Scandinavian highlights from the Pitchfork top 50 album list include The Concretes (#45), Jóhann Jóhannsson (#37), Björk (#19), Annie (#15), Erlend Øye (#14) and Dungen (#13): http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/2004/index.shtml
The Norwegian female rock quintet Furia just finished up recording two songs with Pelle Gunnerfeldt at his studio near Stockholm and is in negotiations with various labels for an eventual album release.
Swedish radio P3's top played tracks and artists of 2004: http://www.musikindustrin.nu/mi/smpage.fwx?page=198&NYHETER=5309
Aftonbladet lists the top picks of the year from quite a few high-profile Swedish artists such as Marit Bergman, Per Gessle, Ola Salo, Magnus Uggla, Ebbot Lundberg, Nicke Andersson and so on: http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,578772,00.html (in Swedish)
Oksa Records is the name of a new mp3 label from Finland specializing in various types of electronic music: http://www.oksarecords.com/
Photo:Henrik has posted new pics of Entombed, Mando Diao, The Solution and Sophie Rimheden: http://www.photohenrik.com/
Finnish cello-rockers Apocalyptica will support Rammstein on tour across Europe:
02/01 - Messehalle, Erfurt (GER)
02/03 - Brixton, London (UK)
02/04 - Brixton, London (UK)
02/05 - Brixton, London (UK)
02/06 - Men, Manchester (UK)
02/07 - Arena, Nottingham (UK)
02/09 - Zenith Arena, Lille (FRA)
02/10 - Zenith Arena, Lille (FRA)
02/11 - Bercy, Paris (FRA)
02/12 - Galaxie, Amneville (FRA)
02/13 - Messehalle, Freiburg (GER)
02/15 - Schwabenhalle, Augsburg (GER)
02/16 - Stadthalle, Vienna (AUS)
02/18 - Arena, Leipzig (GER)
02/19 - Erdgasarena, Riesa (GER)
02/21 - Spodek, Katowice (POL)
02/22 - Incheba, Bratislava (SK)
02/24 - Forum, Milan (ITA)
02/25 - Tivoli 1, Ljubljana (SI)
02/27 - Arena, Budapest (HUN)
02/28 - Cez Arena, Ostrava (CZ)
The entire Dead Frog Records staff has now posted their top 10s on their website: http://www.deadfrogrecords.com/charts/
Johan Lindstrand, ex-vocalist for The Crown, has started a new band called One Man Army and the Undead Quartet. Check out the group's newly launched website right here: http://escape.to/onemanarmy
Two new top 10 lists today: one from Mikkel of Denmark's Cph-sound and one from Fredrik of Dead Frog Records. Be sure to check 'em out and keep on sending those lists in.
Speaking of Dead Frog, the label is offering a special holiday download in the form of the song "Christmas time" from Kordon. Download here: http://www.deadfrogrecords.com/playlist/Kordon-ChristmasTime.mp3
Thomas Denver Jonsson will tour Scandinavia in January as support for Anomoanon aka Ned Oldham, brother of Will from Palace Music/Bonnie Prince Billy. Dates:
01/25 - Min Kompis, Kalmar (SWE)
01/26 - Loppen, Köpenhamn (DK)
01/27 - Café Mono, Oslo (NOR)
01/28 - Kick!, Egersund (NOR)
01/29 - Café August, Karlstad (SWE)
01/30 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE)
01/31 - Kalmar nation, Uppsala (SWE)
Denmark's Crunchy Frog takes a look back at the past year: http://www.crunchy.dk/asp/default.asp?News_Id=125
Moonbabies are back from a successful tour of Germany and have posted an acoustic radio version of "Fieldtrip USA" for download: http://www.moonbabies.nu/audio/audio.htm