Here's this week's YLE/Morjen top 10 Nordic video chart:

01. Korpiklaani - Hunting song (FIN)
02. Pain - Same old song (SWE)
03. Bitch Alert - Latenight lullaby (FIN)
04. Isolation Years - Nurse hands (SWE)
05. The Ark - One of us is gonna die young (SWE)
06. Silver - Angels calling (NOR)
07. Neon - Liez (NOR)
08. LAB - When heaven gets dirty (FIN)
09. Gakko 3 - Club idiot saturday drive (FIN)
10. Elin Lanto - I won't cry (SWE)

Challengers:
11. The 69 eyes - Lost boys (FIN)
12. Mnemic - Door 2.12 (DK)
13. Mortiis - The Grudge (NOR)

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

01. Wilmer X - 13 Våningar Upp
02. Pain - Dancing with the dead
03. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
04. E.S.T. - Viaticum
05. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
06. The Ark - State of the Ark
07. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
08. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
09. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
10. Fernandoz - Minnenas allé
11. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
12. Backyard Babies - Live in paris
13. Dark Tranquility - Character
14. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
15. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
16. Melody Club - Face the Music
17. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
18. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
19. Barbados - Best of Barbados 1994-2004
20. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift

Niccokick, Existensminimum, Convoj and Band of Joy are among the first list of bands confirmed for this year's Emmabodafestivalen.

Tickets aren't on sale quite yet, but I see that The Troubadour in LA is listing that The Caesars, Deportees, Moneybrother, Melody Club and The Ark are playing an Export Music Sweden showcase on March 16. Who wants to put me up for the night, eh? That also means that these are the acts selected to play the showcases in NYC and SXSW and I presume I'll be getting more details soon. UPDATE: I've just been informed that the date might be changing, so keep checking back for the latest.

Here's this week's MTVe UpNorth video chart:

01. The Ark - One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young
02. The 69 Eyes - Devils
03. Johnny Deluxe - Vi Vil Ha Mer
04. Maria Solheim - The Snow Has Killed
05. Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Believe I've found
06. The Similou - All This Love
07. Tim Christensen - Lost and found
08. Kurt Nilsen - My Street
09. Titiyo - Loving out of nothing
10. Dreamboy - Uncalled For
11. In Flames - Touch Of Red
12. Ephemera - On The Surface
13. Kapasiteettiyksikkö - Usko Parempaan
14. The Confusions - Don't Let the World Catch You Crying
15. Bobby - Come Crashing In
16. Kevin - Theme From Forever
17. Fibes Oh Fibes - One Hour Baby
18. Embee / Vanessa Liftig - Not Tonite
19. The Tough Alliance - Holiday
20. Ison & Fille - Vill Va Highwon?

Challengers:
01. Maria Arredondo - Burning
02. Smak - Hallanvaara
03. Pain - Same Old Song
04. Espen Lind - Unloved
05. Thomas Dybdahl - A Lovestory

Go here to vote for your favorite.

Here's this week's YLE/Morjen top 10 Nordic video chart:

01. Korpiklaani - Hunting song (FIN)
02. Pain - Same old song (SWE)
03. Bitch Alert - Latenight lullaby (FIN)
04. The Ark - One of us is gonna die young (SWE)
05. Gakko 3 - Club idiot saturday drive (FIN)
06. Silver - Angels calling (NOR)
07. Elin Lanto - I won't cry (SWE)
08. Jonna - Sateen jälkeen (FIN)
09. Neon - Liez (NOR)
10. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Believe I've found (SWE)

Challengers:
11. LAB - When heaven gets dirty (FIN)
12. D'Sound - Do I need a reason (NOR)
13. Isolation Years - Nurse hands (SWE)

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)

Here's this week's YLE/Morjen top 10 Nordic video chart:

01. Bitch Alert - Latenight lullaby (FIN)
02. Silver - Angels calling (NOR)
03. Neon - Liez (NOR)
04. The Ark - One of us is gonna die young (SWE)
05. Annie - Heartbeat (NOR)
06. Nasum - Wrath (SWE)
07. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Believe I've found (SWE)
08. Jonna - Sateen jälkeen (FIN)
09. Alias - Gör det igen (DK)
10. Gakko 3 - Club idiot saturday drive (FIN)

Challengers:
11. Korpiklaani - Hunting song (FIN)
12. Pain - Same old song (SWE)
13. Elin Lanto - I won't cry (SWE)

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

01. The Ark - State of the Ark
02. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
03. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
04. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
05. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
06. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
07. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
08. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
09. Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe - 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna
10. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
11. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift
12. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
13. Marie Fredriksson - The Change
14. Arne Domnérus - Best of Dompan
15. Lambretta - The Fight
16. Blacknuss - Gold
17. Gyllene Tider - GT 25 live!
18. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
19. Melody Club - Face the Music
20. Ulf Lundell - OK Baby OK

Bassist Timpa has left Finnish rockers Hanoi Rocks in order to spend more time with his family. The band's new album "Another Hostile Takeover" is due out April 30 and the group will be touring internationally throughout 2005.

The YLE/Morjen top 10 Nordic video chart is back:

01. Bitch Alert - Latenight lullaby (FIN)
02. Bodies without organs - Sixteen tons of hardware (SWE)
03. Embee feat. Vanessa Liftig - Not tonite (SWE)
04. Jonna - Sateen jälkeen (FIN)
05. Nasum - Wrath (SWE)
06. Neon - Liez (NOR)
07. Alias - Gör det igen (DK)
08. Silver - Angels calling (NOR)
09. O.N.E. - One day (ICE)
10. The Soundtrack of our lives - Believe I've found (SWE)

Challengers:
11. Gakko 3 - Club idiot saturday drive (FIN)
12. The Ark - One of us is gonna die young (SWE)
13. Annie - Heartbeat (NOR)

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

01. The Ark - State of the Ark
02. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
03. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
04. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
05. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
06. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
07. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
08. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
09. Arne Domnérus - Best of Dompan
10. Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe - 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna
11. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
12. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
13. Marie Fredriksson - The Change
14. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift
15. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
16. Markoolio - Bäst off
17. Melody Club - Face the Music
18. Ulf Lundell - OK Baby OK
19. Blacknuss - Gold
20. Silverbullit - Arclight

PopMatters reviews the latest Amorphis album "Far from the sun": http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/a/amorphis-farfrom.shtml

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

01. The Ark - State of the Ark
02. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
03. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
04. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
05. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
06. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
07. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
08. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
09. Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe - 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna
10. Marie Fredriksson - The Change
11. Arne Domnérus - Best of Dompan
12. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
13. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
14. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
15. Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book
16. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift
17. Markoolio - Bäst off
18. Peter Jöback - Storybook
19. Silverbullit - Arclight
20. Ulf Lundell - OK Baby OK

Danish folk/country duo Spildt Mælk have an album's worth of material available for download on their website: http://www.spildtmaelk.dk/
They plan to travel to Malmö to record their first proper record in March.

Apparently The Ark are setting their sights on conquering the world market: http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,585104,00.html (in Swedish)
They better get on it before the whole new-wave sound becomes passé. The new album "State of the Ark" really leans heavily upon the current trend, but probably has enough quality songwriting to help it rise above the rabble.

Speaking of The Ark, the band's website has a new incredibly annoying, flash-based redesign: http://www.thearkworld.com/

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"