Delusions of Adequacy on JR Ewing's "Maelstrom": http://www.adequacy.net/review.php?reviewID=7144

MP3: JR Ewing - Change is nothing (everything is)

So yeah, JR Ewing is breaking up. No big surprise really, especially considering the shelflife of so many other hardcore bands. Frankly, I'm surprised they lasted as long as they did. It's still a pity though 'cause their final album "Maelstrom" is the best thing they've ever done. I suppose it's good they decided to go out on a high-point, I just wish their recordings always matched up to their reputation as a fierce live band. Hearing their older work you can barely tell, at least to my ears. Stronger, more mature songwriting and a much bigger major-label recording budget usually doesn't equal success for hardcore bands trying to rise above the DIY level, but these dudes worked it out. It's also amazing how strangely prescient the whole thing feels - there's a definite theme of conclusions running throughout the record. From "Change is nothing (everything is)" (the song I've posted today) to "For we are the dead" and "Here I vanish", it now seems obvious that the end was nigh. Well, until the inevitable reunion I guess.

JR Ewing - Change is nothing (everything is)

Pitchfork on JR Ewing's final album "Maelstrom": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/37295/JR_Ewing_Maelstrom

Long-running Norwegian hardcore act JR Ewing is calling it quits! They'll still play all the shows they have booked for the summer, but come fall it's all over. I bet their US label Dim Mak is pissed. Read more: http://www.v8.no/thejrewing/v1/news.php

The mainstreaming of emo/hardcore took me by surprise. I remember laughing at the kids with the backpacks and too-tight sweaters quivering to bands like Evergreen and Mohinder back in the day. It's not that I have anything against the music - I actually still listen to a lot of 90s hardcore - I just can't understand how it became cool. I guess I'm already on my way to becoming an old fogey. Kids these days, y'know? Regardless of all that, Norway seems to leading the way when it comes to keeping the scene alive. Mainstays like JR Ewing and Kaospilot have been at it for awhile, but up-and-comers like Rumble in Rhodos are stealing the show (and awards like "Favourite new international artist" at Canadian Music Week earlier this year, beating out Finnish also-rans Disco Ensemble). I'm posting this particular track today because it reminds me of Texas is the Reason, one of the trailblazers of the melodic emo/post-hardcore genre or whatever you want to call it. Good stuff - bring on the octave chords!

MP3: Rumble in Rhodos - Step into the night

The mainstreaming of emo/hardcore took me by surprise. I remember laughing at the kids with the backpacks and too-tight sweaters quivering to bands like Evergreen and Mohinder back in the day. It's not that I have anything against the music - I actually still listen to a lot of 90s hardcore - I just can't understand how it became cool. I guess I'm already on my way to becoming an old fogey. Kids these days, y'know? Regardless of all that, Norway seems to leading the way when it comes to keeping the scene alive. Mainstays like JR Ewing and Kaospilot have been at it for awhile, but up-and-comers like Rumble in Rhodos are stealing the show (and awards like "Favourite new international artist" at Canadian Music Week earlier this year, beating out Finnish also-rans Disco Ensemble). I'm posting this particular track today because it reminds me of Texas is the Reason, one of the trailblazers of the melodic emo/post-hardcore genre or whatever you want to call it. Good stuff - bring on the octave chords!

Rumble in Rhodos - Step into the night

US label Dim Mak has officially confirmed that they will be releasing JR Ewing's latest album "Maelstrom" in North America. Look for it on July 25.

Norwegian management/PR firm Bpop has decided to jump into the label business. They will now take it upon themselves to import their acts into neighboring Sweden via the newly founded imprint Bpop Music. Here's what they've got scheduled:

02/15 - Jim Stärk - "Jim Stärk"
03/15 - JR Ewing - "Maelstrom"
04/26 - Real Ones - "Home With The Girls In The Morning"
05/17 - WE - "Smugglers"
06/14 - Datarock - "Datarock Datarock"
07/12 - Vidar Vang - "Vidar Vang"

Distribution will be handled by V2 Scandinavia.

Norway's JR Ewing has been invited by US prog/metalcore act Coheed & Cambria to tour Europe, so of course they accepted. Unfortunately that means some of the band's previously announced headlining gigs have been postponed. Some of the French shows may go as planned, but they are not 100% sure of the schedule at this time and encourage you to check their website later this week for the latest. Confirmed dates:

02/10 - Hof Ter Lo, Antwerp (BEL)
02/11 - LMH, Cologne (GER)
02/12 - Melkweg, Amsterdam (HOL)
02/13 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
02/14 - Rockerfeller, Oslo (NOR)
02/15 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE)
02/17 - Grobe Freiheit, Hamburg (GER)
02/18 - SO36, Berlin (GER)
02/19 - Arena, Vienna (AUS)
02/20 - Elser Halle, Munich (GER)
02/22 - Estragon, Bologna (ITA)
02/23 - Rainbow, Milan (ITA)
02/24 - Abart, Zurich (SWI)

Updated UK tourdates for JR Ewing:

01/19 - Barfly, Cardiff
01/20 - Barfly, Birmingham
01/21 - Barfly, Glasgow
01/22 - Barfly Fibbers, York
01/23 - Barfly, London
01/24 - Peel, Kingston
01/26 - Cavern, Exceter
01/27 - Koko (Club NME), London

Some new Scandinavian music reviews from Sellfish:

JR Ewing - Maelstrom
Jens Lekman - Oh you're so silent Jens
Switchblade - s/t

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.

Coalition Records will be releasing the picture-disc vinyl edition of JR Ewing's newest album "Maelstrom". It should be ready by February.

Top 10s for 2005: Sellout! Music

JR Ewing will be heading out on a Kerrang! sponsored tour of the Barflys in the UK this coming January:

01/19 - Barfly, Cardiff
01/20 - Barfly, Birmingham
01/21 - Barfly, Glasgow
01/22 - Barfly, York
01/23 - Barfly, London