Some general housekeeping: I updated the About page. Not quite a FAQ, but just some issues I wanted to address.
The Soundtrack of Our Lives just keep racking up accolades from all over the place. Most recently, "Behind the Music" was named Entertainment Weekly's #2 album of the year:
As their name implies, these Swedish rockers are all about distilling the essence of their fave art-rock, psychedelic, folk, and punk bands into a bold, tuneful brew. You'll hear echoes of the Kinks, the Beatles, Love, and Pink Floyd here. But what's really exciting is that Soundtrack may be the first group in ages that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as its idols.
And that's not all! TSOOL also made Empyre Lounge's top 50 at #47:
A Swedish rock group taking the States by storm? No not those Swedes, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives is the second Swedish rock export that put out a killer disc this year. With more pop sense than their Swedish brethren The Hives, TSOOL have put together an impressive display of glam guitars and keyboards, with some psychedelic vibes mixed in.
And yes, The Hives get honored there too, coming in at #17:
Another one of the discs that doesn't really belong here since it is a couple years old but this it he first year the Hives have been in the mainstream. Frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist owes all his moves to Mick Jagger but the music is more like good ole Americans, the Stooges, and the MC5. Just under a half hour, Veni Vidi Vicious is the perfect shot in the ass that music needed this year.
The First Time Records put up a couple mp3s on their website. There isn't much else there as the new site isn't finished (how long has it been in the works guys?), but TFT is the label that put out Kevlar, Cobolt (ex-Refused) and a number of other groups in the States.
See the video for "Oh Night" from Christian Kjellvander right here: 56 / 100 / 300 (Windows Media)
Nicolai Dunger will be coming back to the US to play 2 shows at the Sundance Film Fest in Utah on January 17 & 18. After that, it's back to Europe. Dates are here.
Drummer Martin Svensson has left the Satanic Surfers. The band is currently taking a break after a long tour, but will resume work on new material shortly.
If you can, be sure to catch Hederos & Hellberg at one of the duo's final concerts. Their last EP just came out and it's getting great reviews.
Dec. 19 - Paris (ExMS show w/Weeping Willows)
Dec. 20 - Stockholm
Jan. 10 - Oslo
Jan. 11 - Karlstad
Jan. 13 - Göteborg
Satyricon has announced the dates for their upcoming European tour:
Feb. 14 - Essen - Zeche Carl
Feb. 15 - Oss, NETH - Groene Engel
Feb. 16 - Vosselaar, BEL - Biebob
Feb. 17 - Amsterdam, NETH - Melkweg
Feb. 18 - Hengelo, NETH - Metropool
Feb. 19 - Groeninge, NETH - Vera
Feb. 21 - Bristol, UK - Academy
Feb. 22 - Bradford, UK - Rio
Feb. 24 - Glasgow, UK - King Tuts
Feb. 25 - London, UK - Mean Fiddler
Feb. 26 - Manchester, UK - Hope & Grape
Feb. 27 - Dublin, IRE - Temple Music C
Feb. 28 - Birmingham, UK - Academy
Mar. 02 - Nancy, FRA - Terminal Export
Mar. 03 - Paris, FRA - Locomotive
Mar. 04 - Bordeaux, FRA - T.B.A
Mar. 05 - Vitoria, ESP - sala Azkena
Mar. 06 - Porto, POR - Hard Club
Mar. 07 - Lisabon, POR - Paradise Garage
Mar. 08 - Madrid, ESP - Caracol
Mar. 09 - Barcelona, ESP - KGB
Mar. 11 - Marseille, FRA - T.B.A
Mar. 12 - Milan, ITA - Transilvania
Mar. 13 - Rome, ITA - Horus
Mar. 14 - Treviso, ITA - New Age
Mar. 15 - Wil, SWI - Remise
Mar. 17 - Graz, AUT - Hafen
Mar. 18 - Vienna, AUT - Orphenum
Mar. 19 - München, GER - Metropolis
Mar. 20 - Frankfurt, GER - Batscchkapp
Mar. 21 - Berlin, GER - SO 36
Mar. 22 - Glauchau, GER - Alte Spinnerei
Mar. 23 - Hamburg, GER - Markthalle