Top 10s for 2005: It's a trap!

Photo: Henrik has updated with new pics of Monkeystrikes, Silverbullit, Mattias Alkberg BD and Håkan Hellström: http://www.photohenrik.com/

New mp3 today from Monkeystrikes, the band fronted by Cecilia Nordlund. A lot of you probably first heard Cecilia from her duet with Marit Bergman on "Adios amigos", but some of you might also remember her from her mid-90s indierock act Souls. Monkeystrikes' debut album "You hate my beautiful love" has been out for a little while already, but I've only just started to really get into it. It's interesting to hear just how much Cecilia has grown over the years, both as a vocalist/performer and as a songwriter. The new material manages to strike a perfect balance between the bombast of her earlier material and a new-found pop sensibility, all rounded out by her strong personality. It's especially apparent on songs like the one I've posted today - what starts as a pretty little love tune takes a turn for the morbid for verse two and then returns to the chorus hook to build and repeat until it wraps up at just over 3 minutes. The whole album is just stock full of gems like this and I can't recommend it enough. Check it out.

Podcast: Summer bummer

Podcast: Feel-good summer mix

The second single from the new Monkeystrikes album is the song "Let's go to Hawaii" and you can download an mp3 here: http://www.monkeystrikes.com/letsgo.mp3
Look for a video to hit the air shortly, too.

This week's Musikbyrån update features videos from The Tough Alliance, Paragon, Monkeystrikes, Efterklang and more: http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=32531

Listen to a stream of the new Monkeystrikes single "You hate my beautiful love" over at the band's website: http://www.monkeystrikes.com/
The new album of the same name comes out April 27 via Dust Music.

Monkeystrikes debut full-length album "You Hate My Beautiful Love" has been confirmed for release on April 27 via Dust Music. The recording was handled by Nathan Larson at Tambourine Studios and features guest appearances from Marit Bergman, Nina Persson and David Sandström.

Top ten: First half 2004

Monkeystrikes and Universal Poplab are playing some of the dates on the Arvika Festival tour. Details: http://www.galaxen.se/

More bands confirmed for Popaganda: Bergman Rock, Tough Alliance, David & The Citizen, Division of Laura Lee, Last Days of April, Monkeystrikes, Fine Arts Showcase, Action Biker, Jmyhaze Beatbox, Differnet, Slagsmålsklubben, The Light Bulb Project, Anna Ternheim, Eskju Divine, Fibi Frap and Wonderboy. More info: http://www.popaganda.nu/

The new Revolver webzine is online with a feature on Monkeystrikes: http://www.revolver.nu/ (in Swedish)

Via Dagensskiva, here's this week's top 20 student radio chart:

01. (01) Morrissey "Irish Blood, English Heart"
02. (15) Franz Ferdinand "Matinee"
03. (08) Jens Lekman "You Are The Light"
04. (03) The White Stripes "There's No Home For You Here"
05. (07) The Streets "Fit But You Know It"
06. (02) Graham Coxon "Freakin' Out"
07. (06) Infinite Mass "No.1 Swartskalle"
08. (09) Pitch Black "It's All Real"
09. (12) Basement Jaxx "Plug It In"
10. (04) Her Space Holiday "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend"
11. (05) Promoe "These Walls Don't Lie"
12. (NY) The Tough Alliance "Make It Happen"
13. (11) Teddybears Sthlm Feat. Mad Cobra "Cobrastyle"
14. (14) Syd Matters "Black & White Eyes"
15. (NY) Kelis "Trick Me"
16. (20) Division Of Laura Lee "Does Compute"
17. (NY) Dilated Peoples Feat. Kanye West "This Way"
18. (16) Monkeystrikes "Angry Knees"
19. (17) Automato "The Single"
20. (NY) Scissor Sisters "Take Your Mama"

Leaving the chart:
10. I Am Kloot "From Your Favourite Sky"
13. Geeza "I Know You Don't Like Me (I Hate You)"
18. Kanye West "Through The Wire"
19. Eskobar "Bring The Action"

Musique One Stop has updated with new pics of Marit Bergman, Monkeystrikes and Speedmarket Avenue: http://www.photohenrik.com/mos/