Podcast: Best of 2005

New Scandinavian reviews from Sellfish:

The Bear Quartet - Angry Brigade
Hellfueled - Born II Rock

This week's top artists for the It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:

01. The Cardigans
02. I'm from Barcelona
03. Sufjan Stevens
04. Franz Ferdinand
05. The Bear Quartet
06. Death Cab for Cutie
07. The Decemberists
08. Coldplay
09. Kent

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MP3: The Bear Quartet - Birds are singing deep within the greenery

I don't think I've properly expressed just how amazing the new Bear Quartet album is. I posted the first single "I have an itch" a little over a month ago, but I hadn't heard the full album yet. Now that I've time to fully digest and process "Saturday night", I can sincerely attest to what an amazing piece of music it is. The band promised us a mindblowing experience and they delivered. I think a lot of twee indierockers will be scared off by how noisy, sinister and straight-up fucked this album is, but I'm here to assure you - it's worth the challenge. The most intellectually satisfying works of art usually are. So here's another song to pique your interest. Listen to those dense chords shift and build. The chittering vocals. The foreboding wash of reverb and flanger over the breaks. It shouldn't work, but somehow it does.

The Bear Quartet - Birds are singing deep within the greenery

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
02. Björn Afzelius - Björn Afzelius bästa
03. Laleh - Laleh
04. Peter LeMarc - Sjutton sånger - LeMarc sjunger LeMarc
05. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
06. Louise Hoffsten - From Linköping to Memphis
07. Amy Diamond - This Is Me Now
08. Moneybrother - To Die Alone
09. Tommy Nilsson - Tiden Före Nu
10. Musikal - Mamma Mia
11. Ebba Grön - Samlingen
12. Lasse Lindh - Lasse Lindh
13. Robyn - Robyn
14. The Latin Kings - Familia Royale
15. Ted Gärdestad - Sol Vind & Vatten
16. Nocturnal Rites - Grand Illusion
17. Sofia Karlsson - Svarta Ballader
18. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
19. CajsaStina Åkerström - De vackraste orden
20. The Bear Quartet - Saturday night

Tons of new Scandinavian reviews on Aversionline today:

Ambulance - The end of our time
Icos - Walk with me
Auktion - D-beat rock'n'roll mayhem
Audiopain - Contagious
Audiopain - 1986

MP3: The Bear Quartet - I have an itch

Have you heard the new Bear Quartet single yet? Do you like it? I do. It's not their usual folksy pop, but they've never been a band content with repeating the same thing over and over. They thrive on challenging both themselves and the audience. Even when the results aren't top-notch, I still think it's admirable that they make the effort. That's what makes them such a special band. The qualities that can make them so ingratiating are the same that make them so damn brilliant. They are the leaders, we must be content to follow. Trying to complain about it is simply foolish.

The Bear Quartet - I have an itch

The Bear Quartet report that they are working on new material and should have a new album ready for release sometime after summer with nine new tracks. They say the stuff they're writing is a combination of electronics and punk along with their usual excellent sense of melody.

It was mentioned a couple weeks ago, but there's now more details about Moneybrother's next album. He's working at Atlantis Studios in Stockholm with producer Jari Happalainen of The Bear Quartet and a February 2005 release date is the goal. Some of the song titles he's working on: "My li'girl's straight from heaven", "They're building walls around us" and "I'm not ready for it, Jo".

The Concretes will be touring the UK as support for The Thrills:

11/17 - Northumbria University, Newcastle
11/18 - Academy, Glasgow
11/20 - Octagon, Sheffield
11/21 - Academy, Bristol
11/22 - University Great Hall, Exeter
11/24 - Brixton Academy, London

In other news, the group's new single "Seems fine" will be released in four different formats. First, a three-track CD including the video by director Johan Renck, the Wernham Hogg Remix of "Chico" by The Avalanches and a cover of "Just Locals", originally by The Bear Quartet. Next is a two-track CD without the remix. Third is a two-track 7" on red vinyl, again without the remix. And for completists, there will also be a one-sides etched 7" with only the remix. Pretty snazzy, eh?

I've added a brand new mp3 from Paddington DC, the solo project of Calle Olsson from Sweden's greatest indierock band The Bear Quartet. The new still-untitled Björn Olsson-produced album comes out soon on Planekonomi.

Streaming playlist: Summertime

Heikki
2
A West Side Fabrication

Imagine if Neko Case took on a more active roll with the New Pornographers and they might sound a bit like Heikki. Think power-pop with a distinct country influence and huge hooks throughout. In case you are unaware, Heikki is the side project of Maria Eriksson from The Concretes together with Jari Haapalainen from The Bear Quartet. I actually like them quite a bit more than the former's main act, as the songs seems more developed, the playing and singing is stronger and the production is tighter. I'd prefer it if there were a few more uptempo tracks on the album, but there's still plenty to enjoy as is.
- Avi Roig

Interview: Niklas Quintana/The End Will Be Kicks

Speedmarket Avenue
I'm going to let my new swiss army knife answer to that
Fickle Fame

This record falls squarely into the category called 'not my thing.' There's some okay melodies here and there, but I really just can't handle slacker indie rock. Bands like The Bear Quartet pull it off because they are amazingly creative and adventurous, but Speedmarket Avenue is no BQ. Pass.
- Avi Roig

On May 5 Adrian Recordings will be putting out the new EP "Big Chill" from David & the Citizens. The title track features a guest appearance from the esteemed Mattias Alkberg of The Bear Quartet/Mattias Alkberg BD and here's the full tracklist:

01. Big Chill
02. Let’s Not Fall Apart (EP Version)
03. Everything You’ll never See
04. Kellerman Song