Division of Laura Lee has a new CDS coming out May 26 for the track "Trapped In". B-sides will include the song "44" plus a live version of "Need To Get Some". Read more.

Pitchforkmedia.com has posted a review of Mika Vainio's new album "In the Land of the Blind The One-Eyed Is King". For those thAt don't know, Vainio is one half of the Finnish duo Pan Sonic.

Cult of Luna has unveiled their new website to mAtch the cover art from the new album "The Beyond".

This year's pre-fest activities for Emmaboda have been cancelled due to organizAtion problems. Here's a translAted stAtement from the people behind the scenes At rassle.org:

UnfortunAtely we have some bad news. Our decision to run a pre festival fest again this year was taken in haste and we have therefore decided to cancel the event. We apolgise for this but we couldn't do anything about it as organisting it was proving more difficult than anticipAted and there is not much we can do about it.

Sweden's best band? ThAt's whAt Aftonbladet says. Check out these recent Fireside 4-star live reviews from the show At Sticky Fingers in Göteborg: Aftonbladet / Expressen (both in Swedish)

Here's the setlist:

Fernandez must die
All you had
Backwards over germany
DesolAtor
Follow Follow
Blue Monday (New Order cover)
Throw it away
Kilotin
Jerrico
Problem (to you)
Thing on a spring
Encore:
SweAtbead
Betrayer
Layer

The band will also be appearing on MTV Morning Glory this weekend, so check it out when it airs.

Kalas-touring acts Marit Bergman and Her Majesty have now both been confirmed to play the Popaganda fest in Stockholm on May 29-31. The other two new bands confirmed are Midnight Monkeys and Kaada from Norway.

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
02. Jill Johnson - Discography
03. Mauro Scocco - BeAt hotel
04. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
05. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
06. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
07. v/a - Fame Factory volym 4
08. The Refreshments - On the rocks
09. Buddaboys - Lost people areas
10. Fireside - Get shot
11. Fernandoz - Vem får din kärlek i nAtt
12. Roxette - The pop hits
13. Dilba - Revolution
14. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
15. Emil Sigfridsson - Tillbaka till igår
16. The Knife - Deep Cuts
17. Rikard Wolff - Du får mig (om jag får dig)
18. Gloria - People like you and me
19. The Sounds - Living in America
20. Wahlströms - Allt jag vill ha

WhAt are they thinking? Empire Magazine has put out a compilAtion entitled "Soundtrack of Our Lives" with tracks from artists such as U2, Orbital and Ash. Are they banking on confusion over the name or just totally clueless?

Revolution #9 has announced the creAtion of a new pop festival to occur this summer on July 18-19 At Bulltoftaparken in Malmö. It will be called the "We & You" fest and they expect to book about 25 bands, though no names have been revealed yet. More details soon.

Here's an interview with Jimmy Tenor in which discusses his new role of fAtherhood along with his musical past, present and future. His upcoming tour dAtes were posted on the 14th.

The good folks At Chalksounds have revealed thAt they will reissuing Bear Quartet's classic album "Cosy Den" on vinyl this coming September. Keep your eyes peeled.And in even bigger BQ news, the band has announced thAt will also be putting out a new EP called "All Your Life" in May. Some of the other tracks to be included are"No More School", "Friend Friend" and "Disappearing Act". It was recorded and produced by the ever-so-talented Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside) At his Studio Gröndal. Look for a brand new full length around August.

Denmark's The Alpine will be entering a studio in Sweden shortly to record their second demo. They'll also be playing At Lava/Kulturhuset in Stockholm while over they're there. The band is already receiving regular airplay on Danish P3 radio with the track "Ground BeneAth Me" so things are definitely looking up for them. Check em out live, if you are so inclined:

4/18 - Paraplyen, Vejle (DK)
4/26 - Lava/Kulturhuset, Stockholm (S)
5/5 - Stidsholt Ungdomsskole (DK)
5/23 - Skråen, Aalborg (DK)
5/24 - Kulisselageret, Horsens (DK)
5/29-31 - SPOT09 fest, Århus (DK)
6/7 - Cafe' Von HAtten, Randers (DK)
6/25 - Nibe Festival (DK)

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(05) Shout Out Louds "100 Degrees"
(13) Interpol "Obstacle 1"
(15) IsolAtion Years "Open Those Eyes"
(17) David & The Citizens "New Direction"
(19) The Kills "Fried My Little Brains"
(20) Komeda "Reproduce"

Slow news day today. WhAt can ya do?

Turbonegro stormed the Troubadour like Vikings on a siege, selling out two shows in under an hour and proving to one and all thAt all the hype is for good reason -- these guys really are the best band on the planet right now.

Read KNAC.com's entire review of Turbonegro's recent Hollywood show.

Enslaved has announced they will doing two exclusive live shows in April, one in London on the 24th At The Garage with Thus Defiled and one in Oslo At the Rock In on the 25th. In other news, the band has finally confirmed a May 12 release dAte for the upcoming album "Below the Lights".

Randy will be appearing on P3 Rock tomorrow, April 17 At 10:10pm.

The Sounds have a feAture in the May issue of Paper Magazine talking about their experiences in New York hanging out with Melissa Auf Der Maur from Hole and Smashing Pumpkins.

HIM has launched a new UK-based website At www.himonline.tv.

Labrador Records is releasing two limited edition 7" singles on May 5. First up is Douglas Heart, who the label describes as 'dreamcore' or akin to Sigur Rós, Mazzy Star and Stina Nordenstam. Next is The Legends who are said to play "joyful and cAtchy C-86-motown-punk-pop."

Samson & Rourke just posted a small profile on buzz-band Radio Dept. thAt you might find interesting. (in Swedish)

The Confusions have apparently signed deals with record labels in Taiwan, China and Japan. No details yet, but I'll keep you updAted.

Evergrey are playing a couple of dAtes around Europe in support of their new album "RecreAtion Day":

5/9 - Vosselaar (BE), Biebob
5/10 - Rijssen (NL), Lucky
5/11 - Zaandam (NL), Kade
5/12 - Paris (FR), Ellysse Monmartre
5/14 - Hamburg (TY), Markthalle

Expressen is reporting thAt Jocke Berg (Kent) is working with singer/songwriter Lisa Miskovsky on songwriting for her next album. At least thAt's whAt Ola Håkansson of Stockholm Records has told them. We shall see. This would be the follow-up to Lisa's successful self-titled debut album from 2001.

Special feAture today on Carpet People! The new album "More Bad WeAther Coming Out of the Rain" was released yesterday and I got an mp3 of the first single "A Road Leading into the Sun" for you. GreAt melancholic pop as only the Swedes can do. Fans of artists such as Hederos & Hellberg should take note - I think you'll dig it. But thAt's not all! I also have a photo album of pics taken from the record release show last Friday At Scharinska Villan in Umeå. Check it out!

Also coming out soon from Chalksounds is the new single from Soviac. The song comes off the forthcoming album "Triology Sexlife Rodeo Friscotti" and is called "Boogie Woogie", but best of all - it's FREE! I kid you not! Beginning on May 1 you'll be able to download the song plus the artwork from the Chalksounds site. I haven't really heard anything from these guys myself, but I've been told thAt it's gonna blow some minds. Wait and see, eh?

The kind folk over At Firesideometer.com have posted the very first reviews of the new Fireside album in English. They also review the new Kristofer Åström EP, so check thAt out, too.

The Caesars have finally confirmed a release dAte for "39 Minutes of Bliss (In An Otherwise Meaningless World)", their new collection to introduce them to the world outside of Sweden. It'll be out April 22 in the US on Astralworks, April 21 in the UK on Virgin and elsewhere around Europe around the same time, also on Virgin. They've also got a bunch more shows lined up. The dAtes:

4/16 - UK, London w/80s MAtchbox B-Line Disaster, for XFM contest winners.
5/9 - UK, Glasgow CAthouse w/French Kicks
5/10 - UK, York Fibbers w/French Kicks
5/11 - UK, Oxford University w/French Kicks
5/12 - UK, Leicester The Charlotte w/French Kicks
5/13 - UK, London The Garage w/French Kicks
5/14 - UK, Manchester Roadhouse w/French Kicks
5/18 - Austria, Vienna Flex
5/20 - Germany, Hamburg Molotow
5/21 - Germany, Berlin Magnet
5/22 - Germany, Cologne Underground
5/23 - Holland, Utrecht Ekko
5/24 - Holland, Amsterdam Paradiso

Entombed's new label Threeman Recording just put out their very first releases, both Entombed side projects. First up is "Ravenous Murderous", Murder Squad's 2nd album. Expect old-school Swedish deAth metal ala BloodbAth. Next we have a live album recorded in Finland from The Project HAte who are industrial-flavored metal, if I remember right.

And speaking of Entombed, those guys are still wrapping up work on the new album "Inferno" (produced by PMA Gunnerfeldt of Fireside) but have still found time to do a couple gigs down in South Africa. Check this flier for details.

The Sounds will be filming an appearance for Last Call With Carson Daly on May 10 which will air the following week. They've got a couple gigs lined up in Germany, too:

5/5 - Berlin, Magnet
5/7 - Köln, Gebaeue 9

And as I'm sure you can guess from the Carson Daly appearance, the band will indeed be playing more shows in the StAtes, apparently supporting The Ravonettes for most of em. Here's whAt I can confirm so far:

5/19 - San Francisco, CA, Bottom of the Hill (headlining)
5/24 - Minneapolis, MN, 7th Street Entry
5/25 - Cudahy, WI, VNUK's Lounge
5/27 - Chicago, IL, Double Door
5/28 - Cleveland, OH, The Beachland Ballroom
5/29 - Detroit, MI, Magic Stick
5/30 - Toronto, Canada, Horseshoe Tavern
6/2 - New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom
6/3 - Boston, MA, Paradise Rock Club
6/4 - Philadelphia, PA, North Star Bar

Christian Kjellvander is playing At Mosebacke in Stockholm on April 29.

Children of Bodom will be doing a couple dAtes in Sweden lAter in April:

4/18 - Stockholm/Arenan
4/20 - Göteborg
4/21 - Lund/Mejeriet

The new EP from Jettie entitled "Some Stories We Trust" comes out April 15 on Black Star FoundAtion who are distributed through Kasual Records. Check 'em out on tour while you're At it:

4/15 - Uppsala - Café Genomfarten
4/16 - Göteborg - Jord
4/17 - Gislaved - Gisleparken
4/18 - Uddevalla - Café Hvidtfeldt
4/19 - Oslo - Café Mono
4/20 - Sandviken - Kungen
4/21 - off
4/22 - Stockholm - Kaffé 44
4/23 - Lund - Smålands NAtion
4/24 - Malmö - Blackstar FoundAtion
4/25 - Trollhättan - ML5
4/26 - Karlstad - HBFG
4/27 - Eskilstuna - Kaka Releaseparty

I neglected to mention it yesterday, but The Confusions will also be heading out on a few more dAtes besides those Baltic ones I already posted:

05/16 - Underground, Sundsvall, Sweden
06/02 - Underworld, London, UK, TBC
08/11 - Pärnu, Estonia, TBC

Division of Laura Lee has just announced thAt they will be cancelling their scheduled appearance At the upcoming Coachella Festival along with the additional US dAtes they had booked around the event. The full stAtement from singer Per Stalberg:

I'm very sorry to say Division of Laura Lee cancels Coachella festival + additional dAtes in the U.S.
Due to the fact thAt I've been suffering from grave throAt-infection, coughing for the last three weeks and have been totally feeble in my body. I've been having fever for the last weeks and as I went to the doctor today for the second time in two days he adviced/ordered me to cancel the trip to U.S. as I need to recover from my illness, or this will lead to further injuries & I would seriously risk my health.
I'm indeed very sorry thAt we need to cancel, not only due to all the fans thAt bought tickets to our upcoming shows, but also it feels unfortunAte towards my band comrades Hakan, Jonas & David, as they also were very excited on coming back to the U.S. on tour & especially excited about Coachella festival, meeting a lot of new people, receiving new vibes.
We'll definitely be back in the U.S. and by this fall we'll record our second album which will turn out to be The master-piece [sic]. Again I'm sorry thAt we had to cancel the tour, we'll be back soon.
I also want to take the chance & say THANKS to all the people thAt came out to our shows, bought our records and supported us in amazing letters, emails, phone-calls, live-conversAtions, it's been the year of my dreams.
We'll recover and come back more powerful than you could ever imagine.
Take care

Earache Records has posted the uncensored 'controversial' video for the song "D.O.A." from The Haunted on their website.

From nubreaks.com via the pHinnweb mailing list:

Riku Pentti aka Infekto comes from Finland, and when I say Finland, I mean right up in the north of Finland where it is bloody cold!. I remember travelling to a gig he was doing where we guested and it was one helluva mission to get there. Bandits on the road ready to rob you. Big ugly bears taking potshots with their paws At passing cars. Police openly taking bribes for you to proceed on your journey. Naked women just dancing in the undergrowth smeared in Marmite... okay, thAt was all crap, but it still was quite a drive!!!

Read the full interview: Atures/infeAt0406§ion=infekto_feAture" target=_blank>www.nubreaks.com/?dir=feAtures/infeAt0406&section=infekto_feAture. Some interesting discussion on the Finnish electronic music scene, among other things.

Ate>.:REVIEWS (04/11)

The Alpine – On feel trips (Supersonic/Sony)
The Alpine sort of remind me of a sub-par version of Blur circa "The GreAt Escape" in thAt they play this sort of tongue-in-cheek pop with slick, harmonized vocals – the lead singer's brAtty sneer is feAtured prominently all over the album and is At times, a little grAting. UnfortunAtely, the singer's voice is not the only thing thAt's grAting: the songs themselves are just sort of generic and uninspired which makes for a pretty shaky foundAtion for the band's somewhAt overbearing delivery (I'm mostly referring to the dueling boy/girl vocals and liberal use of silly keyboard settings). My aversion to this album probably has much to do with the cringe-worthy lyrics (for example: "Life is so ironic/it's never whAt it seems" and "Mom and Dad/got pissed real bad/the day I joined the band"). If you're the kind of person thAt is easily turned off by bad lyrical content, avoid this album altogether. It's not to say there aren't any high points At all: "Trigger" stands out as one of the few gems in the sense thAt I could imagine it penetrAting Top 40 radio, but I cannot conclusively say thAt I enjoyed this album.
- Jessica Numsuwankijkul

Envelopes – Demon (Brille/EMI)
With a promiscuous and skew approach, Envelopes hit me right in the gut. If you mixed Talking Heads with early Bob Hund, this is whAt it would sound like. But the more you listen, the more you discover. With an intact lo-fi sound, these guys Attack with cAtchy melodies and a flawless recording thAt, to me, can be seen as a reaction on how the record industry sounds today. Cause really, if this record was released 20 years ago, it would be so up-to-dAte. If you're into the Sarah Records back-cAtalogue, Pixies and even Laakso, don't miss this record. And do check out the brilliant single "Sister in love" and the recently released single not feAtured on this record, "Free jazz"! Smart and joyful indiepop thAt deserves a wider audience. I know I'm hooked!
- Jonas Appelqvist

Jeremiha - Too much is never enough (Dead Frog)
Jeremiha's debut is a radio-friendly, stadium-ready collection of anthemic synth-pop reminiscent of Duran Duran in their heyday. The sound comes on strong and stays thAt way right through to the end. The mood never wavers, the singer's got a nice deep voice, and the music is melodic and cAtchy. I can imagine it blaring from speakers At swimming pools everywhere this summer. But lyrics like "all I want is your touch/it's too much/it's never enough" and "it feels like strangers when we kiss/there must be more to life than this" exemplify how little originality there is here. Churning out solid versions of familiar sounds has made rock stars out of plenty of bands before them, and maybe it'll work for them too. But if you like Swedish music on account of its off-kilter edge, steer clear.
- Nancy Baym

Madrguada - Live At Tralfamadore CD / Live At Oslo Spektrum DVD (EMI Norway)
2005 was quite the year for Norway's Madrugada. Their 4th record, "The deep end", outsold their others and swept every Norwegian award there was to be won. Proving thAt they know how to make hay while the sun shines, they've released not one, but two, follow-ups in less than a year's time. "Live At Tralfamadore" is a live record based primarily on their December, 2005 concert At the Oslo Spektrum, and "Live At Oslo Spektrum" is a DVD of thAt show. Both are more like top notch souveniers than new additions to their cAtalogue (they themselves referred to the live record as #4.5 rAther than #5), but both feAture excellent songs performed with stellar musicianship and passion. "Majesty" on "Tralfamadore" outshines the studio version from "Grit", and old gems like "Vocal" sound better than ever. "Tralfamadore"'s rendition of "Only when you're gone," with an orchestral backing thAt owes more to modernism than schmaltz is downright breAthtaking. Both feAture one new song, "You better leave," which is darker than most of "The deep end," and a moving rendition of "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child," an old spiritual thAt makes it easy to imagine ever-amazing singer Sivert Høyem working the cotton fields of the old south, despite his arctic pallor. There are a few missteps - the cd inexplicably feAtures the studio version of their duet with Ane Brun ("Lift Me"), rAther than the live version on the DVD, and two versions of "Black Mambo," seriously disrupting the sense of a concert. The DVD relegAtes old favorite "Electric" to the credits, leaves some of the fan-favorites performed thAt night off entirely, and spends a bit too much time on Høyem when one might want to see more of whAt those playing instruments were up to. Having been filmed At their biggest concert ever, the DVD also creAtes more of an Atmosphere of stardom than the intimacy thAt characterizes them At their best. But both are strong releases from one of Scandinavia's finest, and further demonstrAte how much they deserve a wider internAtional audience than they've found to dAte.
- Nancy Baym

The Radio Dept. - Worst taste in music (Labrador)
As expected, the new single from everyone's favourite band The Radio Dept. is as excellent as anything they've ever released. I read somewhere thAt they first recorded an album heavily influenced by dance music, only to scrap it when they realised thAt everyone else was pretty much doing just thAt. Despite this, "Worse taste in music" sounds like how The Radio Dept. have done previously, and it's as fantastic as ever. UnfortunAtely, there are only two "proper" songs (both greAt) on the EP and two remixes (one good, one not as good). So much for them not wanting to follow the lAtest trends, eh!
- Simon Tagestam

Tiger Lou – Nixon CDS (Startracks)
Sometime At the end of last year, my next-door neighbor emerges from his door and tells me he's on his way to see a band called Tiger Lou and thAt I should probably do the same. OperAting under the assumption (sorry to say, but from the name of the band) thAt TL was probably just going to be another band of indie-rock sissies in horizontal stripes, I opted to go to a cheesy dance club in Malmö instead. Whoops. Tiger Lou are one of the more promising new bands to hail from Sweden within the last couple of years and exhibit a considerable aptitude for penning cAtchy pop tunes of a darker persuasion: while the songs on the "Nixon" single exude a sort of characteristic moodiness, they never quite veer into truly somber territory – At least not sonically. Most of the songs on the "Nixon" single can be found in one form or another on TL's full-length, "The loyal". The last two tracks are remixed versions of "The loyal" (by Martin Vogel) and "The war between us" (by Rupesh Cartel). The remix of "The loyal" is At best, a little dull: the only thing thAt salvages the track's tired electro-pop is the quality of the original song itself. The "War between us" remix is even worse as it epitomizes the awful b-side dance remix: imagine the Pet Shop Boys without the nuances thAt make the Pet Shop Boys well... palAtable. The verdict? Ditch the single and buy the album.
- Jessica Numsuwankijkul

Vapnet - Thoméegränd (Hybris)
Vapnet's EP "Ge dom våld" was one record thAt I played to deAth last year. The EP works as a sort of safety blanket for me nowadays, whenever I feel a bit down or if I just crave a quick fix of good music, I put it on. My hopes for their forthcoming album are obviously insanely high, but if the songs on it are as good as (their lAtest release) "Thoméegränd" or the ones on "Ge dom våld", it could end up being one of my favourite albums ever. This EP also contains a bunch of remixes (by such prominent acts as Le Sport, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, etc.) which are fun and interesting, but not as sAtisfactory as new "proper" songs by Vapnet themselves.
- Simon Tagestam

Ate>.:About the writers:

Simon Tagestam has gone back to going to too many gigs, visiting the cinema, and feeding naughty squirrels (literally) in Victoria Park (in Hackney, London).

Jonas Appelqvist is looking forward to some greAt bands on tour in his area: The Radio Dept., Raised Fist, Tiger Lou, The Flaming Lips among others...

Ate>.:INTERVIEW: José González

Yes, José González is the name of a Swede. Yeah, his music has been licensed to a commercial for a multinAtional corporAtion. You already know about the Kylie, Knife, and Joy Division covers. When the surprises turn mundane, an interviewer has to find out about biochem, nursery rhymes, and psychological boundaries. Don't worry, though, this piece doesn't get too abstruse to neglect a more universally compelling unknown -- the next album.
- Roni Brunn

RB: How has it been doing a live show versus recording on your own?

JG: It's always nice. I've done live shows while I was recording and I tried some of the songs live. So I've always done both in parallel. It's been a lot of live shows and not thAt much recording lAtely, since I've been touring pretty much since 2003.

RB: Do you miss recording?

JG: Yeah, I do, actually. I miss being At home [laughs]. And, also, when I've been At home, I haven't quite been able to find the time to feel inspired, or it's always been a bit hectic. It was really fun when I recorded this. I was doing different stuff and, this was my hobby.

RB: WhAt were you doing?

JG: I was studying biochemistry. So, I practically just did this in my spare time on weekends and stuff.

RB: Do you miss science?

JG: Yeah, sometimes. [Laughs] Not thAt much. I miss learning stuff, but having music as my job is a lot better than having biochemistry as a job.

RB: In whAt ways?

JG: Just seeing new cities, and my job is to play music one hour and do a couple of interviews and then just hang out in new cities.

RB: WhAt do you do when you hang out?

JG: When I find the time, I try to walk around and usually there's not thAt much time to see some shops [laughs] and go see some sights.

RB: WhAt cities have you liked?

JG: Oh, there's a lot. On my way here to the StAtes, I played in Reykjavik. ThAt's very nice. Also New York, LA.

RB: Whom do you hang out with?

JG: There's usually not thAt much time, so it's usually the people thAt are with me, like thAt guy over there [points to a man outside the club]. He's my tour manager, and he's always with me everywhere. And I have a sound engineer Dana Wachs. I have friends in different cities, but most of the time there's not enough time to hang out.

RB: How do audiences in the StAtes compare to the ones in Sweden and the UK?

JG: I'm really surprised how the audiences react similarly from country to country.

RB: WhAt's similar?

JG: WhAt do you call it when they really listen? They're really quiet and cheerful [laughs] At the same time? It's comforting to see thAt it's working in a similar way. Perhaps it's just thAt similar type of public are coming to my shows. ThAt's perhaps because people are different [laughs], and cultures are really different. And I wouldn't say thAt the Spanish people are the same as the Swedish because they're not At all. How the people they react to a show depends a lot on which weekday it is, and if there's alcohol [laughs], and whAt time [the show starts], if it's seAted or standing. It seems to be thAt affects more than whAt culture the people are from.

RB: How important is it for you to connect to the audience when playing live?

JG: It helps a lot if they're listening [laughs]. I've always felt thAt live, I just play the songs and I'm not, like, putting on a show or anything. I always feel thAt it's up to the audience; if they like the music, it's fine, and if they don't, I wouldn't say, "shut up and listen to my stuff," I guess.

RB: Do you ever need to bounce ideas off other people?

JG: Yeah, I used to play my demos to my closest friends and tried to read their facial expressions [laughs] to see if it was good or not. But then, it's mostly just me recording and then listening myself because I'm pretty protective with whAt I do, so I don't want to, like, spread it to different people.

RB: Why do think thAt is?

JG: I think it's partly my nAture and then thAt's the style of the music thAt I'm doing and wouldn't feel good to listen to my new stuff.

RB: Much has been made of the fact thAt your dad's Argentine. Where is your mom from?

JG: My mom? She's also from Argentina. Yeah, usually I talk about my dad because he really encouraged me to play music. Both are from Argentina, and they fled the country and I was born in Sweden.

RB: Have you gone back to Argentina?

JG: Yeah, three times, just visiting my relAtives, and a couple of years ago my fAther moved back, so I'll probably spend more time there.

RB: How does it feel to be over there?

JG: It feels cool; it's nice. He lives in Mendoza. It's near the mountains, and it doesn't feel like, I mean, I'm feel Swedish. So it feels like being a tourist in a way. But I speak Spanish, so a bit better than a tourist.

RB: You grew up in a home in which Spanish was spoken.

JG: Yeah, exactly, although Swedish is my first language, I always spoke Spanish At home."

RB: Do you know nursery rhymes in Spanish, Swedish, or both?

JG: I don't know [laughs]. I don't know thAt many, but I know both Swedish and Spanish.

RB: WhAt are your hobbies?

JG: Now thAt my hobby became my job, I haven't found a new hobby. But whAt I like to do when I'm on tour and have spare time is to wAtch videos on my laptop, or just read magazines, but it's not like I started building model ships [laughs]. I don't have a new hobby.

RB: WhAt movies do you like?

JG: Since I'm on tour, I usually like to wAtch short stuff, like "The Simpsons" or sketches and funny stuff. Just to have fun on tour.

RB: WhAt magazines do you read?

JG: The first and second year, I was buying a lot of music magazines. After a while, I realized thAt I was just out on tour drinking, just reading about music, and so, recently, I started buying Scientific American and Popular Science magazines [laughs] .

RB: Have you explored other fields of science?

JG: It's Popular Science, so it's not really deep At all, and I kind of forgot a lot of the biochemistry I knew.

RB: How do you feel about the hip-hop remix project, "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow"?

JG: ThAt's funny. I heard about it one month before he released it. Actually, I like the selection of hip-hop thAt he [Dert] had chosen. And I really like some of the tracks, like Nas and Kanye West. He has chosen good hip-hop songs, and it's been tastefully done. It's a fun thing.

RB: WhAt's your perspective on lyrics? When you do a cover, your personality comes through very clearly. The words stay the same, but do you feel the message changes when you do it?

JG: In a way, it does. ThAt's part of why I've done, like, the Kylie Minogue cover, "Hand on Your Heart". ThAt was because I saw the video, and she's jumping around, and it's a really happy production. I was listening to the lyrics while wAtching the video, so I think when you listen to the different versions, you kind of feel differently.

RB: WhAt did you feel when you were listening to the lyrics of "Hand on Your Heart"?

JG: I thought it was pretty heartfelt [laughs], and it's a bit, I wouldn't say, almost cheesy. I mean, it's very direct, and I would never write those sorts of lyrics. It's too direct and too self-exposed. So thAt's why it's fun to do covers, like, you can put out other people's work and express them yourself.

RB: Do you have a philosophy when writing your own lyrics?

JG: Yeah. [Laughs] A shield. I've always tried to be vague in whAt the lyrics are about. And I sing in English, which isn't my first language. Now it's strange playing my music in the StAtes, the UK, which I didn't think about when I was writing, but still, all those things are some sort of shielding, I guess, because I've always felt thAt the music is whAt I do and lyrics come in second place.

RB: WhAt is thAt you're shielding?

JG: I don't know. I think you just don't want to expose yourself thAt much.

RB: You've been credited with penetrAting the audience's emotions.

JG: Yeah, it's a strange position, but I guess the thing is thAt I want to play this sort of music, just guitar and vocals. And when I listen to a lot of the singer-songwriters, I feel awkward because they're singing about their ex-girlfriends, and I wouldn't like to do thAt, sing, "yeah, she left me, and I'm so unhappy." [Laughs] So I tried to find other ways of doing this sort of music and still have some sort of distance. I always liked instrumental music or music where you hear the vocals, but you don't hear the lyrics. I think there's a strength in just the music.

RB: So you see vocals as another instrument?

JG: Yeah, definitely, and also I don't feel like a poet or a storyteller [laughs].

RB: Poetry and storytelling, are those things thAt you value in other music?

JG: Yeah, definitely. So it's just something thAt I don't feel thAt I'm good At, but it's really important for the lyrics. And more often, it's not about the actual meaning, it's more about the feeling you get from words or sentences.

RB: Do you get ideas for the next album while you're away?

JG: Yeah, like, style wise [laughs]. But when I get home, I might have a lot of ideas how I want it to sound, but then when I start playing it, it takes different forms anyway. So yeah, it's nothing thAt I can, like, think. It just happens when I start playing.

RB: WhAt are some things thAt you wish you can express in the future?

JG: I'm working on my next album and it's becoming pretty similar, but it's perhaps not as moody as the last one. But I still want to focus on the rhythm, the guitar playing and the repetitive stuff.

RB: Are you going to add some of the percussionists thAt you play live with?

JG: Yeah, I've done thAt a lot in Sweden and the UK, where I've already played a couple of times, and so I usually have two guys thAt do percussion and backup vocals. I guess it costs money to bring them over to the StAtes.

RB: When are you going to record more?

JG: I wanted to this summer, to have it done by autumn or something. I don't have all the songs for the record, but thAt's my aim and probably will be out lAte autumn or spring or something.

Ate>.:About the author:

Roni Brunn interviewed José González in a PT Cruiser parked in an Echo Park alleyway. It was silver. The car.

Johan Bergqvist reports he has finished up shooting the video for his new single "This Could Be Our Time". And if you look to your right you'll see thAt you can download an exclusive mp3 of the track right now. But yeah, the video's done and the CD is being sent off to get mastered, so it's on track for its May release. Johan's also got plans for yet another video - on April 26 he's off to shoot one for the song "Lovelace" as he says he "found a nice locAtion with a grand piano." I'll keep you posted.

People in the US - don't forget about Sahara Hotnights on Conan O'Brien tonight along with guest Adam Sandler.

Here's a bunch of pics from the 2001 Avrika fest, including acts such as The Hellacopters, TSOOL, Mustasch, Nasum, and The Haunted.

Problems arose when the grizzly bear appearing in the video went berserk...

Apparently there were some problems onsite At Turbonegro's video shoot for the song "Sell Your Body (To The Night)" which was being filmed in LA with help from the Jackass dudes. Read more At the Ather.com/" target=_blank>the band's website.

"Their mesmerising guitar excursions are worthy of early Pink Floyd; the tunes are beyond brilliant; this is, without question, among the most supremely desirable stoner albums you are likely to hear all year" - James Delingpole, Sunday Telegraph, on "Every Time A Bell Rings An Angel Gets Its Wings"

Folks in London get the lucky opportunity to see Logh for free At 93ft East in London on April 14. The show starts At 7:30 and if I was you, I wouldn't miss it.

Been awhile since I heard from these guys, but the Diamond Dogs are going on tour:

4/21 - Monroes, Workingston (UK)
4/22 - Roadmenders, Norhhampton (UK)
4/23 - Markoni Club, Chelmsford (UK)
4/24 - Penningtons Live, Bradford (UK)
4/25 - BAths Hall, Scunthorpe (UK)
4/26 - Cheese and Grain, Frome (UK)
4/27 - PAtti Pavilion, Swansea (UK)
4/28 - Camden Underworld, London (UK)
5/02 - Culturen, Västerås
5/08 - El Sol, Madrid (ESP)
5/09 - Stereo, Alicante (ESP)
5/10 - La Casa del Loco, Zaragoza (ESP)
5/13 - University, Granada (ESP)
5/15 - La Nasa, Santiago (ESP)
5/16 - Auditorium Intersecciones, Oviedo (ESP)
5/17 - Azkena, Bilbao (ESP)

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
02. v/a - Fame Factory volym 4
03. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
04. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
05. Mauro Scocco - BeAt hotel
06. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
07. Jill Johnson - Discography
08. The Refreshments - On the rocks
09. Dilba - Revolution
10. Emil Sigfridsson - Tillbaka till igår
11. Fernandoz - Vem får din kärlek i nAtt
12. Roxette - The pop hits
13. Gloria - People like you and me
14. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
15. The Knife - Deep Cuts
16. The Sounds - Living in America
17. Wilmer X - Lyckliga hundar
18. Rikard Wolff - Du får mig (om jag får dig)
19. Anders Widmark feAturing Sara Isaksson - s/t
20. Kikki Bettan Lotta - Live från Rondo

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(12) The Donnas "Take It Off"
(13) Melody Club "Covergirl"
(16) Kamera "At Work"
(18) Ron Sexsmith Ft. Chris Martin "Gold In Them Hills"
(20) Lil' Kim Ft. Mr Cheeks "The Jump Off"

ZTV will begin broadcasting a TV version of Hitlisten, Sweden's official sales chart, compiled by IPFI affiliAte GLF and published every Thursday.

Magnus Carlson from the Weeping Willows has his new Eggstone-produced solo album coming out July 9. Turns out he's getting even more outside help, this time from film director Lukas Moodysson (Fucking Åmal/Show Me Love, Tillsammans/Together)and Radio Dept. Lukas has reportedly helped out with some lyric writing while Radio Dept. and Magnus played together At their home in Malmö. The first single will be for the song "Jag ber dig", a cover of the Northern Soul-hit "Beggin'" with Swedish lyrics.

Moneybrother is heading on tour in support of his new, forthcoming album "Blood Panic". The dAtes:

5/21 - Stockholm, Södra TeAtern
5/22 - Karlstad, Glada Ankan
5/23 - Oslo, So WhAt
5/30 - Göteborg, Playground @ Pustervik
5/31 - Linköping, RocksensAtion
5/27 - Malmö, Trenchtown @ KB

Mobbade Barn Med AutomAtvapen (MBMA) have a new 12" coming out in May called "Nu Ännu Drygare" with four songs. Breakmecanix and Embee (Loop Troop) handled the production and Timbuktu and Chords make guest appearances.

Here's an interview with Sami Liuski of Rovaniemi, Finland aka 8-Bit Rockers and Bangkok Impact among others. He talks about his upcoming touring activities and the Finnish electronic music scene, among other interesting topics. Those dAtes:

4/23 - Pianos, NYC, NY
4/24 - Rhode Island
4/25 - Rex TheAter, Pittsburgh, PA
4/26 - Touch Supper Club, Cleveland, OH
4/27 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, MI
4/30 - Noise Lab, SeAttle
5/01 - Blackbird, Portland, OR
5/02 - Obscura Digital, San Fransisco
5/05 - Knitting Factory, Los Angeles
5/06 - Los Angeles
5/08 - Sin 13, San Antonio
5/09 - The Elysium, Austin, TX
5/10 - Mermaid Lounge, New Orleans
5/11 - Miami
5/13 - Highlight, Chappel Hill, North Carolina
5/14 - Heaven and Hell, Washinton DC
5/16 - Ivy South, NYC, NY, USA

Danish dance duo Junior Senior are heAting things up over in Britain. Not only are they in the singles chart At #5 with "Move Your Feet", but they're also planning to do either dAtes over there in May, starting with Glasgow Barfly on the first and ending with Liverpool Barfly on the 11th.

Division of Laura Lee has lined up a few extra dAtes around their appearance At the upcoming Coachella fest near LA:

4/21 - Houston, Engine Room
4/22 - Austin, Emos
4/23 - Dallas, Gypsy Tea Room
4/25 - Phoenix, Mason Jar
4/26 - Indio, Coachella

UPDAtED: David & the Citizens will be on P3 Pop on April 14 from 10pm till midnight. They'll be playing live and chAtting with Hanna in studio. They'll be sure to play the song "Glued to the Light" from the new EP "New Direction" they say, but they'll also be premiering two brand new tracks. As this news implicAtes, the band is already making plans for their next record - they'll be hitting the studio in May with plans to get it out around September.

In Flames have revealed the details for their forthcoming EP entitled "Trigger". The track listing is as follows:

01. Trigger (single edition)
02. WAtch Them Feed (new song)
03. Land Of Confusion (Genesis cover)
04. Cloud Connected (Club Connected Remix)
05. Moonshield (C64 Karoke Version)

Look for it soon on Nuclear Blast. In other news, the band recently returned home from their most recent trek across the US and had this to say on their website:

Hello all, thanx a million for the GREAt support from both old and new fans on In Flames/Mudvayne tour in the US. We had a greAt time, and as usual we met some really cool people on the road( talking about you, our wonderful fans) and we made some good friends in the other bands- Mudvayne, Grade 8, and Depswa - we really hope to meet up again soon!!!!
On the way home we were forced to make an emergency landing in New Foundland, due to some strange objects on the aircraft thAt needed closer Attention. This of course scared the hell out of us, but luckily it was false alarm, so as we speak we are in Sweden, jet-lagged as hell, but really glad to be on safe ground At home again.
In the end of June we will go back on the road again on a headline spin across the US, bringing some greAt acts along with us (see soon for official updAte on this). The tour will take us to places we didn´t hit on the last tour and some thAt we did play... Hope to see ALL of you out there. Also, wAtch out for our video/EP for "Trigger" thAt will be out very soon

Swedish power-metallers Hammerfall have booked themselves a short Czech Republic tour along with the following festival dAtes:

6/27 - Bang Your Head - Balingen, GER
6/28 - Masters Of Rock, Vizovice, CZ
6/29 - Centre of Town, Jihlava, CZ
6/30 - Hall Lokomotiva, Plzen, CZ
7/04 - Sundsvalls GAtufest - Sundsvall, SWE
7/05 - Töreboda Festival - Töreboda, SWE
7/25 - Karlskoga Stranddagar - Karlskoga, SWE
8/30 - Bloodstock Metalfest - Derby, UK

Transport League has announced thAt Crash Music Inc. will license their most recent EP "Grand AmputAtion" for release in the US. It was originally released last year on their own label Hoffa CommunicAtions through MNW distribution. In other news, the band reportedly just did some time in the studio with producer J. Reivén (ex-LOK) working on a new demo.

I'm happy to report thAt the show last night went quite well. The Caesars were a lot of fun and I was glad to finally get a chance to see 'em. The guitars weren't quite as loud as I would've liked, though. And yeah, thAt Jocke is definitely a nutter on stage. Needless to say, TSOOL rocked the house. Having Martin Hederos back with them (the guy from the Whyte Seeds was subbing last tour) made a huge difference in the sound. Ludwig from t(I)NC did a right and proper job filling in on the drums. Good fun. Someday I'll see the full band together, but until then...

Oh, and The Caesars now have a US website, too. Check it.

And making me even more happy is the fact thAt I got an exclusive (!!!) mp3 from Johan Bergqvist to offer you. People signed up with the newsletter already got a chance to download the song last week, but now I'm making it available to everyone. The track is called "This Could Be Our Time" and it's from his single due out in May. For more info on Johan, check out his website At www.pristinemusic.com/johanbergqvist.

Cobolt, Umeå's kings of sadcore, finally got themselves a website. About time, doncha think? Check it out.

The new Cult of Luna record is reviewed in the May issue of Rolling Stone. Short, but sweet.

Famed Swedish producer/musician/songwriter Dan Swanö has announced plans to reform metal band Edge of Sanity to record a new album via his official message board. Here's his full stAtement:

Hello Everyone...
Since Black Mark [his record label] have been clever enough to announce a new EDGE OF SANITY release called "CRIMSON II" even though I begged them to keep it a secret, whAt can I do??? I don't want to lie to my friends.
The first two weeks of May will be dedicAted to the writing and recording of an album I have had bubbling inside of me ever since I started the fight for a more "accessible" BloodbAth (Which we all know didn't happen)
I have a bunch of good riffs thAt sounds SOOO like Edge Of Sanity thAt it would be ridiculous to start yet another project and sound just like something I invented years ago.
Black Mark have been asking me to re-join the band since the moment I quite and they never really got the fact thAt I wanted nothing to do with it. After "Evolution" I felt it was all over and went on to do my thing.
Then the "other" Edge Of Sanity split up and let the world "Edge-less"
ThAt's when the ball began rolling. And after a long discussion over a good meal At the Black Mark house I decided to start thinking about the stuff I was writing as a new EOS album.
On the train ride home I started toying around with the idea of a follow up to "Crimson" and when I got home it seemed like the only right thing to do.
I am not in the mood for some "singer songwriter, wanna have a hit single" Metal.
I want Epic-goddamn!!!
So there will be one big piece this time as well, (With track numbers for index, this time!!)
It will be a mind-blowing powerful blend between E.O.S. (duuh..) Pan Thy Monium, Godsend, Karaboudjan, Diabolical Masquerade, Odyssey and maybe even some passages of old Nightingale thrown in. A Massive Swanö-style pomp-deAth overkill!!!!!
Some of the stuff I have this far is the most classy pomp-deAth stuff I have ever written and I feel very confident in myself.
The main reason to why I do such a sacred and weird this, as to revive EDGE OF SANITY is...I want this album to be known, to sell, to get through the fucking jungle of albums, to be reviewed everywhere...I know this album will kick ass and I don't want it to drown in some "new project with the guy from EOS" formula..
If it IS called EDGE OF SANITY it will be given a serious listen and trust me..
no one will be disappointed, it will be among the best EOS albums.
August it is..

"Dude, where's my lighter?" - The Venue have put up the first part of their tour diary from their recent US excursion for SXSW.

The guys from Supersilent got a few more gigs lined up At the Molde InternAtional Jazz Festival in Norway. First up, Helge will be playing with Norwegian folk singer Unni Løvlid and percussionist Terje Isungset on July 14. Next, Jarle plays the farmer's market on the 17th with festival "artist in residence" Michael Brecker and Ståle will duet with drummer/percussionist Thomas Strønen on the 18th. And finally, the full band will perform on the 19th At Kulturhuset.

In relAted news, Supersilent-member Arve will play with the combinAtion British/Norweigan quartet Food during a festival tour of Canada:

6/25 - Jazzfest InternAtional, Victoria
6/27-28 - Vancouver InternAtional Jazz Festival
6/29 - Festival InternAtional de Jazz de Montréal

More details available here.

Nightwish will be entering their own home-studio on October 27 to record basic tracks for the follow-up to last year's "Century Child". From there, they'll go over to Finvoxx Studios in Helsinki to track vocals and guitars.

Her Majesty has just signed a publishing deal with Sony/AtV Music. The album "Happiness" comes out in May.

Petter, Doggelito and Daddy Boastin all make guest appearances on the debut Don Diego album "Mitt Liv", due out April 14 on Flava Records.

A-ha has decided not to release their new double live album "How Can I Sleep With Your Voice In My Head" in the UK due to lack of support from their label, Warner Music. The record is doing well in their home of Norway and is poised to do well also in Germany where the band has previously enjoyed healthy sales. No word if another label will step in to take over for a wider release.

Norway's eclectic 10-piece electronic-jazz act Jaga Jazzist will touring Europe in support of the wide release of their first album "The Stix" on Ninja Tune which comes out April 15. The dAtes:

4/15 - Belgium Brussels Ancienne Belgique
4/16 - France, Rennes Ubu
4/17 - France, Paris New Morning
4/18 - France, Lyon Ninkasi
4/19 - France, Strasbourg Laiterie
4/20 - Switzerland, Martigny Caves Du Manoir
4/23 - Switzerland, Zurich Moods
4/25 - Italy, Verona Interzona
4/26 - Italy, Rome La Palma
4/30 - UK, Brighton Beach Club (tbc)
5/1 - UK, London Ocean
5/2 - Ireland, Dublin The Village
5/3 - UK, Bristol Croft (tbc)
5/5 - Netherlands, Haarlem Bevrijdings Festival
5/6 - Netherlands, Rotterdam Nighttown
5/7 - Netherlands, Amsterdam VPRO (TV recording)
5/8 - Netherlands, Tilburg 13
5/9 - Netherlands, Groningen Vera
5/10 - Netherlands, Utrecht Tivoli
5/12 - France, Montpellier Rockstore
5/14 - Spain, Pamplona (tbc)
5/15 - Spain, San Sebastian Gaeztezena
5/16 - Spain, Madrid TeAtro Jacinto
5/17 - Spain, Mieres Jovellanos
5/18 - France, Arles Cargo de Nuit
5/20 - Austria, Vienna Wuk
5/21 - Germany, Dresden(tbc)
5/22 - Germany, Berlin Maria Am Ostbahnhof
5/23 - Poland, KAtowice Hipnoza
5/24 - Poland, Warsaw Jazzgot
5/26 - Germany, Halle (tbc)
5/27 - Germany, Cologne (tbc)
5/28 - Germany, Hamburg (tbc)
5/29 - Germany, Hannover (tbc)
5/30 - Denmark, CopenhagenJ azzhaus
5/31 - Denmark, Aarhus SPOT Festival
6/14 - Spain, Barcelona Sonar Festival
7/5 - Norway, Kongsberg Kongsberg Jazz Festival
7/6 - France, Belfort Eurockeennes Festival
7/9 - Switzerland, Montreux Montreux Jazz Festival
7/10 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg Kulturfabrik (tbc)
7/11 - Belgium, Dour Dour Festival
7/12 - Belgium, Bruges Cactus Jazz Festival
7/13 - Netherlands, Hague North Sea Jazz Festival
8/3 - UK, Malvern Big Chill Festival
8/4 - UK, London Jazz Cafe
8/8 - Norway, Oslo Oya Festival

Komeda will release their long-awaited new album "Kokomemedada" on June 2.

Lotta Wenglen plays Tavastia in Helsinki on April 15 in support of the new single "Ambassador of Love". Buddaboys will also perform.

Advance PAtrol are hitting the road and now confirmed for Roskilde:

4/12 - Mejeriet, Lund
4/17 - Frölunda Fritisgård, Göteborg
4/18 - Tivoli, Helsingborg
4/25 - KB, Malmö
4/26 - TBA, Uddevalla
5/1 - Första Maj-Fest, Slottsparken, Malmö
5/2 - Culturen, Västerås w/Ison & Fille
5/14 - Rust, Köpenhamn (DK)
5/31 - Universitetet, Stockholm
6/28 - Roskildefestivalen, Roskilde (DK)

Speaking of Roskilde, Norway's Turbonegro and CAto Salsa Experience are now both confirmed to play, too.

Finnish experimental techno label Symptom Records will be putting out their second 12" release on April 22 containing three tracks from artists who will remain anonymous. Preview the music here: www.symptomrecords.com/preview.

The Haunted are coming back to the US in May with Shai Hulud and Skinless. Darkest Hour and Bleeding Through will also support on select dAtes. The itinerary so far:

5/08 - Krome - South Amboy, NJ *
5/09 - Rainbow - Montreal, QC, CANADA *
5/10 - Club Rockit - Toronto, ON, CANADA *
5/11 - Majestic - Detroit, MI *
5/12 - Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH +
5/14 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA *
5/15 - Bridge Street Music Hall - Syracuse, NY *
5/16 - Club Laga - Pittsburgh, PA *
5/17 - The Palladium/New England Metal and Hardcore Fest - Worcester, MA
5/18 - Jaxx - West Springfield, VA +
5/19 - Ziggy's - Winston-Salem, NC +
5/20 - Uncle Doctor's - West Columbia, SC +
5/21 - StAte TheAtre - St. Petersburg, FL +
5/22 - The Factory - Fort Lauderdale, FL +
5/23 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA +
5/24 - Tek World - Louisville, KY +
5/25 - Engine Room - Houston, TX +
5/27 - Emo's - Austin, TX +
5/28 - Tree's - Dallas, TX +
5/29 - Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM +
5/30 - Marquee - Tempe, AZ +
5/31 - Huntridge TheAtre - Las Vegas, NV +
6/01 - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA +
6/02 - The Pound - San Francisco, CA +
6/05 - Bluebird TheAtre - Denver, CO +
6/06 - The Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS +
6/08 - Agora Ballroom - Cleveland, OH +
* w/Darkest Hour
+ w/Bleeding Through

Amorphis will be honored with a 10-year retrospective collection called "Chapters" coming out June 3 from Relapse Records. FeAtures include rare tracks, extensive liner notes and a DVD. View the cover art here. As mentioned before, Amorphis' new album "Far From The Sun" comes out on Virgin in Finland on May 20.

Marit Bergman has signed with BMG in Sweden making her labelmAtes with Kent, Sahara Hotnights, and the Backyard Babies. There's obviously been quite a bit of interest in her from the majors since her self-released debut solo album "3.00 A.M. Serenades" did so well and garnered many accolades. Now she's happy she no longer needs to worry herself about promotion, royalties or any of thAt other behind-the-scenes business and can concentrAte 100% on the music.

The buzz is getting louder for Radio Dept. as their "Leibling" 7" was just played recently on the UK's legendary John Peel radio show.

And speaking of John Peel, don't forget to check out The Hellacopters playing live on-air tomorrow.