Aftonbladet won't name names, but I will. Leila K arrested for shoplifting: http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,591917,00.html
Aortaorta
Demo
self-released
Finnish hardcore punk with just enough interesting melodies and dissonance in their riffs to make 'em above average, but not enough to totally win me over. They have some great ideas, but need to mix things up a little more to take it to the next level. The first couple of songs are fairly mediocre, especially when they stick to the usual mix of fast-punk drumming in the verses and add in generic half-time breakdowns, but the more mid-tempo tracks in the middle really show some potential. Hide the drummer's double-kick pedal and go study some old Rorschach records, okay guys? We'll talk later.
- Avi Roig
The Deadbeats
Long hard nights
Bootleg Booze Records
Rock 'n' roll from Finspång, Sweden akin to The Hellacopters. Guitarist/vocalist Andreas Axelson and company deliver 12 tracks of good, clean retro-rock (see: Jet and any other band in the same category.) The album's opening track, "State of Shock" is a good opener that gets the toes tapping but then I found myself getting kinda bored halfway through the album. The last two tracks, "Too Much" and the album's title track, sound like how the entire album should have sounded. Recommended for fans of The Hellacopters and bands of that vein.
- Navy Keophan
The Grand Opening
Demo
Suitcase
Dramatic, atmospheric pop with tons of soaring melodies and long, dreamy instrumental passages. Great songs, great recording and production, just well-done in every way. Definitely one of the best new things I've gotten in the mail recently.
- Avi Roig
Ligea
Demo
self-released
I guess I'd label this emo-pop as it's in the same vein of bands like Jimmy Eat World or maybe Last Days of April. They're quite good at what they do, but that doesn't mean I have to like it as my tolerance for this over-saturated genre is quite low these days. Being said, I was mostly unimpressed the first time I heard this, but it's growing on me the more I listen mostly thanks to the near-perfect drumming of Hans Svensson.
- Avi Roig
Marginal Cirkus
The Sinding-Larsen project
self-released
Ah... another band from Gothenburg. The moment I started listening to the quartet, I found myself going through my usual "What the hell does this remind me of?" routine. I was expecting something upbeat from the first sounds of "Marginal Cirkus" but it quickly changed when I listened to the rest of the tracks on this six-song EP. The other tracks, such as "Turn your fist" and "Soul survivor", are sort of trippy rock tunes that remind me of another Gothenburg band called The Soundtrack of Our Lives. I found myself losing track of time when listening to them, which is a good thing. Highly recommended.
- Navy Keophan
NS Stalkers
Demo
self-released
Boring heavy bar rock with drum machine, a bit of electronic programming and topped off with female vocals. This wouldn't be so bad if it had a bit more energy, but the performances just ain't cutting it. And couldn't they get one of the three guitarists to play bass? It's not as if they're all playing different riffs either.
- Avi Roig
Punk of Country
Leaving the trees behind
Gain
The debut by this quintet from Gothenburg, Sweden contains 13 tracks of songs that range from mostly bouncy indie rock ("Take me on") to a few that delve into dreamy pop ("You are numb"). My brother kindly pointed out to me that it was "kinda like The Postal Service but better." I have to agree with the guy. Good stuff, overall. Not too loud and not too sappy. Nice mix of guitar and keyboard work throughout every track.
- Navy Keophan
Stellan Wahlström Drift Band
Ocean Ave. CDS
Belpid
The three songs on this single are all relatively decent, but Stellan just isn't a very good singer. It would be different if he had a distinctive, unique voice or maybe a bit more power of presence, but he's got a very limited range and poor pitch. The negatives outweigh the positives. No thanks.
- Avi Roig
Check it out! IAT! correspondent Matthew W. Smith's exclusive interview with Eirik from Kings of Convenience: http://www.itsatrap.com/index.php?article=63
The Bleep webstore has started to carry stuff from the now defunct deFocus label, whose catalogue includes stuff from Lackluster among others: http://www.warprecords.com/bleep/?label=Defocus
Not necessarily music related, but funny anyways: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=31833
Swedish rockers Wired for Mono are heading to Australia:
02/16 - The Rev, Brisbane
02/18 - Garema Place, Multicultural Festival, Canberra
02/19 - Suzie Q's, Sydney
Germany's fRKmagazine interviews The Je Ne Sais Quoi: http://www.frkmagazine.de/music_intv_tjnsq.html