Roxette
Charm school
EMI

Reunions are a tricky thing, especially if it's been a decade, a health scare and a few middling solo releases in between albums. Roxette will always be one of Sweden's most successful and beloved commercial pop bands; no one can take that away from them. Fans were understandably eager to see them reunite, but once you get past the "oh, it's Per!" and "ooh, it's Marie!" nostalgia trip of the new album's opening tracks, it's a long slog through shadows of former glories (chiefly, "Listen to your heart", repeated ad nauseum in slightly different formats). It all sounds like what I feared it might -- a Per Gessle album. Why, when you're known for your bright, shiny pop songs, record an album of plodding, quasi-rock grasping for credibility that it'll never achieve? To many critics, Roxette will never be "credible, and that's part of the reason we fans like them. I wish they would have embraced their glossy pop side (which pokes through on tracks like "Big black Cadillac" and the should-have-been-better lead single "She's got nothing on (but the radio)"). At least if you're going to repeat yourself, have some fun with it.
- Nick James

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Larz Kristerz - Om du vill
02. Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
03. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Samling
04. Christer Sjögren - Schlagerminnen
05. Peter Lemarc - Klassiker
06. Nisse Hellberg - En modern man
07. Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
08. Europe - Last look at Eden
09. Mustasch - Mustasch
10. Takida - The darker instinct
11. Amy Diamond - Swings and roundabouts
12. Malena Ernman - La voix du nord
13. Per Gessle - Gessle over europe
14. Sarah Dawn Finer - Moving on
15. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
16. Mama Kin - In the city
17. Jeanette Lindström - Attitude & orbit control
18. Ebba Forsberg - Ta min vals: ebba forsberg sjunger Leonard Cohen
19. Markus Krunegård - Prinsen av Peking
20. Jerry Williams - Dynamite - live

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Laleh - Me and Simon
02. Scotts - På vårt sätt
03. Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a mayday
04. Irya's Playground - Irya's playground
05. Magnus Carlsson - Re:collection 93-08
06. Timo Räisänen - ...And then there was Timo
07. Frida Hyvönen - Silence is wild
08. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
09. Takida - Bury the lies
10. ABBA - The albums (9CD box set)
11. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion
12. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
13. Per Gessle - Party crasher
14. Lykke Li - Youth novels
15. Mojje - Popcornfrisyr
16. Ulf Lundell - Omaha
17. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
18. Sofia Jannok - Ássogáttis / By the embers
19. Titiyo - Hidden
20. Christian Walz - The corner

Per Gessle to tour Europe

Per Gessle is heading out this spring on his first club tour in some 20 years:

04/16 - Tavastia Club, Helsingfors (SWE)
04/19 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
04/20 - Vega, Köpenhamn (DK)
04/22 - Stodola, Warsawa (POL)
04/23 - Luccerna Hall, Prague (CZ)
04/25 - Grunspan, Hamburg (GER)
04/27 - Gloria Theatre, Köln (GER)
04/28 - Kaufleuten, Zürich (CH)
04/29 - Muffathalle, München (GER)
05/02 - Handelsbeurs, Gent (BEL)
05/04 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London (UK)
05/06 - Melkweg, Amsterdam (NL)
05/09 - Cirkus, Stockholm (SWE)

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Scotts - På vårt sätt
02. Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a mayday
03. Irya's Playground - Irya's playground
04. Magnus Carlsson - Re:collection 93-08
05. Takida - Bury the lies
06. ABBA - The albums (9CD box set)
07. Sofia Jannok - Ássogáttis / By the embers
08. Per Gessle - Party crasher
09. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
10. Ulf Lundell - Omaha
11. Frida Hyvönen - Silence is wild
12. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion
13. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
14. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
15. Titiyo - Hidden
16. Kleerup - Kleerup
17. Eldkvarn - Hunger hotell
18. Agnes - Dance love pop
19. In Flames - A sense of purpose
20. Petter - X - Greatest hits

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Scotts - På vårt sätt
02. Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a mayday
03. Irya's Playground - Irya's playground
04. Magnus Carlsson - Re:collection 93-08
05. Takida - Bury the lies
06. ABBA - The albums (9CD box set)
07. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
08. Per Gessle - Party crasher
09. Ulf Lundell - Omaha
10. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
11. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
12. Lena + Orup - Dubbel
13. Kleerup - Kleerup
14. Petter - X - Greatest hits
15. Frida Hyvönen - Silence is wild
16. Titiyo - Hidden
17. Timo Räisänen - ...And then there was timo
18. In Flames - A sense of purpose
19. ABBA - ABBA gold - Greatest hits
20. Bo Kaspers Orkester - 8

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Scotts - På vårt sätt
02. ABBA - The albums (9CD box set)
03. Per Gessle - Party crasher
04. Sanna, Shirley, Sonja - Our Christmas
05. Magnus Carlsson - Re:collection 93-08
06. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
07. Lena + Orup - Dubbel
08. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
09. Takida - Bury the lies
10. Ulf Lundell - Omaha
11. Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a mayday
12. Vikingarna - Den sista dansen - Live från Arvika
13. Petter - X - Greatest hits
14. Titiyo - Hidden
15. Danny - Set your body free
16. Zillah & Totte - Det låter apa
17. Sonja Aldén - Under mitt tak
18. Frida Hyvönen - Silence is wild
19. Bo Kaspers Orkester - 8
20. ABBA - ABBA gold - Greatest hits

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Sanna, Shirley, Sonja - Our Christmas
02. Per Gessle - Party crasher
03. Lasse Stefanz - Svängjul
04. ABBA - The albums (9CD box set)
05. Hans Alfredsson/Tage Danielsson/Lasse O'Månsson - Lindemans låda - Fullare än någonsin
06. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
07. Vikingarna - Den sista dansen - Live från Arvika
08. Amy Diamond - En helt ny Jul
09. Ulf Lundell - Omaha
10. Lena + Orup - Dubbel
11. Charlotte Perrelli - Rimfrostjul
12. Carola - I denna natt blir världen ny - Jul i Betlehem II
13. Darin - Flashback
14. Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a mayday
15. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
16. Christer Sjögren - Mitt sköna sextiotal
17. Magnus Carlsson - Re:collection 93-08
18. Eldkvarn - Hunger Hotell
19. Takida - Bury the lies
20. Frida Hyvönen - Silence is wild

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Sanna, Shirley, Sonja - Our Christmas
02. Lasse Stefanz - Svängjul
03. Per Gessle - Party crasher
04. ABBA - The albums (9CD box set)
05. Amy Diamond - En helt ny Jul
06. Darin - Flashback
07. Lena + Orup - Dubbel
08. Ulf Lundell - Omaha
09. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
10. Vikingarna - Den sista dansen - Live från Arvika
11. Hans Alfredsson/Tage Danielsson/Lasse O'Månsson - Lindemans låda - Fullare än någonsin
12. Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a mayday
13. Christer Sjögren - Mitt sköna sextiotal
14. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
15. Charlotte Perrelli - Rimfrostjul
16. Eldkvarn - Hunger Hotell
17. Markoolio - Jag är konst
18. Bo Kaspers Orkester - 8
19. Magnus Carlsson - Re:collection 93-08
20. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Sanna, Shirley, Sonja - Our Christmas
02. Per Gessle - Party crasher
03. Lasse Stefanz - Svängjul
04. Amy Diamond - En helt ny Jul
05. Eldkvarn - Hunger Hotell
06. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion
07. Ulf Lundell - Omaha
08. Lena + Orup - Dubbel
09. ABBA - The albums (9CD box set)
10. Charlotte Perrelli - Rimfrostjul
11. Vikingarna - Den sista dansen - Live från Arvika
12. Christer Sjögren - Mitt sköna sextiotal
13. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
14. Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a mayday
15. Hans Alfredsson/Tage Danielsson/Lasse O'Månsson - Lindemans låda - Fullare än någonsin
16. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
17. Bo Kaspers Orkester - 8
18. Titiyo - Hidden
19. Povel Ramel - Som om inget hade hänt: Povel-pop från förra årt...
20. Magnus Carlsson - Re:collection 93-08

The new Per Gessle single "Silly really" will be unleased on October 27. His new album "Party crasher", his first international release since 1997's "The world according to Gessle", follows on December 3.

Per Gessle and co-writer Mats MP Persson will celebrate 4 million American radio plays of the Roxette track "Listen to your heart" at a special BMI gala in London on October 7. An interesting sidenote in the press release: if you played the song that many times back-to-back, it would take 36 years. Feel free to make your own joke with that one.

Svart
Älskade, älskade du EP
self-released

The other day while chatting with my friend about Håkan Hellström, she became frustrated with me when I described the artist as a symbol of Gothenburg, sitting on an icon throne. She laughed when I gave him a simile Halo thing. She contended that we need something in addition than Hellström in this town. The curious coincidence about this; the same day I stumbled on a band that made me say, a new Håkan sound! Is this his little brother that isn't supposed to be like him? (Swedes you get it). No it's not, I am talking about the band Svart, with their EP "Älskade älskade du". These guys are delivering Swedish indiepop, from the generation that grew up with Broder Daniel, Melody Club, The Ark and was influenced by my halo guy above, but also by Bad Cash Quartet and Hello Saferide. A fascinating blend isn't it? And it serves, it serves, it serves! This is as a rowdy popsicle that all of us may want to taste, infinitely, this summer. This EP consists of 5 songs, all good, my favorites is for sure "Elin när hon dansar and Tåget", which makes me think of Per Gessle's "Här kommer alla känslorna på en och samma gång" and Kristian Anttila's "Paul Weller", a great combo. I will bring this EP to the summer evenings with barbecuing and give Svart applause since they are giving us something extra and something original that can be described as Student-life music. Finally, People! We have something more to listen to than "För sent för edelweiss" this summer. This is a sunny-romance, spreading love and delight. 5 songs could be more, I want more! However... my friend told me she likes it. Is this something we asked for? What do you think?
- Therese Buxfäldt

This year's Swedish Grammi (Grammy) Award nominees have been announced:

Best album:
Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Kent - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
Moneybrother - Mount Pleasure
Sahara Hotnights - What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am
Säkert! - Säkert!
The Ark - Prayer For The Weekend
The Hives - The Black And White Album
Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande

Best dance/hip-hop/soul:
Adam Tensta - It's A Tensta Thing
Dogge Doggelito - Superclasico
Familjen - Det Snurrar I Min Skalle
Fjärde Världen - Världens Ände
Ken - Äntligen Hemma
Mange Schmidt - Känslan Kommer Tillbaks
Million Stylez - From A Far
Petter - God Damn It
September - Dancing Shoes
Vincent - Lucky Thirteen

Best group:
Eldkvarn - Svart Blogg
Kent - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Mando Diao - Never Seen The Light Of Day
Sahara Hotnights - What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills
The Ark - Prayer For The Weekend
The Hives - The Black And White Album
Oh Laura - A Song Inside My Head, A Demon In My Bed
Peter Bjorn And John - Writer's Block
Weeping Willows - Fear & Love

Best hard-rock/metal:
Arch Enemy - Rise Of The Tyrant
Candlemass - King Of The Grey Island
Clawfinger - Life Will Kill You
Crashdiet - The Unattractive Revolution
Dark Tranquillity - Fiction
Entombed - Serpent Saints
Hardcore Superstar - Dreamin' In A Casket
Lillasyster - Hjärndöd Musik För En Hjärndöd Generation
Mustasch - Latest Version Of The Truth
Takida - Bury The Lies

Best songwriter:
Anna Järvinen - Jag Fick Feeling
Annika Norlin - Säkert!
Benny Andersson - Bao 3
Christian Kjellvander - I Saw Her From Here/I Saw Here From Her
Joakim Berg & Martin Sköld - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
José González - In Our Nature
Moneybrother - Mount Pleasure
Ola Salo - Prayer For The Weekend
Peter Bjorn And John - Writer's Block
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am

Best female artist:
Anna Järvinen - Jag Fick Feeling
Eva Dahlgren - Petroleum Och Tång
Jaqee - Nouvelle D'amour
Laleh - Prinsessor
Louise Hoffsten - Så Speciell
Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me
Miss Li - God Put A Rainbow In The Sky
Sonja Aldén - Till Dig
Sophie Zelmani - Memory Loves You
Säkert! - Säkert!

Best live act:
Benny Anderssons Orkester
Jens Lekman
Lars Winnerbäck
Lena Ph & Orup
Parksommar
Per Gessle
Peter Jöback
Takida
The Hives
Timbuktu

Best song:
Lars Winnerbäck - I Duett Med Miss Li Om Du Lämnade Mig Nu
Mange Schmidt Feat. Petter - Giftig
Markoolio - Ingen Sommar Utan Reggae
Martin Stenmarck - 100 År Från Nu (Blundar)
Måns Zelmerlöw - Cara Mia
Sahara Hotnights - Cheek To Cheek
Salem Al Fakir - Good Song
Sonja Aldén - För Att Du Finns
The Ark - The Worrying Kind
Ola - Natalie

Best male artist:
Christian Kjellvander - I Saw Her From Here / I Saw Here From Her
Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
José González - In Our Nature
Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
Moneybrother - Mount Pleasure
Måns Zelmerlöw - Stand By For...
Peter Lemarc - Kärlek I Tystnadens Tid
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am
Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande
Timo Räisänen - Love Will Turn You Around

Best newcomer:
Abalone Dots - From A Safe Distance
Adam Tensta - It's A Tensta Thing
Anna Järvinen - Jag Fick Feeling
Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me
Måns Zelmerlöw - Stand By For...
Oh Laura - A Song Inside My Head, A Demon In My Bed
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am
Sonja Aldén - Till Dig
Säkert! - Säkert!
Vincent - Lucky Thirteen

Best producer:
Benny Andersson - Bao 3
Björn Olsson - Never Seen The Light Of Day
Björn Yttling - Writer's Block & What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
Jari Haapalainen - Svart Blogg
Jon Joshua Schuman & Kent - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
José González - In Our Nature
Laleh - Prinsessor
Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am
Vincent Pontare - Lucky Thirteen

Best lyrics:
Anna Järvinen - Jag Fick Feeling
Annika Norlin - Säkert!
Eva Dahlgren - Petroleum Och Tång
Jason Diakité - Oberoendeframkallande
Joakim Berg - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
Ola Salo - Prayer For The Weekend
Peter Lemarc - Kärlek I Tystnadens Tid
Plura Jonsson - Svart Blogg
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am

Go here for the full list: http://www.musikindustrin.nu/mi/smpage.fwx?page=198&NYHETER=8646

Per Gessle
En händig man
EMI

It's a shame that the only artist from my hometown ever becoming really famous is Per Gessle (of Gyllene Tider and Roxette fame, if you're German I'm sure you know who I'm talking about). It's him and maybe Michael Arnott (Spiritual Beggars / Arch Enemy / Carcass). When I was around 6-7 years old, I was a big fan of Per Gessle's music, and listening to his latest album "En händig man", I can sort of see why I dug this guy all those years ago. The lyrics are often pathetic, but there's a nursery rhyme-feel to both them and the music that explains why they would appeal to someone who plays with Tranformers and spends most of his days drawing birds (cuckoos, specifically, not girls as in English slang) in various sci-fi warrior uniforms. It's sort of sad that Per Gessle, who seems like a nice guy that likes some great music, only will be remembered for making pap like this. "En händig man" is a dreadful album, even worse than the best material Gessle's ever written.
- Simon Tagestam