No big surprise really: The Radio Dept. tops PopMatters' top 10 indiepop albums of 2010 list: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/134171-the-best-indie-pop-of-2010/
Also, coming in at #8, is fellow act Sambassadeur.
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week:
01. Robyn
02. The National
03. Belle and Sebastian
04. The Radio Dept.
05. Beach House
06. Sufjan Stevens
07. Kanye West
08. Arcade Fire
09. Radiohead
10. Håkan Hellström
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
The new Adam Tensta album "Scared of the dark" is confirmed for release on March 14.
Listen to a new single from Swedish female electro duo Icona Pop: http://soundcloud.com/iconapop/still-dont-know
Sign up for their mailing list and get another track via email: http://www.iconapop.com/
has signed Swedish duo The Loveable Tulips and will be releasing a series of singles from them starting with "Fortune favours the brave" b/w "I'm just a heart".
Junip has announced a large number of new tourdates in Australia and Europe:
12/30 - The Falls Festival, Lorne, Victoria (AU)
12/31 - The Falls Festival, Marion Bay, Tasmania (AU)
01/01 - Southbound Festival, Busselton, WA (AU)
01/04 - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Victoria (AU)
01/06 - Sunset Sounds, Brisbane, QLD (AU)
01/08 - Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW (AU)
01/13 - Übel & Gefärlich, Hamburg (GER)
01/14 - Eurosonic Festival, Groningen (NL)
02/01 - Scala, London (UK)
02/02 - The Duchess , York (UK)
02/03 - Auntie Annies , Belfast (UK)
02/04 - Whelans , Dublin (IRL)
02/05 - Cyprys Avenue , Cork (IRL)
02/06 - Millenium Music Hall 2, Cardiff (UK)
02/07 - Old Fire Station, Bournemouth (UK)
02/09 - Azkena, Bilbao (ESP)
02/10 - Teatro Lara, Madrid (ESP)
02/11 - Rqazzmatazz 3, Barcelona (ESP)
02/12 - Epicerie Moderne, Lyon (FRA)
02/13 - Salumeria della Musica, Milano (ITA)
02/14 - Circolo degli Artisti, Rome (ITA)
02/15 - L'Usine, Geneva (CH)
02/16 - Südpol, Lüzern (CH)
02/18 - La Route Du Rock Winter Edition, St Malo (FRA)
02/19 - Northern Living @ Fabryka Trzciny, Warzaw (POL)
02/20 - Lido, Berlin (GER)
02/22 - De Kreun, Kortrijk (BEL)
02/23 - Trix, Antwerp (BEL)
02/24 - Doornroosje, Nigmegen (NL)
02/25 - Melkweg, Amsterdam (NL)
02/26 - Voxhall, Aarhus (DK)
Live At WAH (We Are Home) is a new Finland-based website capturing relaxed live music performances on video at their office in Tampere: http://live.wah.fi/
Artists featured so far include Pintandwefall, Dungen, Jukka Ässä (Tapes, Tigerbombs) and Ville Pirinen (Black Audio) with upcoming videos from Tomutonttu, Jaakko & Jay, Cosmobile and more on the way.
I have to restate it every year: I don't like Christmas music. But I do make exceptions and will have to admit that I am a fan of sleigh bells; the percussion implement, not the annoying indie duo du jour. Unrest is definitely the band that put the instrument to its best non-holiday associated use, but I'm not such a Scrooge that I can't enjoy a little holiday cheer as conjured by The Medalist's eponymous "Jullåtan"/"Christmas song". Said song was written for a charity show the band did last year at Annedalskyrkan (The Annedal Church) for Stadsmissionen benefiting the homeless of Göteborg, but it took them until very recently to actually capture it on tape. Glad they did too, because it really is a lovely little pop tune. It's also a good reminder that it's a perfect time to make a donation to your favorite local charity, whether it be with money or your time. 'Tis the season!
The Medalist - Jullåtan
For those of you that care about old media, Robyn is #14 on Rolling Stone's best albums of 2010 list and #10 on Spin's.
The nominees for the 2011 Swedish P3 Guld Awards have been announced:
Best newcomer:
First Aid Kit
Anna von Hausswolff
Jasmine Kara
Royal Republic
Tove Styrke
Best song:
Daniel Adams-Ray - Gubben i lådan
Salem Al Fakir - Keep On Walking
Johnossi - What's The Point
Oskar Linnros - Från och med du
Robyn - Dancing On My Own
Swedish House Mafia feat. Pharrell - One (Your Name)
Best group:
Hästpojken - Från där jag ropar
Johnossi - Mavericks
Kent - En plats i solen
The Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme
Swedish House Mafia - Until One
Best artist:
Daniel Adams-Ray - Svart vitt och allt däremellan
Håkan Hellström - 2 steg från Paradise
Oskar Linnros - Vilja bli
Robyn - Body Talk Pt 1
Säkert! - Facit
Guldmicken (best live act):
Familjen
Håkan Hellström
Hoffmaestro
Melissa Horn
Robyn
More here: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3964&artikel=4220806
has confirmed that the new Peter Bjorn and John album will be released on March 29.
José González and The Göteborg String Theory will be doing a one-off gig at Barbican Hall in London on April 11: http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=11627
Swedish death metallers Maim have confirmed that their new album "Deceased to exist" will be released in early 2011 via and are now streaming three new sample tunes at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/maimdeathmetal
You can peep the new cover art from Mattias Frisk (Vanhelgd) over there as well.
' 2nd Advent Mixtape of the season comes from Mikkel Metal and is now up for free download: http://www.adrianrecordings.com/default.asp?newsid=299