This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Kari Bremnes - Ly
02. Kristin Asbjørnsen - The Night Shines Like the Day
03. Bellman - Mainly Mute
04. Frøya - Jenta fra landet
05. Sie Gubba - Hemafrå
06. Tommy Tokyo feat Starving for My Gravy - Smear Your Smiles Back On
07. I Was A King - I was a king
08. Marit Larsen - The Chase
09. Vamp - St. Mandag
10. Karpe Diem - Fire vegger
11. Ida Jenshus - Color of the Sun
12. Torstein Sødal - Torstein Sødal
13. Odd Nordstoga - Pilegrim
14. Jarle Bernhoft - Ceramik City Chronicles
15. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
16. Erlend Bratland - True Colors
17. Rita Eriksen - Hjerteslag
18. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Mål & Mening
19. Helene Bøksle - Morild
20. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior Nordic
UK-based label Stereo Test Kit is looking for a few more Swedish acts to round out their upcoming comp "Records make great pets - Vol. 2". Go to their website for submission details: http://www.stereotestkit.com/
Acts confirmed so far include Park Hotell, Testbild! and Hajen.
Hebosagil is now giving away their excellent debut album "Colossal" as a free download via Last.fm: http://www.last.fm/music/Hebosagil/Colossal
Swedish indie-folk act Nervous Nellie will release their new album "Ego & the id" on March 27. There will be a release party that day at Debaser Medis in Stockholm in the early evening with acts such as Shout Out Louds, Christian Kjellvander and Dag för Dag performing Nervous Nellie songs. Hear them play a few of their own songs themselves at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/nervousnellie
Expressen has the video premiere for Jonna Lee's new single "My high": http://www.expressen.tv/noje/1.1447260/jonna-lee-my-high
Bob Haley will be recording their next album in early March with producer Håkon Gebhardt (ex-Motorpsycho, HGH).
Finnish shoegazers Murmansk have confirmed that their sophomore album "Eleven eyes to shade" has been given a May 6 release date by Ranch/Spinefarm Records.
The Hives are going to Japan in April and are bringing fellow Swedes Johnossi along for the ride:
04/01 - Big Cat, Osaka
04/02 - Diamond Hall, Nagoya
04/03 - Shibuya-Ax, Tokyo
Bonjour Recordings will release the debut album "Nevadaflickan" from Göteborg-based indiepop act Pats on March 4. Hear the newly released single "Allt som fanns" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/patsmyspacesida
Finnish indiepop act Cats On Fire are giving away the song "Letters from a voyage to Sweden" as a free download: http://www.netikka.net/catsonfire/musik/Cats_on_fire_-_Letters_From_a_Voyage_to_Sweden.mp3
The band's forthcoming album "Our temperance movement" is due out on March 14.
Julian Brandt (Bobby, The Paper Faces) is going solo and has a new video for the song "State of anxiety" posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geBiZlxL9l8&fmt=18
Expect a full album this coming spring.
Backyard Babies have posted a teaser clip for their new animated video of the song "Degenerated": http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=51265957
The best rock'n'roll is almost always unadorned. It's hard to beat the sound of four dudes playing together in the same room, giving it their all and that's exactly what The Scrags sound like. Think: The Stooges, The Sonics or any other proto-punk band worth their salt. Aside from Australians Eddy Current Suppression Ring, I really can't think of any other current acts that can compete, which is why I'm especially excited they're playing the It's a Trap! Clubnight at Debaser Malmö this Saturday. It's pure coincidence actually as I personally don't hold much sway in the booking, I just trust Jonas to take care of things and he always delivers. So yeah, it's gonna be killer I'm sure. And really, how could it not? If the band sounds this hot on record, I can only imagine that they'll level the place in-person.
The Scrags - Psycho cyclone