New mp3 today from Swedish melancholic pop band Valley Days. I was originally going to post one of the band's excellent broody ballads, but lack of sleep (see above and remember- I start work early) made me go with this upbeat number instead. It's just what I need to get me going this Friday. Anyhow, this song is the final track from the band's debut full-length "We like pretending" which they recorded and released themselves. It's quite impressive because not only is the sound quality great, but so is the artwork and packaging. As for the music, it's got everything I look for in the genre: huge hooks, keening vocals and that uniquely Scandinavian quality of gloom and heavy-heartedness. Dig that three-over-four Melody line in the verse, too. If you like this, be sure to check out the band's website where you can contact the band to order the album and download more tunes.

It's official: Now that Melody Club is opening for Kylie, they will be blowing off the ExMS showcase tour in the US. A no-brainer, really. A replacement act will be announced soon.

Växjö's Melody Club will be getting their big break opening for Kylie Minouge on tour in Europe:

03/19 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/20 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/22 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/23 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/24 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/26 - Zenith, Paris (FRA)
03/27 - Ahoy, Rotterdam (NL)
03/28 - Sportpaleis, Antwerp (BEL)
03/30 - Stadthalle, Vienna (AUS)
03/31 - Olympiahalle, Munich (GER)
04/01 - St. Jakobshalle, Basel (SWI)
04/03 - Gigantium, Aalborg (DK)
04/04 - Color Line Arena, Hamburg (GER)
04/05 - Arena, Cologne (GER)
04/07 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/08 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/09 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/11 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/12 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/15 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/16 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/17 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/19 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/20 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/21 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/23 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/24 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/26 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/27 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/28 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/30 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/01 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/02 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/04 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/05 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/06 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/07 - Earls Court, London (UK)

I suppose this means they've dropped off the lineup for the US ExMS showcase?

New mp3 today from EST aka Esbjörn Svensson Trio. Forget about the Bad Plus or whatever other jazz crossover act you might be hearing about. Fans of Jaga Jazzist and any other Smalltown Supersound acts should take note as well, if they haven't already. It's no secret in Europe where they are considered one of the continent's best jazz acts, but everyone else needs to listen up: EST are the real deal. The instrumentation is basic: piano, bass and drums; but the sound they create is far from standard. EST fearlessly uses rock production techniques, electronics and effects to augment their music, but it's more than just that - it's also the clever songwriting and ensemble playing. EST may bear the namesake of keyboardist Esbjörn Svensson, but they are very much a band in the way they interact and improvise. I selected this song from their most recent album "Viaticum" for its solid rhythm, folksy-Melody and fuzzy bass line. It may not showcase all the eclectic influences that the group are known for, but it's as good a place to start as any. Check it out.

"Boys in the girls room" will be the third single from Melody Club's most recent album "Face the music". Here's the tracklist:

01. Boys in the girls room
02. Palace station (live)
03. Electric (live)
04. Cola and rum

The live tracks were recorded at P3 Popstad in Växjö in 2003 and "Cola and rum" is a five-year-old track, one of the first things the band ever did.

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.

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

01. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
02. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
03. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
04. Elin Sigvardsson - Smithereens
05. Wilmer X - 13 Våningar Upp
06. Barbados - Best of Barbados 1994-2004
07. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
08. Ane Brun - A Temporary Dive
09. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
10. The Ark - State of the Ark
11. E.S.T. - Viaticum
12. Kina Jaarnek & Elvis Presleys Band - En hyllning till Elvis
13. Pain - Dancing with the dead
14. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
15. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
16. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
17. Fernandoz - Minnenas allé
18. Melody Club - Face the Music
19. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
20. Shirley Clamp - Den långsamma blomman

Check out an e-card for the new Hammerfall album "Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken" right here: https://www.nuclearblast.de/events/hammerfall/ecard/index.htm
As mentioned before, it comes out March 7 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Aftonbladet says that this year's ExMS US showcase with The Ark, Moneybrother, Melody Club, Deportees and The Caesars will hit NYC on March 21 at CBGBs.

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

01. Elin Sigvardsson - Smithereens
02. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
03. Wilmer X - 13 Våningar Upp
04. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
05. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
06. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
07. E.S.T. - Viaticum
08. Pain - Dancing with the dead
09. The Ark - State of the Ark
10. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
11. Fernandoz - Minnenas allé
12. Kina Jaarnek & Elvis Presleys Band - En hyllning till Elvis
13. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
14. Barbados - Best of Barbados 1994-2004
15. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
16. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
17. Melody Club - Face the Music
18. Backyard Babies - Live in paris
19. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
20. Shirley Clamp - Den långsamma blomman

Hypocrisy reports that they should have a new album ready for release in September.

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.

Hey everyone, I'm back and I've got an mp3 of the brand new Kristofer Åström single "The good you bring". To say that this is one of my most anticipated new releases would be an understatement - I've been a fan of Kristofer both solo and with Fireside for a long time and he has yet to disappoint me. Of course, this song and the new album are no exception. I've yet to listen to "So much for staying alive" more than a few times since getting back into town, but this track really jumps out. It may be the second song in, but it's so obviously single-worthy material from the get-go. I must say I was also quite surprised how country it is. Just listen to that phaser-heavy rhythm guitar and the insistent drums pushing the beat. Then there's that clanky piano line chasing the guitar Melody! So, so great. Very recommended of course.

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: https://djmartian.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_djmartian_archive.html#110677852973580507
Definitely something not to be missed.

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.

Another new mp3 posted today from the Norwegian Johnny Cash tribute "We walk the line". This song from Karen Jo Fields is quite a bit different than the Magnet track I posted on Monday. It's still very much a classic Cash tune, but it's far more lighthearted and truer to the original version. Now, I don't know much about Karen Jo besides what's written in her official bio, but she's got a great voice and good feel for the material. I also really like the way this song sounds when sung from a female perspective - I think it even works a bit better in that regards. I'm not quite as enthused that they switched the classic Luther Perkins guitar Melody to the acoustic, but it works.

I could go on and on about almost every song on this comp, but I'm going to stop here. I really had trouble picking just two. Hopefully my choices served you well enough that you'll seek out the rest - it's definitely worth it.