Finnish free-folk weirdos Kemialliset Ystävät are coming back to the US at the end of the month:
05/24 - The Silent Barn, New York, NY
05/25 - The Talking Head Club, Baltimore, MD
05/26 - Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA
05/27 - Cake Shop, MYC, NY
05/28 - tbc, Providence, RI
05/29 - Space, Portland, ME
05/30 - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
05/31 - tba
06/01 - P.S.1, Long Island City, NY
Siena Root is the kind of band that forces me to involuntarily break into air guitar heroics every time I hear them. I swear that I try my best to remain skeptical of retro rock like this, but I can't help it. Shit is irresistible! They bust out mad pentatonics ala Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, but instead of the doom and gloom most people (wrongly) associate with that band, the music is incredibly catchy and even kinda glorious when you get down to it. It manages to tap into this weird false nostalgia for a time I never lived, yet somehow that doesn't bother me. I just want to turn it up and rock out. Screw over-analyzing it, grab your favorite mind-altering substance and enjoy.
If you dug that Graveyard track I posted awhile back, you'll love this.
Siena Root - Time will tell
Pitchfork reports that Robyn is ditching my neck of the woods (the Pacific NW) for a guest spot on "The View": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/50522-robyn-postpones-two-shows-to-play-the-view
The Hellacopters are working on compiling a retrospective DVD documentary and are looking for people to send in footage. Contact film@hellacopters.com if you have rare clips to share.
Roxy Recordings (The Ark, Hästpojken) has signed As In RebekkaMaria in Sweden and will be releasing the single "Yours truly" on May 30 with the album "Queen of France" to follow later, coinciding with a tour. See our review of the original Danish release here.
Check out Robyn's new video for "Eclipse": http://www.spinner.com/2008/05/02/robyn-eclipse-video-exclusive/
Check out an alternate take here: http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&vid=7e0eacaf-758a-40c5-982b-f0fba16227cc&fg=rss&from=34
Opeth will play a few Australian shows in September:
09/02 - Metro City, Perth
09/04 - The Barton Theatre, Adelaide
09/05 - Palace Theatre, Melbourne
09/06 - The Big Top, Sydney
09/07 - The Arena, Brisbane
Swedish weirdo pop/industrial act The State of Floral Beings are offering their new album "Total" for free download via myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thestateoffloralbeings
And if you're feeling tentative, you can stream it there as well.
Norwegian act Kaizers Orchestra is launching a series of vinyl 7" singles and the first one is out now. It features "Apokalyps meg" on the a-side and a duet with Swedish artist Stefan Sundström on the song "Du og meg Lou, og din fru" on the flip. Read more: http://www.kaizers.no/articles/19/20/document221.ehtml
Häpna has now posted details for Tape's new album "Luminarium" including a free mp3 download: http://www.hapna.com/H42.html
Boeoes Kaelstigen are offering up their remix of the new Firefox AK single "Once I was like you" as a free download: http://boeoeskaelstigen.co.uk/?p=56
Well worth checking out if you ask me.
Aftonbladet is showcasing the video for the new Jupither single "Last forever": http://www.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/noje/musikvideor/article2411530.ab
The title track for Jeniferever's new EP "Nangijala" is now streaming on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jeniferever
As mentioned before, it will be released on blue 10" vinyl/digital download on June 16 via Club AC30.
Swedish lounge-metal act Hellsongs is now working with Bodog Music Group for a international release of their debut album "Songs in the key of 666". It will be out in Europe this summer with the rest of the world to follow in fall.
Norwegian sludgecore band Haust will release their debut full-length album "Ride the relapse" on June 16 via Fysisk Format Records. Hear samples: http://www.myspace.com/haust