my Old Kentucky Blog shows some love to "Reader's companion volume two": myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/2006/06/its-trap-readers-companion_115091457990726558.html" target=_blank>https://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/2006/06/its-trap-readers-companion_115091457990726558.html

Upcoming release schedule for Stereo Test Kit, UK-based purveyors of fine Swedish tunes:

Audrey - Visible forms - July
Audrey - 7" - September
Boy Omega - mp3 single - August
Boy Omega - mini-album - October
musika 77 - album - September
musika 77 - 7" - tbc
We Are Soldiers We Have Guns - EP - September

Look for every artist to tour the UK in support.

Hybris has posted new singles (plus remixes and videos) from both Siberia and The Kid for free download as well as new videos from El Perro Del mar (already linked here days ago) and Kalle J: m.com/index2.php" target=_blank>https://www.hybrism.com/index2.php

Sound Pollution will be releasing a new full-length album from Sayyadina this fall as well as a split LP featuring I Accuse and Hummingbird of Death.

Check out the video for the new mange Schmidt single "Glassigt": m/watch?v=mKrA2-48fhk" target=_blank>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKrA2-48fhk

The full tracklist for Emrik's new single:

01. Fira med oss ft. Papa Dee (Uptown version)
02. Fira med oss ft. Papa Dee (Downtown version)
03. Lögnhalsen RmX ft. Promoe
04. Bruten kontakt ft. Davono on talkbox

Preview the whole thing at myspace: myspace.com/topemrik" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/topemrik

Absolut Noise talks to mattias Alkberg of The Bear Quartet/mattias Alkberg BD: m/2006/06/absinterview-mattias-alkberg.html" target=_blank>https://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2006/06/absinterview-mattias-alkberg.html

The Tofu Hut on the spectacle that is Hurra Torpedo: m/2006/06/glisten-hurra-torpedo-hurra-torpedo.html" target=_blank>https://tofuhut.blogspot.com/2006/06/glisten-hurra-torpedo-hurra-torpedo.html
The tech rider link is definitely something to behold.

Stylus reviews the new album from Lo-Fi-Fnk: magazine.com/reviews/lo-fi-fnk/boylife.htm" target=_blank>https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/lo-fi-fnk/boylife.htm
I agree with m/index.php?article=181">Simon's review that the album is definitely a bit front-loaded, but it's still quite good and well worth listening to if you're into that electropop stuff.

Noisedfisk profiles and interviews the Icelandic act Trabant: m/2006/06/22/trabant/" target=_blank>https://noisedfisk.com/2006/06/22/trabant/

mIC Norway profiles their country's representatives at this year's Roskilde Festival: mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2006062314082421583886" target=_blank>https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2006062314082421583886

Furia's new album has been confirmed for a September 29 release.

Danish rockers The Royal Highness have posted yet another new demo track on myspace: myspace.com/theroyalhighness" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/theroyalhighness

Pitchfork interviews Danish act Figurines: media.com/article/feature/36960/Interview_Interview_Figurines" target=_blank>https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/36960/Interview_Interview_Figurines
Read my own interview with frontman Christian Hjelm from a few months back: m/index.php?article=170">[click here]

MP3: Ebba Grön - We're only in it for the drugs No. 1

It's midsummer weekend so that means half of Scandinavia is probably out in the country getting sloshed right now, if they aren't already. Not me - I'm stuck in front of the computer at work as usual. At least we're promised a weekend of scorching hot summer weather up here in the Pacific Northwest. I know I'll probably be sick of it by tomorrow afternoon, but what can ya do? Anyhow, I've got a guest post today from frequent contributor Simon Tagestam on Swedish punks Ebba Grön:

Believe it or not, but just like The Ramones were ripping up New York, and The Sex Pistols were spitting on their English fans, there was a thriving Swedish punk scene around the late 70s and late 80s (admittedly a bit after the Americans, but almost at the same time as the UK). most of these bands reacted, just like their worldwide counter parts, against the hippie community and their naïve ideas of peace, love, and understanding. The most prominent of these bands were Ebba Grön, and even though their last album came out in 1982, they're still selling lots in Sweden (a box set came out in 1998, and another compilation was released as late as last year). This is not down to clever marketing, but three angry and frustrated teenagers meeting up at a house party in a suburb of Stockholm in 1977, who decided to form a band (initially calling themselves The Haters). Ebba Grön unfortunately only released three albums (all of them classics, in my opinion). "We're only in it for the drugs No. 1" is the first song from their first album ("We're only in it for the drugs", released in 1979). Don't let the title fool you though! Even if it's in English, Ebba Grön, just like all other Swedish punk bands from this era, sang almost solely in Swedish. The title of this track is deeply ironic and the lyrics are about how it's no wonder that teenagers start taking drugs and being up to no good when their government doesn't provide anything for them to do and that when the kids take matters into their own hands and start arranging gigs, etc., they're forcibly shut down. Ebba Grön's lyric are all very political and it's hard not to pay attention to lead singer Thåström's furious delivery. Thåström did go on to became very successful after Ebba Grön's demise, first as a member of Imperiet, then as a solo performer (his last album from last year was surprisingly good, and dealt lyrically a lot with his years in Ebba Grön), but nothing he's ever done can be compared to those three Ebba Grön albums.

Ebba Grön - We're only in it for the drugs No. 1