High Bias is updated with a crapload of new Scandinavian music reviews, including new stuff from The Ark, Babylon Bombs, Nicolai Dunger and more: http://highbias.com/

PopMatters hypes up The Ark: http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/ark-060327.shtml
Wouldn't you think they'd get Ola's last name right? (this has since been fixed, but was originally posted as "Sano" as opposed to "Salo")

PopMatters reviews the new album from The Sounds: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/the_sounds_dying_to_say_this_to_you/
PopMatters also reports from SXSW to say that they expect big things from The Ark: http://www.popmatters.com/features/sxsw2006/lundy-060320.shtml

Pitchfork reviews the US release of the Hellacopters most recent album "Rock & roll is dead": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/h/hellacopters/rock-and-roll-is-dead.shtml
It's funny that they compare them to The Ark in the front-page teaser. I guess that means the hype machine is rolling strong for them (and rightly so).

The Pitchfork guide to SXSW includes tips on many acts, including Scandinavians Serena Maneesh (natch), Figurines, The Ark, Sign, Disco Ensemble, Astrid Swan, Quit Your Dayjob, Animal Alpha, Sarah Hepburn and of course, José González. I'd also recommend tracking down Loney, Dear and Kristofer Åström.

I know it's only Thursday, but I'm going to post a new mp3 anyways. I'm doing it because I'm taking a four-day weekend and won't be posting new content tomorrow or Monday, but also because I've got a glut of great music that I want to share. Denmark's The Alpine has a bit of that hip post-punk-disco thing akin to Franz Ferdinand and the like, but with more of a glam touch ala The Killers or maybe even The Ark. It's not the kind of thing you listen to for intellectual stimulation, but if you heard on the radio or at a party, you'd probably find yourself smiling and singing along. I've only given the new full-length "On feel trips" (out in Denmark on Feb. 27, Germany on Mar. 31) a couple spins so far, but the single "Mondays look the same" is firmly embedded in my brain after a week of listening. That chorus is just so huge! And who doesn't relate to the lyrics? That's pop gold, lemme tell ya. I can easily see The Alpine being this year's summer jam.

MP3: The Alpine - Mondays look the same

I know it's only Thursday, but I'm going to post a new mp3 anyways. I'm doing it because I'm taking a four-day weekend and won't be posting new content tomorrow or Monday, but also because I've got a glut of great music that I want to share. Denmark's The Alpine has a bit of that hip post-punk-disco thing akin to Franz Ferdinand and the like, but with more of a glam touch ala The Killers or maybe even The Ark. It's not the kind of thing you listen to for intellectual stimulation, but if you heard on the radio or at a party, you'd probably find yourself smiling and singing along. I've only given the new full-length "On feel trips" (out in Denmark on Feb. 27, Germany on Mar. 31) a couple spins so far, but the single "Mondays look the same" is firmly embedded in my brain after a week of listening. That chorus is just so huge! And who doesn't relate to the lyrics? That's pop gold, lemme tell ya. I can easily see The Alpine being this year's summer jam.

The Alpine - Mondays look the same

ExMS has confirmed the full list of Swedish artists performing at their SXSW showcase this year: http://www.musikindustrin.nu/mi/smpage.fwx?page=198&NYHETER=6623
Artists include Amandine, Ane Brun, Empire Dogs, José González, Loney, Dear, Quit Your Dayjob, The Ark, The Concretes and The Hellacopters.

PopMatters reviews The Ark: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/the_ark/
Good to see there's a confirmed US release date of March 7. Looks like my prediction that the album's harder edge would lead to bigger things has come to fruition. Now when's the full US tour gonna happen?

The Ark has booked a headlining gig at the London Barfly for February 9. As mentioned before, the band will be on tour there supporting The Darkness beginning on February 4 in Dublin.

Swedish glam-rockers The Ark has been invited to open for The Darkness on their upcoming UK/Scandinavian tour:

02/04 - The Point, Dublin
02/05 - Odyssey, Belfast
02/07 - Alexandra Palace, London
02/08 - Alexandra Palace, London
02/11 - Arena, Sheffield
02/12 - SECC, Glasgow
02/13 - Arena, Newcastle
02/15 - Centre, Brighton
02/16 - Pavilions, Plymouth
02/18 - MEN Arena, Manchester
02/19 - NEC, Birmingham
02/20 - Arena, Nottingham
03/01 - Spektrum, Oslo
03/03 - Scandinavium, Göteborg
03/04 - Löfbergs Lila Arena, Karlstad
03/05 - Globen, Stockholm
03/09 - Valby Hallen, Köpenhamn

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Björn Skifs - Decennier sånger från en annan tid
02. Son of a Plumber - Son of a Plumber
03. Jill Johnson - The christmas in you
04. Monica Zetterlund - Z - det bästa med monica zetterlund
05. Darin - Darin
06. Lena Philipsson - Jag ångrar ingenting
07. Thåström - Skebokvarnsv 209
08. Amy Diamond - This Is Me Now
09. Björn Afzelius - Björn Afzelius bästa
10. Nanne - Alltid på väg
11. Eva Dahlgren - Snö
12. Laleh - Laleh
13. The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
14. Brolle Jr - Brolle jr tolkar cornelis - en stund på jorden
15. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
16. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - A present from the past
17. Sophie Zelmani - A decade of dreams 1995-2005
18. Carola - Jul i betlehem
19. Jussi Björling - Från operans värld till svenska sånger
20. Peter Lemarc - Sjutton sånger - lemarc sjunger lemarc

The nominees for the Swedish Grammis have been announced:

Best pop female:
Amy Diamond - This is me now
Ane Brun - A temporary dive
Frida Hyvönen - Until death comes
Jenny Wilson - Love and youth
Robyn - Robyn

Best pop male:
Darin - Darin
Håkan Hellström - Ett kolikbarns bekännelser
Mauro Scocco - Herr Jimsons äventyr
Peter LeMarc - Sjutton sånger - LeMarc sjunger LeMarc
Son of a plumber - Son of a plumber

Best pop group:
Alcazar - Dancefloor deluxe
Bodies without organs - Prototype
CDOASS - Extra fingers
Doktor Kosmos - Ett enkelt svar
Suburban kids with biblical names - #3

Best rock album (solo):
Christian Kjellvander - Faya
Freddie Wadling - Jag är monstret
Moneybrother - To die alone
Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
Tomas Andersson Wij - Tomas Andersson Wij

Best rock group:
Kent - Du & jag döden
Soundtrack of our lives - A present from the past
The Ark - State of the Ark
The Cardigans - Super extra gravity
The Hellacopters - Rock & roll is dead

Best composer:
Anders Wedin (Moneybrother) - To die alone
Joakim Berg - Du & jag döden
Laleh - Laleh
Robyn/Klas Åhlund - Robyn
Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209

Best lyrics:
Håkan Hellström - Ett kolikbarns bekännelser
Jason Diakité - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
Joakim Berg - Du & jag döden
Laleh - Laleh
Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209

Best proder:
Anders Hansson & Alexander Bard
Bloodshy/Avant
Klas Åhlund
Laleh
Lars Halapi

Best hip-hop/soul:
Hearin'aid - The Boom Lucy
Jaqee - Blaqalixious
Looptroop - Fort Europa
Masayah - p.s.
Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö

Best hard-rock:
Candlemass - Candlemass
Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, unbowed, unbroken
Hardcore Superstar - Hardcore Superstar
Meshuggah - Catch thirtythree
Opeth - Ghost reveries

Best jazz:
Bobo Stenson/Anders Jormin/Paul Motian - Goodbye
e.s.t. - Viaticum
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - Snake city north
Putte Wickman & Jan Lundgren - An intimate salute to Frankie
Torbjörn Zetterberg - Krissvit

Best club/dance:
Arash - Arash - new version
v/a - Inside Scandinavia vol 2
Hundarna från söder - Troika
September - In orbit
Spånka Nkpg - The City of the golden king

Open category:
Allan Edwall - Alla Allans visor
v/a - Du Beppe, Beppe Wolgers mästerverk
Peps Blodsband - Äntligen!
The Latin Kings - Familia Royale
Totta Näslund - Totta 8: Greatest hits!

Best newcomer:
Amy Diamond
Bodies Without Organs
Darin
Frida Hyvönen
Laleh

Best album:
Bodies without organs - Prototype
Kent - Du & jag döden
Laleh - Laleh
Robyn - Robyn
Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö

Best artist:
Kent
Laleh
Moneybrother
Robyn
Timbuktu

Best music dvd:
Abba - Abba the movie
Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis
Evergrey - A night to remember
Marit Bergman - Marit Bergman - Live at Rival
Timbuktu - Funken styr våra steg

Best song:
Amy Diamond - What's in it for me
Darin - Money for nothing
Kent - The hjärta & smärta ep
Robyn - Be mine
Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö

Full list of every category here: http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2198&a=503182

Pitchfork on The Ark and the song "One of us is gonna die young": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/tracks/05-12-13.shtml#song3

I really didn't like The Ark the first time I heard them. I thought "what the hell is this Rocky Horror shit?" But I couldn't write them off either - something about them made me go back a couple months later to reevaluate my opinion. It took me a couple tries, but I eventually came around to understanding their appeal and now, after seeing them live, I can solidly declare my admiration. They are ridiculous and completely over-the-top, but you won't find anyone else making epic pop music quite like this. No other band could pull off such an ostentaious gay-pride anthem like "Father of a son", today's featured track. I'm not sure if middle America is ready for The Ark, but I think it'll be good for them anyway.

Here's the Swedish nominees for this year's Rockbjörnen:

Female artist:
Amy Diamond
Anna Ternheim
Laleh
Lena Philipsson
Robyn

Male artist:
Darin
Håkan Hellström
Lars Winnerbäck
Moneybrother
Timbuktu

Group:
Bodies Without Organs
Cardigans
Kent
Millencolin
The Ark

Song:
Darin - Step Up
Laleh - Live Tomorrow
Robyn - Be Mine
Thåström - Fanfanfan
Timbuktu - Alla Vill Till Himmelen Men Ingen Vill Dö

Album:
Darin - Darin
Håkan Hellström - Ett Kolikbarns Bekännelser
Kent - Du Och Jag Döden
Laleh - Laleh
Robyn - Robyn

Newcomer:
Amy Diamond
Bodies Without Organs
Darin
Hello Saferide
Laleh

Vote here: http://www.aftonbladet.se/ettor/webb/2805_normal.html