Refused are Fucking Dead now streaming
Pitchfork is streaming the Refused doc "Refused are Fucking Dead": http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/episode/2527-refused-are-fucking-dead/1
It's an international world, but you can't play
Petter's new video for the song "Längesen" featuring Veronica Maggio is out now, but I can't show it to you because has it blocked outside of Sweden.
The Quietus interviews Shining
The Quietus has posted an extensive interview with Shining guitarist/sax player Jørgen Munkeby: http://thequietus.com/articles/04547-shining-black-jazz-j-rgen-munkeby-interview-metal
I Was a Teenage Satan Worshipper - Holiday trax1
Finnish electro act I Was a Teenage Satan Worshipper have a new album worth of material posted for free download/donation: http://www.iwatsw.com/
Hello Saferide, Casiokids confirmed for Culture Collide fest
Filter Magazine is putting together a festival in LA this coming October called "Culture Collide" which will feature a large, international array of artists include early confirmations such as Hello Saferide and Casiokids. More info: http://culturecollide.com/
Early confirmations for MDF 2011
A reunited Repugnant and Finland's Impaled Nazarene are both early confirmations for next year's Maryland Deathfest. Pretty sure I'm gonna be in attendance regardless of early confirmations, just because.
Susanne Sundfør wins A-ha million
As expected (and deserved), Susanne Sundfør is the 2nd recipient of A-ha's $1 million NOK stipend fund: http://www.aftenbladet.no/kultur/1227291/En_a-ha-million_til_Susanne_Sundfoer.html
Metal/jazz act Shining won the first million.
Gadget on tour
Swedish grind act Gadget is heading out for a few European dates, many with countrymates Meleeh:
07/21 - Utkanten, Malmö (SWE) w/Meleeh, The Eight Arms
07/22 - Archiv, Potsdam (GER) w/Meleeh
07/23 - Modra Vopice, Prague (CZ)
07/24 - Fluff Fest, Rokycany (CZ) w/Meleeh
07/25 - Zeughaus, Passau (GER)
07/26 - Alte Zuckerfabrik, Rostock (GER)
Viola - Neon lightning, more
A new month means a new tune from Viola: http://www.violamusicclub.com/2010-07-neon-lightning
Also, check out their entire metal covers set from their annual "Viola Day" concert on June3: http://www.violamusicclub.com/2010-07-neon-lightning
Parken - Ser du stjärnan i det grå (video)
From the album "Framtiden var här", due out October 6 via . Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSd8r_OPxH4
MP3: Dear Euphoria - Rescue
"Rescue" is an oddity in Dear Euphoria's catalogue. On one hand, the verses allude to the bleakness that usually defines her work ("I have let darkness blind me" + "I sing when I can't feel me", for example), but the chorus is anything but. At least, on the surface -- it's such an absurd gesture of optimism in the context of her new EP "This night will flee" that I refuse to purely take it at face value, though nothing can take away from the fact that it is, at its core, a beautiful pop song. There's always a tragic note in Dear Euphoria's vocal delivery and in this particular piece, I imagine that it betrays a hidden catastrophe. Be it a love that is unrequited or a partner separated by death or whatever other terrible calamity you can picture in your mind as the song plays on, just know that it can't end well. Intended or not, the joyous sentiment is tinted with grimness and I can't hear it any other way.
Dear Euphoria - Rescue
NPR song of the day: Susanne Sundfør - The brothel
Susanne Sundfør's "The brothel" was NPR's song of the day on June 28: http://n.pr/ahtSRJ
This is the best song of 2010, hands down. Shame that the rest of the album can't quite match it, but whatever, I fully expect her to win the 2nd $1 million NOK A-ha stipend that she deserves.
Obstacles: more than music?
The Austrian blog GLW/DRK talks to Danish instrumental act Obstacles about their music and their ideology: http://glwdrk.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-not-just-about-chords-and-beats.html
This week's Last.fm chart
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Kent
02. Robyn
03. Familjen
04. Håkan Hellström
05. The National
06. The Radio Dept.
07. Jens Lekman
08. Acid House Kings
09. The Bear Quartet
10. Teenage Fanclub
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
New Next Life EP in July
Manic videogame metal act Next Life will be releasing a new CDEP called "Resurrection" on July 5 via . If it's anything like their recent split with Haust, I'm sure it'll be killer.