
The nominees for the Swedish Grammis have been announced:
Best pop female:
Amy Diamond - This is me now
Ane Brun - A temporary dive
Frida Hyvönen - Until death comes
Jenny Wilson - Love and youth
Robyn - Robyn
Best pop male:
Darin - Darin
Håkan Hellström - Ett kolikbarns bekännelser
Mauro Scocco - Herr Jimsons äventyr
Peter LeMarc - Sjutton sånger - LeMarc sjunger LeMarc
Son of a plumber - Son of a plumber
Best pop group:
Alcazar - Dancefloor deluxe
Bodies without organs - Prototype
CDOASS - Extra fingers
Doktor Kosmos - Ett enkelt svar
Suburban kids with biblical names - #3
Best rock album (solo):
Christian Kjellvander - Faya
Freddie Wadling - Jag är monstret
Moneybrother - To die alone
Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
Tomas Andersson Wij - Tomas Andersson Wij
Best rock group:
Kent - Du & jag döden
Soundtrack of our lives - A present from the past
The Ark - State of the Ark
The Cardigans - Super extra gravity
The Hellacopters - Rock & roll is dead
Best composer:
Anders Wedin (Moneybrother) - To die alone
Joakim Berg - Du & jag döden
Laleh - Laleh
Robyn/Klas Åhlund - Robyn
Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
Best lyrics:
Håkan Hellström - Ett kolikbarns bekännelser
Jason Diakité - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
Joakim Berg - Du & jag döden
Laleh - Laleh
Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
Best proder:
Anders Hansson & Alexander Bard
Bloodshy/Avant
Klas Åhlund
Laleh
Lars Halapi
Best hip-hop/soul:
Hearin'aid - The Boom Lucy
Jaqee - Blaqalixious
Looptroop - Fort Europa
Masayah - p.s.
Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
Best hard-rock:
Candlemass - Candlemass
Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, unbowed, unbroken
Hardcore Superstar - Hardcore Superstar
Meshuggah - Catch thirtythree
Opeth - Ghost reveries
Best jazz:
Bobo Stenson/Anders Jormin/Paul Motian - Goodbye
e.s.t. - Viaticum
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - Snake city north
Putte Wickman & Jan Lundgren - An intimate salute to Frankie
Torbjörn Zetterberg - Krissvit
Best club/dance:
Arash - Arash - new version
v/a - Inside Scandinavia vol 2
Hundarna från söder - Troika
September - In orbit
Spånka Nkpg - The City of the golden king
Open category:
Allan Edwall - Alla Allans visor
v/a - Du Beppe, Beppe Wolgers mästerverk
Peps Blodsband - Äntligen!
The Latin Kings - Familia Royale
Totta Näslund - Totta 8: Greatest hits!
Best newcomer:
Amy Diamond
Bodies Without Organs
Darin
Frida Hyvönen
Laleh
Best album:
Bodies without organs - Prototype
Kent - Du & jag döden
Laleh - Laleh
Robyn - Robyn
Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
Best artist:
Kent
Laleh
Moneybrother
Robyn
Timbuktu
Best music dvd:
Abba - Abba the movie
Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis
Evergrey - A night to remember
Marit Bergman - Marit Bergman - Live at Rival
Timbuktu - Funken styr våra steg
Best song:
Amy Diamond - What's in it for me
Darin - Money for nothing
Kent - The hjärta & smärta ep
Robyn - Be mine
Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
Full list of every category here: http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2198&a=503182
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Robyn - Robyn
02. Kent - Du & Jag Döden
03. Nanne - 20 år med Nanne
04. Looptroop - Fort Europa
05. Eldkvarn - Atlantis
06. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
07. Nordman - Anno 2005
08. Bo Sundström - Skåne
09. Shirley Clamp - Lever Mina Drömmar
10. Sofia Karlsson - Svarta ballader
11. Moneybrother - To Die Alone
12. The Tough Alliance - New School
13. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
14. Martin Stenmarck - Think Of Me (New Version)
15. Freddie Wadling - Jag är monstret
16. Jill Johnson - Being Who You Are
17. Laleh - Laleh
18. Totta Näslund - Totta 8: Greatest Hits!
19. Darin - The Anthem
20. Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
HIM reports that acclaimed engineer Andy Wallace will be mixing the band's forthcoming album. Some of Wallace's credits include work on albums from Slayer, Korn, Ben Folds Five, Helmet, Rage Against the Machine, Rollins Band and tons more.
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Eldkvarn - Atlantis
02. Kent - Du & Jag Döden
03. Nanne - 20 år med Nanne
04. Shirley Clamp - Lever Mina Drömmar
05. Bo Sundström - Skåne
06. Totta Näslund - Totta 8: Greatest Hits!
07. Freddie Wadling - Jag är monstret
08. Moneybrother - To Die Alone
09. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
10. Darin - The Anthem
11. Jill Johnson - Being Who You Are
12. Laleh - Laleh
13. Christer Sjögren - Love Me Tender
14. Sofia Karlsson - Svarta ballader
15. Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
16. Jimmy Jansson - Som en blixt
17. Grymlings - Grymlings
18. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
19. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
20. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
Tiny Mixtapes reviews The Perishers: http://www.tinymixtapes.com/musicreviews/p/perishers.htm
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Kent - Du & Jag Döden
02. Nanne - 20 år med Nanne
03. Freddie Wadling - Jag är monstret
04. Totta Näslund - Totta 8: Greatest Hits!
05. The Real Group - In the Middle of Life
06. Sofia Karlsson - Svarta ballader
07. Moneybrother - To Die Alone
08. Grymlings - Grymlings
09. Darin - The Anthem
10. Christer Sjögren - Love Me Tender
11. Jill Johnson - Being Who You Are
12. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
13. Laleh - Laleh
14. Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
15. Jimmy Jansson - Som en blixt
16. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
17. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
18. Frida Hyvönen - Until Death Comes
19. Millencolin - Kingwood
20. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
Names and details are starting to be confirmed for this year's Malmö Festival and so far the artist list includes Thor Freddy, Freddie Wadling, José González, Soilwork, Mad Sheer Kahn, Lisa Miskovsky, Bad Cash Quartet, Mattias Alkberg BD, Niccokick, Sophie Rimheden, Nina Rochelle, Cajsalisa Ejemyr, The Kid, Deportees, Under Byen and more. More info: http://www.malmofestivalen.nu/
Freddie Wadling is enlisting Mauro Scocco and Thomas Öberg from Bob Hund/Bergman Rock to help with his new record. His collaboration "Fade Away" with Håkan Hellström is also supposed to be on the album.
Read a short, gushing review of the new album "Souvenirs" from the Netherland's The Gathering. As mentioned in therein, the album features guest appearances from Mathias Elk of Jaga Jazzist and Trickster G (Kris Rygg) of Ulver, and yes, I agree that it really is great.
Reviews and samples of new releases from Ulver, Katatonia, JR Ewing and more from Aquarius Records. Mailorder, too.
As already reported, Arve and Jarle from Supersilent will be appearing solo and as part of the Tord Gustavsen Trio on May 10 at the Maijazz festival in Stavanger, Norway. It's not confirmed that Supersilent themselves will also be playing the fest on the day before. In other news, Arve makes a guest appearance on the new Jørn Simen Øverli album "Pengenes Oppmuntrende Virkning" along with Stian Carstensen from Farmers Market.
Mustasch is entering the studio on April 22 to record a new album under the tutelage of producer Jacob Hellner (credits include Rammstein, Clawfinger, and Fläskkvartetten). They expect to have it out around fall.
Here's an interview with Ebbot from TSOOL talking about touring the US among other things. (in Swedish)
25 years ago the first Swedish punk single "Vårdad klädsel" from Kriminella Gitarrer came out. There's gonna be a show celebrating this event at Vågen in Göteborg on October 4 featuring Brända Barn, Asta Kask, Attentat, Stry Terrarie and Freddie Wadling plus more to be announced. Tickets go on sale April 11.
This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:
01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Mew - Comforting Sounds
03. Kwan - Shine
04. Kashmir - Surfing The Warm Industry
05. A-ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV
06. C21 - You Are The One
07. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
08. Roxette - Opportunity Nox
09. Winta - Emotions
10. The Cardigans - For What It´s Worth
Challengers:
01. Left Lane - Walk after you
02. HIM - Funeral of harts
03. Ralph Meyrz & The Jack Herren Band - Think Twice
04. Whyte Seeds - Slow motions
05. Don Diego - Min lat
Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.
Lotta will be playing Tavastia in Helsinki on April 15 with Buddaboys. Even better, Yle Radio X3M will be broadcasting the show live.
Orange Crunch has a new EP coming out on Dead Frog in May. They play Alcazar in Stockholm tomorrow night, too.
The Svensk Rockarkiv will be making a roadshow appearance at Hultsfred fest this year. The archive was started in 1993 as a place to keep documentaries, photos, records and so on from all sorts Swedish artists through the ages.
The winners of the 2002 SAMA awards have been announced:
Best newcomer: Melody Club
Best song: Melody Club – Electric
Best album: Covenant – Northern Light
Best artist: Apoptygma Berzerk
Read more about the SAMAs here.
Download an mp3 of Randy's new single "A Man in Uniform". The new album "Welfare Problems" comes out April 14 on Burning Heart.
Hedningarna, Radio Dept., Tyskarna från Lund, Colony 5, Kamera, Interlace, Stairland, Magenta, Necton and The Celophane Flowers are few of the new Nordic bands confirmed for the upcoming Arvika Festival. Other new bands confirmed include Ministry, Mono and DAF.
The final list of nominees for the Swedish hip-hop awards has been announced. Go here for the full list. The ceremony will April 25 at Nalen in Stockholm. Performing live will be Spotrunnaz, Prominent, Don Diego, Peshi, DJ Confuse, Narcissists, Ison & Fille & Hemmalaget, Ken & BB Entertainment, Sam-E, and Timbuktu.
Speaking of Timbuktu, he'll be hitting the road in May along with Chords, DJ Amato and the live-band Damn!. The dates:
5/6 - Stockholm, Göta källare
5/7 - Göteborg, Nefertiti
5/8 - Göteborg, Nefertiti
5/9 - Malmö, KB
Here's a short interview with Jocke Ahlunds from The Caesars talking about the filming of the video for "Jerk it Out" in Havana, Cuba. You can also view the video from that page, too. (in English)
Check this article on up-and-coming Swedish pop groups Franke, Laakso, José Gonzales, The Embassy, Radio Dept., and Her Majesty from Dagens Nyeter. (in Swedish)
Ulf Lundell is hitting the road this summer:
7/4 - Varberg, Fästningen
7/5 - Sundsvall, Gatufesten
7/6 - Leksand, Sammilsdal
7/8 - Visby, Kneippbyn
7/11 - Christinehofs Slott
7/17 - Stockholm, Skansen
7/19 - Karlstad, Mariebergsskogen
7/22 - Borgholm, Slottsruinen
7/24 - Karlskrona, Bastion Aurora
7/25 - Västervik, Gränsö Slott
7/26 - Halmstad, Brottet
7/29 - Fjällbacka, Hamnen
8/1 - Uppsala, Fyrishovsparken
8/2 - Mariestad, Folkets Park
8/8 - Norge, Wrightegaarden
8/9 - Norge, Fredrikstens Festning
8/10 - Norge, Oslo, Rockefeller
8/15 - Linköping, Slottsparken
8/16 - Göteborg, TrSdgsrdsföreningen
Finnish electronic act Mr. Velcro Fastener will be playing at The Egg in London on May 9.
Finland's Amorphis has signed a deal with Virgin Records to release their new self-produced album "Far From The Sun". It will come out May 20 with the first single "Day Of Your Beliefs" coming later this month. Guitarist Esa Holopainen comments:
Having had to go through all the contractual differences in the past, the future does really look bright at the moment. The process of making the album was easy and the schedule for the summer and autumn live dates is developing steadily. We aim to play European festivals over the summer and hit the road on our own in the fall.
Despite the recent death of guitarist Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta, Finntroll has decided to soldier on with their upcoming European tour with Katatonia. The official statement:
We do this with heavy hearts, as the sudden loss of Teemu 'Somnium' Raimoranta, a close friend and one of the leading forces behind this band, gave us a blow from which the recovery will take a long time. We feel that dropping everything now, canceling the tour and all the plans we together agreed for this band, would be an insult on Teemu's memory. Going back on the road was also the particular wish of his family and close ones. We feel that this is the best way to honor our friends' memory, taking the music out to the fans. On the following gigs the second guitar will be played by a long-time friend for all of us, Mikael Karlbom (The Seventh Planet), who has played as a stand-in guitarist for us several times in the past.
During the tour, we wish some courtesy on the part of fans, members of the press and others concerning questions about Teemu's departing, future of the band and such. We will share information in due time.
Thanks to all those who have contacted us, expressed their condolences and honored our brother's memory.
Christian Kjellvander will be playing the opening of the Handikappåret 2003 at the Kulturhuset in Stockholm on April 11.
The Caesars are heading back to the UK in May with the French Kicks. The dates:
5/11 - Oxford, Zodiac
5/14 Manchester, Roadhouse
The Swedish pop group Natural scored a number 2 position on the Japanese radio charts last week with the tune "Put Your Arms Around Me".
Charlie's Magazine will release their new album "Traffic" on April 22. The female-fronted band previously enjoyed a taste of success with the single "Sweet Alibi" back in 2001.