MTVe is streaming a few tracks from the new Håkan Hellström record "Nåt Gammal Nåt Nytt Nåt Lånat Nåt Blått": http://www.mtve.com/article.php?ArticleId=6068
Upstart indie label (The method of) Nomethod has announced yet another signing: The Giant's Dream, an offshoot act of their first signing Aerial. In other Nomethod-related news, I'll soon be adding their releases to the webstore as paid downloads.
For the Eardrums rounds up a few Christmas downloads from various Swedish acts such as South Ambulance and Sophie Rimheden: http://eardrums.blogspot.com/2005/12/christmas-gift-from-south-ambulance.html
Swedish retro-thrashers Witchery (ft. Jensen from The Haunted) has signed with Century Media and will be releasing the new album "Don't fear the reaper" in late February.
The latest top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (01) Arctic Monkeys - "I Bet U Look Good on the Dancefloor"
02. (09) The Sorayas - "Hours to Days"
03. (05) Gorillaz - "Dirty Harry"
04. (02) The White Stripes - "The Denial Twist"
05. (07) Róisín Murphy - "Sow Into You"
06. (06) The Fine Arts Showcase - "Chemical Girl"
07. (05) Franz Ferdinand - "Walk Away"
08. (08) El Perro Del Mar - "God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get)"
09. (04) David Sandström Overdrive - "The Crotch of a Saturday"
10. (13) Dannii Minogue & The Soul Seekerz - "Perfection"
11. (11) Unarmed Enemies - "Missing Out"
12. (10) ObnoXiuz - "Lägg benen på ryggen och dra"
13. (NY) Håkan Hellström - "13"
14. (17) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - "Is This Love?"
15. (NY) The Mitchell Brothers - "Alone With the TV"
16. (NY) Peshi - "Jasper Flute"
17. (NY) Monastir - "So Defeated"
18. (18) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Weight of the World"
19. (12) Goldfrapp - "Number 1"
20. (14) Baby Shambles - "Albion"
Leaving the chart: The Embassy, Queens of the Stone Age, Röyksopp and Saïan Supa Crew.
This week's top artists for the It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:
01. Death Cab for Cutie
02. Sufjan Stevens
03. Coldplay
04. Kent
05. Bright Eyes
06. Broken Social Scene
07. Franz Ferdinand
08. The Strokes
09. The Postal Service
10. The Arcade Fire
Top tracks:
01. The Embassy - Some Indulgence
02. Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body
03. The Embassy - It Pays To Belong
04. The Embassy - Tell me
05. The Embassy - Information
06. The Embassy - Time's Tight
07. Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales of San Francisco
08. Babyshambles - Fuck Forever
09. Broken Social Scene - 7/4 (Shoreline)
10. The Embassy - Was That All It Was
Want to see your favorites listed here? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
PopMatters interviews Pelle Almqvist of The Hives: http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/hives-051212.shtml
Pitchfork gives a nice positive review to Amandine: http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/a/amandine/this-is-where-our-hearts-collide.shtml
The new Trapdoor Fucking Exit album "Crooked life, straight world" finally has a release date - only a few months late this time. It'll be out in Sweden on January 9, the US on January 13 and the UK on January 24. Samples available at the band's website: http://www.trapdoorfuckingexit.com/
Richard Reagh has posted a new track for free download: http://www.thisispop.se/richard_reagh-no_one_really.mp3
MP3: Thomas Denver Jonsson - I'm with you all the way
New mp3 and a top ten list today from Swedish singer/songwriter Thomas Denver Jonsson. Now that's synchronicity! Thomas' new album "Barely touching it" came out not too long ago on Kite Records and should appeal to folks who dig Will Oldham, Magnolia Electric Co./Songs:Ohia and the like. I actually like Thomas' record better than any recent release from those two artists. The song I've posted is the opening number and is a bit more lowkey than the rest of the album, but it's still a good introduction to his laidback country style. Good stuff. And don't forget to check him out live - he's got a bunch of dates lined up in the next month:
12/15 - DJ set, K6, Karlstad (SWE) w/The Mellowmen
12/17 - Kåren, Karlstad (SWE)
12/25 - tba, Årjäng (SWE)
12/25 - Kvarnen, Töcksfors (SWE)
01/11 - Harmonie, Edam (NL)
01/12 - Eurosonic 2006, Groningen (NL) (Grand Theatre 8:45pm)
01/13 - Muziekcafé Backstage, Deventer (NL)
01/14 - tba (NL)
Thomas Denver Jonsson - I'm with you all the way
Sophie Zelmani
A decade of dreams 1995-2005
Sony/BMG
"A decade of dreams 1995-2005" is the best of (yet) from Sweden's very own Dido-esque singer-songstress Sophie Zelmani. She occupies the territory already covered by the likes of Lisa Nilson, Lisa Ekdahl, or even Patrik Issakson! Vocally they pale into insignificance, as Zelmani possesses a voice to be reckoned with. It could be heard on any MOR format radio station in the USA. That said, Zelmani has a husky purr to her delicious vocals, fittingly matched by her beauty. Arguably the best tracks are "Going home", "Oh dear" and percussion tilted "Going to stop" which weighs in at a whopping 7:08 mins long. For fans, the album also contains a "So long" update via the the Aranjeuz version. Fresh material (three new songs) includes the single "I can't change", which could easily have fit nicely into her "Sing and dance" album issued in 2002. All in all, proper Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, never Friday or Saturday evening music.
- Troy Convers
My Enemy
Roo EP/Khreis EP
Yellow Mica/Vapen & Godis
I'm still not totally wowed by My Enemy, but I'm not ready to give up on them yet either. Their debut EP "Elil" showed promise, but ultimately fell short and it's kind of the same story with these two more recent releases. But! My Enemy continues to get better with every new CD. The songs and, more importantly, the production are steadily improving. It's especially apparent on the remix tracks from "Khreis" where you can hear other folks who are able to tap into the songs' potential and transform them into something greater. I like where they're going, but they aren't quite there yet. Keep an eye on 'em - I've got a strong feeling they'll figure it out.
- Avi Roig