The results of the 2003 Pazz & Jop music poll from NYC's Village Voice have been announced and you can check the results here: http://www.villagevoice.com/specials/pazznjop/03/albums_winners1.php
Scandinavian entries on the list include Junior Senior at 27 and The Raveonettes at 56. Jr. Sr. did much better on the singles list, charting at #9.
Check out the brand new promo photo for Finland's Nightwish: http://www.nightwish.com/pics/promo/newpromo2004.jpg
As mentioned here before, they'll be touring the US for the first time in August.
Haunted frontman Peter Dolving will be making a guest appearance on the new CD from Vacouver-based band Preacher. The disc will also feature a guest appearance from guitarist Christofer Malmström of Darkane and should be out later this year.
The brand new KVLR video for "Slow Clapping" is now available for download from Oddity Productions. Download here (22 mb) and if you don't have the Xvid codec, get that right here. The single hits radio, etc. on Monday, February 16.
Marduk has announced the addition of new vocalist Mortuus who can be seen in a photo right here. Mortuus replaces Legion who was given the boot from the group last November.
The brand new Beezewax album will be released by Kasual Recordings on February 16. Download samples and get preorder info here: http://www.kasualrec.com/releases/?rec=KAS1142
Dead Frog Records act Holden is yet another act that's been selected by EXMS to go to the US for SXSW. That makes the lineup: Hell On Wheels, Kamera, Kristoffer Åström and Hardcore Superstar. Anyone else?
It's official: Moonbabies are now booked by Motor in Sweden. That means a lot more big shows are soon to come. But before that, they'll be doing a record release show in Denmark on February 13 at Loppen in Copenhagen where they'll be premiering a few songs for the first time ever.
Malmö/Lund-based hip-hop artist Honestly will release his new single "The Gyminstructor" on February 26. The track comes from the album "Honestlies", due out in March. It features guest appearances from Colossos and Castelo (Prominent) and production from Royalty Productions, Breakmecanix and Subliminum.
Check out the video for "It's on Everything" from Last Days of April: http://www.ldoa.com/ItsOnEverything.html
Head on over to Tiger Lou's site to check out the cover, tracklist and preorder info for his new album "Is My Head Still On?": http://www.tigerlou.com/records.htm
Sweatmaster and Baby Woodrose are teaming up for a split 7" due out in May on Bad Afro Records. The bands will each contribute one cover of the others material, Sweatmaster doing "Pouring Water" from the second Baby Woodrose album "Money For Soul" and Baby Woodrose playing "Hold It!" from Sweatmaster's debut album "Sharp Cut".
After that, Sweatmaster will be doing a mini EP for Bad Afro called "Song With No Words", featuring two new tunes: the title track and "Dirty Little Things". It will also include six covers tunes of Music Machine, Misfits, Modern Lovers, The Wipers, Minor Threat and Money Mark as well. Look for that later this summer with a video to be released in conjunction. As for a new full-length, that should be coming later this summer too.
US-based Nordic folk label NorthSide has confirmed April 6 as the release for their two new albums. First up is Wimme's new enhanced CD "Instinct" which features his usual solo joik music. Next is the new band Frigg and their self-titled debut. The group features the next generation of Järveläs, the family that started the group JPP. Expect some JPP-sounding fiddle arrangements, along with Hardangers, guitars, double bass and dobro.
NorthSide also reports that because of the ever-changing record industry, they'll be pulling all but their best-selling titles from retail outlets and will be only selling them online. In an ironic twist of fate, that also means the label can release smaller runs of new CDs more efficiently, so look for exclusive web-titles to be announced in the near future.