The top 10s just keep on coming. Today we have new ones from the multitalented Robert Samsonowitz of Deleted Art and Fredrik Brändström of Starmarket. Check 'em out. Is it just me, or are the only musicians who run labels always drummers?

Top 10s for 2004: Fredrik Brändström (Starmarket/The Crystal Committee)

Starmarket
Abandon time
Strange Fruit

Being a massive Starmarket fan, "Abandon Time" really took me by surprise. It appears that singer Fredrik Brändström has decided that his other band The Crystal Committee from now on will concentrate on the slower alt.country tinged songs, and Starmarket will do the shorter, faster, and poppier numbers. I wouldn't say that Starmarket has regressed per se, but it could be seen that way since we all know that bands usually go from playing fast rocky music to a slower more mature sound, and not the other way around. Not that I mind the least though, I think Starmarket are great, whether they play depressive emo, or catchy power pop. Also, this album really makes me want to witness them play live, and I hope they decide to play in London next year (and not just Spain and Germany).
- Simon Tagestam

Via Dagensskiva, here's the Swedish student radio top 40 for the fall semester (total rank, highest rank, # of weeks):

01. (01) (06) Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
02. (02) (06) Phoenix - "You Can't Blame It On (Anybody)"
03. (04) (08) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
04. (01) (05) The Hives - "Two-Timing Touch And Broken Bones"
05. (01) (05) Bergman Rock - "I'm A Crab"
06. (04) (06) Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
07. (01) (06) Marit Bergman - "Can I Keep Him?"
08. (01) (06) Timo Räisänen - "Lovers Are Lonely"
09. (02) (05) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
10. (02) (05) Ison & Fille - "Vill va Highwon"
11. (02) (04) The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - "Bigtime"
12. (01) (04) The Libertines - "Can't Stand Me Now"
13. (03) (05) Faithless - "Miss U Less See U More"
14. (05) (05) Thunder Express - "In My Mind"
15. (06) (08) Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - "#1 EP"
16. (05) (05) The Tough Alliance - "Holiday"
17. (05) (04) Ed Harcourt - "Born In The '70s"
18. (04) (04) Sahara Hotnights - "Who Do You Dance For?"
19. (01) (03) Le Tigre - "TKO/New Kicks"
20. (03) (04) The Mo - "Howl In The Jungle"
21. (01) (03) Beastie Boys - "An Open Letter To NYC"
22. (04) (05) Radio LXMBRG - "L'Indiffirence EP"
23. (02) (03) Dogs Die In Hot Cars - "I Love You 'Cause I Have To"
24. (05) (04) Baby Shambles - "Killamangiro"
25. (03) (07) Embee - "Not Tonite"
26. (08) (05) Mando Diao - "God Knows"
27. (02) (03) The Ark - "One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young"
28. (06) (04) R.E.M. - "Leaving New York"
29. (05) (04) Ron Sexsmith - "Whatever It Takes"
30. (08) (05) Starmarket - "Cologne"
31. (06) (05) Björk - "Who Is It?"
32. (07) (05) Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
33. (02) (06) Kings Of Convenience - "Misread"
34. (09) (04) Jens Lekman - "Julie"
35. (07) (04) Blacknuss Feat. Awa Manneh & ADL - "All Your Lovin'"
36. (10) (04) Deportees - "Not Tonight"
37. (06) (03) Franz Ferdinand - "Michael"
38. (08) (03) The Chrysler - "Blue Gold"
39. (04) (04) Talib Kweli Feat. Mary J Blige - "I Try"
40. (08) (03) De La Soul - "Shopping Bag"

Not just one, but two new top 10 lists today! As always, be sure to check them out and keep on coming back for new ones.

New mp3 today from Brick, a band I really know nothing about except that they are awesome. This track comes from the band's 1996 debut album "Suomi" on Dolores Recordings and the sound is a perfect mix of huge discordant riffs and pounding rhythms. It captures everything I love about the mid-to-late 90s Swedish pop/hardcore crossover scene, epitomized by bands such as Him Kerosene, Starmarket and KVLR and carried on by more recent acts such as The End Will Be Kicks and Seven Feet Four. The melodies are strong, but there's still enough dissonance and heaviness to make it interesting. Who knows what these dudes are up to now? The world needs more bands like this.

Updated European tour schedule for Starmarket:

02/03 - Sant Feliu de Guixols (ESP)
02/04 - Basauri (ESP)
02/05 - Irun (ESP)
02/06 - Torrelavega (ESP)
02/07 - Portugal
02/08 - Portugal
02/09 - Madrid (ESP)
02/10 - Castellon/Valencia (ESP)
02/11 - Girona (ESP)
02/12 - Barcelona (ESP)
02/22 - Hamburg (GER)
02/23 - Rosswein (GER)
02/24 - Bielefeld (GER)
02/25 - Berlin (GER)
02/26 - Esslingen (GER)
02/27 - Wien (AUS)
02/28 - München (GER)
03/01 - Zürich (CH)
03/02 - Giessen (GER)
03/03 - Trier (GER)
03/04 - Aachen (GER)
03/05 - Bremen (GER)

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

01. (16) Timo Räisänen - "Lovers Are Lonely"
02. (08) Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
03. (02) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
04. (11) Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
05. (04) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
06. (01) Bergman Rock - "I'm A Crab"
07. (10) Björk - "Who Is It?"
08. (NY) Radio LXMBRG - "L'Indiffirence EP"
09. (NY) Ison & Fille - "Vill va Highwon"
10. (05) The Tough Alliance - "Holiday"
11. (09) Mando Diao - "God Knows"
12. (NY) Faithless - "Miss U Less, See U More"
13. (NY) Ayesha - "Squaffie"
14. (NY) Keane - "This Is The Last Time"
15. (03) Embee - "Not Tonite"
16. (NY) Snow Patrol - "How To Be Dead"
17. (NY) Joanna Newsom - "Sprout and the Bean"
18. (ÅT) Richard Reagh + Wwnb2 - "Outlaw"
19. (15) Doktor Kosmos - "Distance Equals Rate Times Time"
20. (17) Peter Bjorn And John - "Teen Love"

Hot tracks outside the top 20:
Dizzee Rascal - "Dream"
Florence Valentin - "Där jag borde va"
Sophie Rimheden/Håkan Lidbo - "Shout"

Leaving the chart:
(06) Phoenix - "You Can't Blame It On. (Anybody)"
(07) Ed Harcourt - "Born In The '70s"
(12) Sahara Hotnights - "Who Do You Dance For?"
(13) Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
(14) 22-20s - "Shoot Your Gun"
(18) The Hellacopters - "Turn The Wrong Key"
(19) The Streets - "Blinded By The Lights"
(20) Starmarket - "Cologne"

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

01. (01) Bergman Rock - "I'm A Crab"
02. (02) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
03. (06) Embee - "Not Tonite"
04. (09) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
05. (NY) The Tough Alliance - "Holiday"
06. (03) Phoenix - "You Can't Blame It On. (Anybody)"
07. (05) Ed Harcourt - "Born In The '70s"
08. (NY) Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
09. (NY) Mando Diao - "God Knows"
10. (NY) Björk - "Who Is It?"
11. (NY) Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
12. (04) Sahara Hotnights - "Who Do You Dance For?"
13. (07) Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
14. (16) 22-20s - "Shoot Your Gun"
15. (19) Doktor Kosmos - "Distance Equals Rate Times Time"
16. (NY) Timo Räisänen - "Lovers Are Lonely"
17. (NY) Peter Bjorn And John - "Teen Love"
18. (NY) The Hellacopters - "Turn The Wrong Key"
19. (NY) The Streets - "Blinded By The Lights"
20. (08) Starmarket - "Cologne"

Hot tracks outside the top 20:
Florence Valentin - "Där Jag Borde Va"
Ayesha - "Squaffie"
Bright Eyes - "Take It Easy"

Leaving the chart:
(10) [Ingenting] - "Här Kommer Solen"
(11) Snoop Dogg Feat. Pharell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
(12) Baby Shambles - "Killamangiro"
(13) Deportees - "Not Tonight"
(14) Mos Def - "Sex, Love & Money"
(15) Destiny's Child - "Lose My Breath"
(17) The Mo - "Howl In The Jungle"
(18) Richard Reagh + Wwnb2 - "Outlaw"
(20) The Concretes - "Seems Fine"

Starmarket has posted an old video shot during their 2000 Canadian tour for song "Count with fractions": http://www.starmarket.nu/sounds/star_count.mov

Starmarket has postponed their European tour until February.

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

01. (01) Bergman Rock - "I'm A Crab"
02. (03) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
03. (02) Phoenix - "You Can't Blame It On. (Anybody)"
04. (05) Sahara Hotnights - "Who Do You Dance For?"
05. (06) Ed Harcourt - "Born In The '70s"
06. (20) Embee - "Not Tonite"
07. (16) Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
08. (08) Starmarket - "Cologne"
09. (07) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
10. (09) [Ingenting] - "Här Kommer Solen"
11. (10) Snoop Dogg Feat. Pharell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
12. (12) Baby Shambles - "Killamangiro"
13. (13) Deportees - "Not Tonight"
14. (14) Mos Def - "Sex, Love & Money"
15. (15) Destiny's Child - "Lose My Breath"
16. (NY) 22-20s - "Shoot Your Gun"
17. (04) The Mo - "Howl In The Jungle"
18. (NY) Richard Reagh + Wwnb2 - "Outlaw"
19. (17) Doktor Kosmos - "Distance Equals Rate Times Time"
20. (18) The Concretes - "Seems Fine"

Hot tracks outside of the top 20:
Bright Eyes - "Take It Easy"
The Faint - "I Disappear"
Radio 4 - "Absolute Affirmation"

Leaving the chart:
(11) Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - "#1 E.P."
(19) Talib Kweli Feat. Mary J Blige - "I Try"

German webzine Sellfish reviews the new Starmarket: http://sellfish.inserteffekt.com/_start.php?link=review/11-04.htm%2312

Sweet Jane Music interviews Starmarket: http://www.obrac.de/sweetjanemusic/text.php?datensatz=126

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

01. (01) Bergman Rock - "I'm A Crab"
02. (03) Phoenix - "You Can't Blame It On. (Anybody)"
03. (NY) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
04. (04) The Mo - "Howl In The Jungle"
05. (06) Sahara Hotnights - "Who Do You Dance For?"
06. (08) Ed Harcourt - "Born In The '70s"
07. (NY) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
08. (11) Starmarket - "Cologne"
09. (NY) [Ingenting] - "Här Kommer Solen"
10. (NY) Snoop Dogg Feat. Pharell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
11. (16) Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - "#1 E.P."
12. (05) Baby Shambles - "Killamangiro"
13. (10) Deportees - "Not Tonight"
14. (17) Mos Def - "Sex, Love & Money"
15. (NY) Destiny's Child - "Lose My Breath"
16. (07) Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
17. (NY) Doktor Kosmos - "Distance Equals Rate Times Time"
18. (NY) The Concretes - "Seems Fine"
19. (19) Talib Kweli Feat. Mary J Blige - "I Try"
20. (20) Embee - "Not Tonite"

Hot tracks outside the top 20:
Snowracer - "The Way I'm Watching You"
Beatnuts Feat. Akon - "Find Us"
The Faint - "I Disappear"

Leaving the chart:
(02) Le Tigre - "TKO/New Kicks"
(09) Kings Of Convenience - "Misread"
(12) The Solution - "My Mojo Ain't Workin No More"
(13) M.I.A. - "Galang"
(14) Goldie Lookin' Chain - "Guns Don't Kill People Rappers Do"
(15) Blacknuss Feat. Awa Manneh & ADL - "All Your Lovin'"
(18) U2 - "Vertigo"

Last Days of April on tour in Europe and Japan:

11/12 - AJZ, Neumünster (GER)
11/13 - Römer, Bremen (GER)
11/14 - Bitterzoet, Amsterdam (NL)
11/15 - FZW, Dortmund (GER)
11/16 - Strax-O-Soul, Lille (FRA)
11/18 - Ex-Haus, Trier (GER) w/Starmarket
11/19 - Substage, Karlsruhe (GER)
11/20 - Woodstock Boogie Bar, Limoges (FRA)
11/21 - L'Inca, Bordeaux (FRA)
11/22 - Arrebato, Zaragoza (SPA)
11/23 - Siroco, Madrid (SPA)
11/24 - Pub Terra, Castellon (SPA)
11/25 - Magic, Barcelona (SPA)
11/26 - Péniche "Le Mascaret", Lyon (FRA)
11/27 - Sinne, Innsbruck (AUS)
11/29 - Chelsea, Wien (AUS)
11/30 - Arcadium, Graz (AUS)
12/02 - Prager Frühling, Munich (GER)
12/03 - Kulturkeller, Fulda (GER)
12/04 - Projekt 7, Magdeburg (GER)
12/05 - Zakk, Düsseldorf (GER)
12/10 - Astro Hall, Tokyo (JPN)
12/11 - Astro Hall, Tokyo (JPN)
12/13 - Club Quattro, Osaka (JPN)