NME is streaming the new Magnet video "Hold me": http://www.nme.com/features/113091.htm

The Magnet website has some more details concerning the new single "Hold on": http://www.homeofmagnet.com/

Magnet's new album "The tourniquet" will be released in UK on August 22 via Atlantic Records and will be preceeded by an exclusive double 7" for the single "Hold on" which will feature the semi-exclusive tracks "Good mourning" (a Megadeth cover? Doubtful, but I remain optimistic) and "The mute". But fear not vinyl-haters - they tracks will also be available via iTunes. In related news, look for UK dates to be announced shortly for September besides the previously announced full-band gig at 93 Feat East in London on August 17.

This week's top Norwegian albums:

01. De Lillos - Festen er ikke over det er kake igjen
02. Lene Marlin - Lost in a moment
03. Div Art - Melodi Grand Prix Jr.2005
04. Åge Aleksandersen - To skritt frem
05. Madrugada - The deep end
06. Sandra - Døgnvill
07. Magnet - The tourniquet
08. Div Art - Idol 2005
09. Turboneger - Party animals

MIC Norway profiles Magnet on the occasion of the release of his third album "The tourniquet": http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005053114530384231631

The new Magnet album "The tourniquet" has been confirmed for a May 30 release in Norway via Atlantic/Warner and will come out all over the rest of the world later on in the fall. The disc was self-produced by Magnet with the assistance of Jørgen Træen, Jason Falkner and Yngve Sætre. Tracklist:

01. Hold on
02. Duracellia
03. The pacemaker
04. Believe
05. All you ask
06. Deadlock
07. Fall at your feet
08. Blow by blow
09. Miss her so
10. Jaws

Magnet has cancelled his SXSW (Austin, TX) and Sunkissed Norwegian Centinery gig (UK) appearances due to recording committments. He is currently busy tracking his new album and doesn't want to interrupt the flow of his work.

Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
02. Dark Tranquility - Character
03. The Ark - State of the Ark
04. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
05. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
06. Fernandoz - Minnenas allé
07. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
08. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
09. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
10. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
11. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
12. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
13. Peter Jöback & Göteborgs symfoniker - Storybook
14. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
15. Melody Club - Face the Music
16. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift
17. Marie Fredriksson - The Change
18. Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe - 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna
19. Arne Domnérus - Best of Dompan
20. Gyllene Tider - Finn 5 fel!

DJ Martian has the scoop on the 'Fresh Air at Fabric' one-day Norwegian music festial in London featuring performances by a wide range of artists including Annie, Magnet, Nils Petter Molvaer, Satyricon, Biosphere, WE and much more: http://djmartian.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_djmartian_archive.html#110677852973580507
Definitely something not to be missed.

I'm not sure if this means no ExMS showcase in NY and LA, but here's the list of bands playing the two "Nordic Nights" showcases at The Drink On 6th at SXSW:

03/17:
Ske (ICE)
Tina Dico (DK)
The Low Frequency in Stereo (NOR)
Epo-555 (DK)
Powersolo (DK)
22 Pistepirkko (FIN)

03/18:
Teitur (DK)
Magnet (NOR)
The Crash (FIN)
The Ark (SWE)
Surfer Rosa (NOR)
The Blue Van (DK)

Another new mp3 posted today from the Norwegian Johnny Cash tribute "We walk the line". This song from Karen Jo Fields is quite a bit different than the Magnet track I posted on Monday. It's still very much a classic Cash tune, but it's far more lighthearted and truer to the original version. Now, I don't know much about Karen Jo besides what's written in her official bio, but she's got a great voice and good feel for the material. I also really like the way this song sounds when sung from a female perspective - I think it even works a bit better in that regards. I'm not quite as enthused that they switched the classic Luther Perkins guitar melody to the acoustic, but it works.

I could go on and on about almost every song on this comp, but I'm going to stop here. I really had trouble picking just two. Hopefully my choices served you well enough that you'll seek out the rest - it's definitely worth it.

It might come as a surprise, but when I'm not listening to some band from Scandinavia, I spend a lot of time listening to classic country music. No, really. So when I heard about the "We walk the line" Norwegian tribute to Johnny Cash recorded live at Oslo Prison that came out last year, I was ecstatic. It took me a little while to track down a copy, but oh man was it worth it. Sure, there's a couple stiff tracks and some weird song choices (c'mon now, just because John covered "Solitary man" on "American IV" does not make it his song), but almost all of it is golden. Take this Magnet tune for example, as posted today on the right. Magnet bravely reworks the song in his own style and makes it transcendent. Granted, he'd probably have to try extra hard if he really wanted to ruin one of the greatest love songs ever written, but it does take a good deal of courage to change something so well known. Very, very recommended. Check back later this week for another song from this comp - I had such a hard time selecting which outstanding track to post that I'm gonna showcase more than one.

Norway's Rec90, home of bands such as Lorraine, Poor Rich Ones and Magnet's debut album, has signed Twinklehead, Bob & Dave and Lu:d. More info soon.

Norwegian singer/songwriter Magnet is doing a string of shows around the LA area along with some TV appearances:

12/02 - KCRW presents Magnet at The Fold @ Tangier w/Jesca Hoop
12/03 - Late Late Show w/guest host Michael Ian on CBS
12/06 - Viper Room w/Foreign Born, On The Speakers (early show)
12/09 - Listen for "Lay lady lay" during episode 5 of "The OC" on Fox
12/12 - KCRW presents Magnet at the Troubador w/Phoenix

Daily Texan editor Tito Belis selects "On your side" by Magnet as his number one album of the year: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2004/11/30/Entertainment/Top-5.Records.Of.2004-816822.shtml
Further down the page you can also find writer Leslie Flynn who selects The Rasmus for number one.

Up-and-coming Norwegian singer/songwriter Magnet will be releasing a special EP this holiday season entitled "Minus" featuring his cover of the classic song "Let it snow". The disc will be released on CD in the UK and Japan, but in the US it will only be available via iTunes. Here's the full tracklist:

01. Let It Snow
02. Clean Slate
03. Heaviest Heart
04. Dead Happy
05. Big Black Moon
06. Clean Slate (The Bee's Remix)

"Let it snow" is also slated to be featured in an upcoming episode of the popular Fox TV show "The OC", The official release date for the EP is November 19.