At long last available for public consumption, the new Scraps of Tape single "Flera meter kort" featuring guest vocals from Mattias Alkberg of The Bear Quartet/MABD. Said tune will be released on a digital 3-song EP and 4-song 7" on August 15 and can be preordered here: http://tenderversion.com/store2008/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=59
Otherwise, look for the band's new full-length album "Resident flux" to be released in late October with many, many more fine guest vocal contributions from a plethora of artists.

01. Darkthrone - Hiking metal punks
02. TALK 1
03. Ebba Grön - Staten & kapitalet
04. Massgrav - Jävla fittor
05. Disfear - Live the storm
06. Samtidigt Som - För jag tror att ingen annan kan känna såhär för dig
07. TALK 2
08. We Live In Trenches - Autonomy clinic
09. MABD - Kom kom
10. Black Sheep - Crazy world
11. C.Aarmé - Ti ca tu a
12. Sods - Television sect
13. TALK 3
14. No Hope for the Kids - Rainy day
15. Frivolvol - Take it from the beginning
16. Hanna Hirsch - Ingen kommer sakna oss
17. Silver - Drenched in comfort
18. TALK 4
19. Randy - Win or lose
20. Victims - Your division
21. Smalltown - Warning
22. Lögnhalsmottagningen - Bodybuilder
23. M:40 - Sista tiden
24. TALK 5
25. Hebosagil - Cosmic

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XM U. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers. Next week's show (December 28/29) will be all jazz.

Black Metal: Behexen, Khold, Arckanum, Abomino Aetadeath, Krypt.

All released this year and all of them better than Darkthrone and Satyricon. Who's new records were great as well.

Straight music (i.e non-black metal) from abroad: Chad Vangaalen, Daniel Martin Moore, Portishead, The Fall, Gang Gang Dance, Robert Forster, Fucked Up, Mogwai, The Cure, Mudhoney, Josephine Foster, Roots Manuva.

I can't remember anymore right now. It was a good year, record-wise at least.

Swedish and not black metal: Dan Lissvik, Paper, PDC, Park Hotell, Vapnet, Hästpojken, Håkan Hellström, Masshysteri, Tristess, Joel Alme, Veronica Maggio, Frida Hyvönen, T(I)NC, TsooL. There are more, but these are the ones I liked the most. Mind you, some I just got and I will grow tired of them.

Records I missed last year that would have made the top five: Michael Dracula and Mayhem.

TV: True Blood, Dead Set, Dexter, The Office, (bits and pieces of) Livet i Fagervik, Survivors.

Movies: Trädälskaren, Stepbrothers.

Thats it really. Haven't seen Let the Right One In, De ofrivilliga yet. And I'm gonna see The Baader Meinhof Complex tonight.

It's been a so-so year. Better than the last one but not good.

I've been listening to Rockabilly and Black Metal for the most part, reading books, writing songs and poetry.

I toured a little with Bröderna Lindgren and played like ten gigs by myself or with others. Recorded some songs with different people. Been fucked over by record companies.

For 2009 I'm gonna make at least one record, hopefully three. Oh, and get a job. Really, it's true.

And not die, again.

---------------------------
Mattias Alkberg broke up his band MABD earlier this year, but he still plays with The Bear Quartet and has a burgeoning solo career. Expect a new single and album under his own name in 2009.
www.mabd.se
www.thebearquartet.com

Below my post on the MABD web site there is an unreleased track, "Allting är drömt", did you notice that? Not a lot of people have, not yet anyway. It's a live demo from the the Easter holidays this year, our final rehearsals and I think it's one of the best things we ever did.

But if I were to choose, it would have to be this one: one of the songs from the "Ragnar EP": "Jag vill inte förstå". It might be a bit hard to decipher, but I sing about Tomas Tranströmer and the art of not understanding. It's not very representative of the band, but it's very representative of me to pick it.

Enjoy the track and be sure to read the interview.

I've been doing acoustic or semi-acoustic solo shows for years as well as as touring and playing one off shows with all members of MABD or just doing more punk rock gigs as a trio. I mean, playing solo is nothing new to me, I've been adjusting the sets according to circumstances for seven years or something now. But the question is will I go solo, right? Well, yeah. My plan is to release records under my own name from now on. But I will also keep on playing with The Bear Quartet and get involved with other people. I've had some cool offers already. But I can't really talk about it just yet. I disbanded MABD on Monday and made it public today [Wednesday]. It's a bit early, I think.

So what's up w/BQ then? Is a new album underway? Any clues as to what it will end up sounding like?

As nothing has turned out the way we thought it would the last two years or something regarding The Bear Quartet, I can't really say if there's gonna be an album out this year. But we are going to hook up in Calle Olsson's studio this summer, and I've got like 10-15 songs for that occasion. But how they'll turn out, or even if any of them make final cut, I don't know. Thing is, we used to work so fast before, and in my mind we've made like two or three records already. And I'm tired of them now, this one will sound nothing like the last two (imaginary) records. I know it sounds weird, but I can't explain it any other way. We've made an album full of Talk Talk-like ballads and a funk album. In my head. I have no idea what the other's records sound like in their heads. Same goes for the next one, the real one we are planning. But that's sort of the whole point, as far as we're concerned.

Seeing as how you've been playing acoustic, does that mean we can expect an acoustic album? Or do have other plans? Also, do you think you'll still be singing in Swedish as with MABD or will you also work again in English outside of BQ?

I will most certainly not make an acoustic record. Not in the singer/songwriter vein anyway. I lived under the illusion that I was making mainstream music for Swedish radio the last couple of years, when clearly I was not. I don't know why the radio didn't pick up really. But I think I will sing in Swedish for the most part. Swedes who sing in English kind of annoys me. That said, I think this year (and the last) some people have finally made great records in English although they're Swedes. I'm thinking of playing rockabilly in Swedish. With serious lyrics about real and engaging things. I don't think it's ever been done. But it's just an idea.

I want to take things all the way, that's what I mean. I did feel that MABD was quite mainstream on the last album, and don't get me wrong, that was all fully intended, but I think I prefer to work in the extremes more. Or, I don't know. I want to make a million different records before my head and heart explodes, that's all really. I just don't now where to begin just yet.

But I wouldn't rule out English completely. I just don't think there are enough good Swedish lyrics around and I still want to change that.

It seems odd to me that the mainstream didn't pick up on it more either - especially since the Swedish public seems to go crazy for even the most lackluster Swedish language pop. Maybe you should try your hand at a schlager/dansband record? But seriously, now that you've freed yourself to do your own thing, what do you think you'll do first? What kind of niches are you wanting to explore? How extreme are you going to take it?

Well, I want to make a real old-school hardcore record, a dark, dark post-punk/post hardcore one. And I want to finalize what was supposed to be the next MABD-record. Oh, and I have a full album, lyrics, songs everything written for the most annoying record in the world. It's like Greg Ginn's [Black Flag] solo albums, paired with prime-time Throbbing Gristle, Flipper, No Trend, early PiL and early Butthole Surfers. But with me smeared all over it like a rotten egg.

However, I have a large family that I can't and won't let down, who I (together with my wife) have to support and take care of. I have no education whatsoever, no steady income, or anything like that. Perhaps the most annoying record in the world won't put food on the table or pay the rent. On the other hand, I'm turning 40 next year; time is running out and I don't really have any other options, so I've got nothing to loose. I don't know who'd want to release these records, though. And since I'm already living on the absolute edge financially, I can't really release them myself. I don't know in which end to begin, really. But it's early days yet. Things might work out by themselves.

I dunno, it seems like more and more niche/fringe artists are able to make a go at it nowadays. I know that locally here we have hardcore bands like Sex/Vid blowing through thousands of 7"s in a few weeks that immediately fetch crazy prices on eBay. And they don't even have a web presence. Is it maybe that the underground in Sweden is dead? Or am I mistaken? Are you able to keep up with that stuff?

I started up a kind of community center for grown ups last year, you know, rehearsal spaces, a place for gigs and the occasional party. It was me, Jonas Teglund [Park Hotell] and a bunch of hardcore punks. They, the punks, have several gigs each months, bands from all over the world (I've seen Tervet Käädet, MDC and Born/Dead to name but a few only this year), and the local hardcore bands like Avskyvärld and Kranium are touring constantly all over Europe. They release 7" EPs and splits with other bands and sell them on gigs. You know, just like in the old days. But I don't think they sell thousands of records and I don't think any of them earns a living from touring either. I mean, the underground is not dead in any way, but it's a micro-genre in a small country. Then again, I suppose Kristofer Åström gets by playing his brand of country-rock doing the same thing for about the same sized crowds all over Europe. I don't think there's too much money in the punk/hardcore community. I understand that if I were to sing in English I could probably sell more records and tour more often and at a higher standard in Europe (since Sweden is kinda sick of me by now). But that line of thinking just triggers something profoundly Bear Quartet-ish in me, and I think fuck you, I'm gonna sing in Swedish anyway and even more. No compromise, not even in the face of armageddon, as they say in Alan Moore's Watchmen. I think it's a handicap, but I can't really help it. I just can't conform. Maybe when I grow up.

Ah, so even the hardcore scene is alive and well way up in Luleå, eh? Speaking of which, do you think that living up there has hindered your career at all? I mean, it seems like a big part of the reason MABD is no more is because everyone is so scattered. Do you think you'd be more successful in a more "major" city like Stockholm or Gothenburg? Or is that simply incompatible with your iconoclastic personality?

Hehehe. If I had thought of it as a career. Yeah, of course it's been a problem and will continue to be a problem, living in Luleå. One quite major part of us quitting was my inability to take the business/career side of it seriously, and feeling guilty that I was holding back the others who, in the beginning anyway, felt there was a possibility to actually earn a living from this. But I actually prefer to play Debaser Slussen in Stockholm as to play in Debaser Medis, which is a much bigger venue. I think maybe some of the others were hoping that we would play a even bigger place the next time we played Stockholm. But I didn't (and to be honest, still don't) care enough to make that happen, and they (not everybody, but some of them) haven't really told me to my face, but I think they were a bit disappointed about that.

Every now and then I try to shape up, be a proper Artist, with A Proper game-plan or whatever, but I can't be bothered. I just wanna go home and write some new songs instead, rehearse them, record them and put them out. I don't have time for careering. I'm about something else.

How soon until we get to hear something new then? Have you had any label offers yet or are you considering other distribution plans? My door is always open of course, though money is scarce/nonexistent.

I've had offers. Or rather, one expressed interest and one offer. I'm always considering other distribution plans. My problem is recording, not releasing. Or rather, I care more about being able to make the record(-ings) than getting it out. Record labels and/or means of distribution are the next step. The ideal thing would be to find a way to record whatever I want, and THEN get a label. As my plan is to make all sorts of records, I can understand if the majors and the more traditional indies hesitate to sign me, or to fund my recordings. By that I mean that I can't say anything about when or what will be released. But I'm up for just about anything. Although I'm not too keen on making home recordings. I want a actual studio, maybe a producer and someone to work the studio equipment.

And thanks for the offer. I will consider it.

LINK: http://www.mabd.se/

Frequent readers of It's A Trap! already know that Johndoe are favourites of both Avi and me. The album "Dødvinkel" was one of the best albums released in 2006 and the band delivered on stage as well. Singer Jonas Skybakmoen won't let any language barrier stand in the way of his songs. Their take of singing in Norwegian lifts the songs to higher dimensions, and that's being said from me as a Swede. I have a hard time embracing non-Swedish or non-English speaking music. I envy those who can. In this case however, I absolutely adore the music combined with their lyrics that reek of self-inflicted pain and reflections of an every day situation, it's like poetry really. The indie-/punk rock of this Trondheim-based quartet is similar to The Clash and MABD and even though the focus is on the melodies and not so much on the guitar riffs anymore, it's hard to not mention Randy on the list of influences. The dub sound of "Pyromantikk" and the punk rock in "Konflikt" gave the show the diversity that live shows need. But nonetheless, it's the songs from the latest release that blow me away, especially "Kjøtere". The ferocity of Johndoe live is breathtaking. We who attended are blessed.

Well, even with the risk of being slightly challenged here, Randy was top notch! It is no secret that I rank them as one of the best bands in Sweden and even when they're quite unfocused in their performance, they still kick most bands asses any day. Fredrik, Johan B, Stefan and Johan G are a tight combo and it shows. Seeing that this was a gig outside of any current tour, they still managed to put on an awesome show. Not only are they flawless performers, the songs in the setlist are of such high quality that they would make Jello Biafra or Glenn Danzig (Misfits era) envious. 'Cause one of the trademarks of this band is that they have always stolen with class and, making the music into something their own, something Randy-ish. Focusing on the four most recent records of their back catalogue, they know how to play their cards to the crowd and the crowd swallowed every bit. Hook, line and sinker. The only song not featured on those records was the Lita Ford cover "Kiss me deadly" (from the "The rest is silence" album) with which they closed the gig. And that right there is what makes this band so great; crowd-pleasing, uncompromising AND with great taste in music, all at the same time. The next time I see them (for the 22nd time) I hope they will play "Humanalogism" or "You are what you fight for". I know it's a utopia, but it would be awesome.

Text by Jonas Appelqvist
Pics by Sofia Qvarnström

The first Du Pacque record
--> it will be released next year and will be a total killer. I heard plenty of their songs. Trust me: this is gonna be the best record in 2008!

A Bear Quartet album
--> An electro one, or a pop one, or a rock one : does not matter actually. Mattias Alkberg can even turn hip-hop, I will buy it.

A MABD album
--> More a punk one like their first two ones than a folk one like their latest.

A more black "White and black" album for The Hives
--> when they rock, they do rock. When they try to be too smart (see their song "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S" for instance), they make me feel bored.

A great Kent record
--> ok, "Tillbaka till samtiden" is not that bad, but it is not that good either, right?

A Bad Cash Quartet record
--> 'cause Hästpojken + Jonas Game do not equal BCQ

A bad Mando Diao record
--> "Never seen the light of day" is actually not bad. I would even say it is quite good.

A Jens Lekman trash metal album
--> I liked it at first, but now I think "Night falls over Kortedala" is quite boring. I prefer his first record. This latest one is much too calm for me. Not surprising enough. It sounds like I am the only one to think so though.

A Convoj album
--> will those guys eventually release a proper record?

A compilation with all the great artists who are from the very little Swedish city Östersund
--> like Annika Norlin, Penny Century, Autisterna, The Way We Wear Our Head, Sibiria or Vapnet

---------------------------
Absolut Noise is a French blog on Swedish music.
absolutnoise.blogspot.com

]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25747-top-10s-for-2007-its-a-trap http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25747-top-10s-for-2007-its-a-trap http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25747-top-10s-for-2007-its-a-trap#comments Another year down, another batch of top 10 lists to add to the already overwhelming commotion. I probably listened to more music than ever in 2007, yet putting together this year's list was painless compared to year's past. The simple reason why: all the best releases were obvious. Yes, there were notable also-rans, but let's leave that to the comments section. For now, let's just stick to top tens.
-Avi Roig, Editor-in-Chief

10. Various Artists - Ny musik för landssorg (Container Recordings)
Exceptionally moving. A high-concept work of art.

09. Repoman - s/t (Monument)
Fierce, unrepentent hardcore. I can only imagine how good this must sound live.

08. Tobias Hellkvist - Transports (self-released)
Beautiful, blissed-out drone. Pure aural sunshine.

07. Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle (Adrian Recordings/Hybris)
The perfect response for anyone put off by the coldness of The Knife. Familjen is destined for greatness.

06. Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm just me (Razzia)
Cute without being too cloying, sweet without being too twee. The best indiepop album of the year.

05. Susanne Sundfør - s/t (MBN)
A tremendously talented young lady from Norway who's probably only just getting started.

04. Aerial - The sentinel (Nomethod/Tangled Up!)
I knew this was top 10 material the first time I heard it. Nobody does epic noiserock better.

03. Laakso - Mother, am I good looking? (V2)
The easy consensus pick. Uneven overall, but forgivable when you consider that this record contains more than a handful of the year's best songs.

02. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Fall, fall, falling (Kalligrammofon)
The yin to Tobias Hellkvist's yang. Where Hellkvist's music makes me want to stand with arms outstretched, ready to embrace the world, Dead Letters makes me want to curl up in a fetal position in a dark corner. I never realized how profoundly moving drone could be until I heard this.

01. Kristofer Åström - RainawayTown (Startracks)
Far and away the album I listened to the most this year and the one I know I'll hold dear for years to come. From tender ballads ("Fallen") to raucous rock'n'roll ("A little out of tune"), this record covers the full spectrum of human experience and puts it into song.

Jonas Appelqvist

10. The Fine Arts Showcase - Sings Rough Bunnies (Adrian Recordings)
A cover album strictly consisting of songs from obscure indie duo Rough Bunnies is commercial suicide. But Gustaf Kjellvander's craftsmanship is so honest and true, it's impossible not to capitulate.

09. Knugen Faller – Lugna favoriter (Cage Match Federation/Ny Våg)
Fans of Buzzcocks, Gorilla Angreb and X should immediately go get a copy of this one!

08. The Lionheart Brothers – Dizzy kiss (Racing Junior/NONS)
Psychedelic rock in the vein of fellow countrymen Euroboys.

07. Moonbabies – At the ballroom (Startracks)
The duo of Ola Frick and Carina Johansson left their more experimental side at home, recorded and released a wonderful pop oriented full-length album and it is infectious.

06. Repoman – s/t (Monument)
The ferocity in Repoman's music is breathtaking. Hardcore resembling Converge is always welcome in my book.

05. My Midnight Creeps – Histamin (Dead Moose/EMI)
In the absence of new material from The Soundtrack of Our Lives, this is where to go. Primal rock at its best suffered a huge loss with the death of guitarist Robert Burås. He will be missed. RIP.

04. Aerial – The sentinel (Nomethod/Tangled Up!)
These guys go from strength to strength. "Black rain from the bombing" gave us a hint on what was coming. This is headstrong indierock that has no intention to rub the right way. Kudos to that!

03. MABD – Ditt hjärta är en stjärna (A West Side Fabrication)
I adored "Tunaskolan" when it came out. This is an even better record. Cynical lyrics, Springsteen-ish vibes and punk rock mixed with Matti Alkberg's unmistakable voice. Magic!

02. Laakso – Mother, am I good looking? (V2)
There's not a chance to defend you from the attack that is this record. And really, why should you? Surrender to Sweden's finest pop combo!

01. Logh – North (Bad Taste Records)
Having released several wonderful records, this is the culmination of their career thus far. Indierock has never sounded this beautiful.

Nancy Baym

10. Pelle Carlberg - In a nutshell (Labrador/Twentyseven Records)
I still feel like he's falling short of his potential, but even a so-so Pelle Carlberg record has enough outstanding moments to carry the day.

09. Vapnet - Något dålight nytt har hänt (Hybris)
Who was it that said they like this band more than ice-cream? Tasty bouncy sweets.

08. Thirdimension - Before the end begins (Hidden Agenda)
A quiet acoustic live performance lets the strength of the songs shine through.

07. Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle (Adrian Recordings/Hybris)
I am no fan of electronica, but this record's got too much pop sensibility to ignore.

06. Les Issambres - Late fairytales (Fifth Week Records)
This surprise little record out of nowhere enchanted me with its sister/brother vocal arrangements, simple but compelling songs, and non-pretentious flute.

05. Isolation Years - Sign, sign (NONS)
Their most consistent record to date has some great songs, and no duds, but doesn't have the outstanding highlights of some of their previous efforts.

04. Sambassadeur - Migration (Labrador)
The word "lush" is getting tossed about a lot in reference to this record, and indeed, it shimmers and shines. Very nice second record sees them grow in new directions.

03. Club 8 - The boy who couldn't stop dreaming (Labrador)
Soft, seductive, and beautifully performed, the sixth record from Club 8 is easily their best, despite a couple of dull moments.

02. My Midnight Creeps - Histamin (Dead Moose/EMI)
Robert Burås' far-too-early death this year was a heartbreaking loss, but this last offering wonderfully showcases the magnitude of his epic guitar playing genius.

01. The Fine Arts Showcase - Sings Rough Bunnies (Adrian Recordings)
Gustaf Kjellvander transforms lofi seeds of great ideas into ultracatchy pop brilliance. Easily got more playtime out of me than anything else this year.

Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

10. The Mary Onettes – s/t (Labrador)
80s throwback bands may have finally been forced to take a backseat this year, but The Mary Onettes celebrate that strange and influential era of music in a way that few bands could ever claim to.

09. Seabear – The ghost that carried us away (Morr Music)
Seabear exude a delightful warmth into their compositions: something lost, almost nostalgia inducing, foreign without being unfamiliar, and altogether wonderful.

08. Jens Lekman – Night falls over Kortedala (Service/Secretly Canadian)
Darling of every blogger and hype-generating music website the world over, Jens Lekman did indeed make his mark upon 2007.

07. CS Nielsen – Against the dying of the light (Songcrafter Music)
In September, I wrote that CS Nielsen had crafted one of the greatest albums of the year. I stand by that statement.

06. Anna Järvinen – Jag fick feeling (Häpna)
"Jag fick feeling" will, for the foreseeable future, be one of the first albums I run to as the leaves sicken, bleed out their autumn hues, and gracefully descend to the ground below.

05. Immanu El – They'll come, they come (And the Sound)
As I wrote in my review of this album, Immanu El's "They'll come, they come" is unquestionably a forceful and substantial album; an effort that probes sections of our musical consciousness that have fallen into shadow and been ignored too long.

04. The Chrysler – The Benelux years (Flora & Fauna)
Dropping one spot since the June round up, "The Benelux years" still surprises me with new layers every time I listen to it. The Chrysler are one of the most underrated bands of all time.

03. Kent – Tillbaka till samtiden (SME)
Kent have absolutely nothing to prove anymore - they are arguably one of the best Swedish bands of all time - and yet they continue to prove themselves, over and over and over again. It's frightening.

02. Shout Out Louds – Our ill wills (Bud Fox/Merge)
Another album whose position was solidified earlier in the year, "Our ill wills" is still one of the best sophomore albums I have ever heard.

01. Aerial – The sentinel (Nomethod/Tangled Up!)
I fell in love with this album in January, continued to proclaim its brilliance in June, and, a few hours from December, crown "The sentinel" the best album of 2007. Absolutely brilliant.

Matt Giordano

10. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Fall, fall, falling (Kalligrammofon)
Beautifully subtle and understated noise.

09. The Chrysler - The Benelux years (Flora & Fauna)
The Chrysler upped the tempo on their third album, and it's easily their best.

08. Christian Kjellvander - I saw her from here/I saw here from her (Startracks)
On his third, and best album, the arrangements have finally acted on the ideas.

07. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Pan European (Adrian Recordings)
Brilliant electronica from this Swedish duo.

06. Montt Mardié - Clocks/Pretender (Hybris)
This second album sees big band and swing return to the musical landscape.

05. The Fine Arts Showcase - Sings Rough Bunnies (Adrian Recordings)
Gustaf reinterprets the Rough Bunnies to gorgeous results.

04. Juvelen - s/t (Hybris)
Hot and sweaty pop music has returned!

03. The Tough Alliance - A new chance (Sincerely Yours)
Göteborg's best have honed their sound into hedonistic pop bliss.

02. Laakso - Mother, am I good looking? (V2)
Sweden's best band delivered its third album in such a fashion only they could - with "Italy vs. Helsinki".

01. Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle (Adrian Recordings/Hybris)
Familjen's debut album is the best pure pop full-length I have heard all year.

Nick Levine

10. Ninja – I don't play guitar (Popyhtiö)
Finland's answer to Robyn. At the forefront of Finnish pop music. This record has some serious crossover potential.

09. Billie the Vision & The Dancers – Where the ocean meets my hand (Love Will Pay the Bills)
Not a radical departure from previous releases. But hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

08. Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle (Adrian/Hybris)
Zeitgeist-defining record. Sweden's answer to new rave?

07. Jens Lekman - Night falls over Kortedala (Service/Secretly Canadian)
More upbeat than Jen's previous efforts. Is this mellowing due to his recent engagement?

06. Boat Club – Caught the breeze (Luxury)
Atmospheric shoegaze and Balearic-lite prog pop.

05. Laakso – Mother, am I good looking? (V2)
The most commercially successful release from Laakso thus far.

04. Studio – West Coast (Information)
I'm counting this as it only got a UK release this year. Credit must also be given for some of Studio's superb remixes for the likes of Shout Out Louds and Rubies.

03. Those Dancing Days - s/t (V2)
Undoubtedly the biggest Swedish buzz band of the year. Helped in no small part by It's a Trap.

02. The Tough Alliance – A new chance (Sincerely Yours)
Stunning comeback record, after the experimentation of 2006's "Escaping your ambitions".

01. Shout Out Louds – Our ill wills (Bud Fox/Merge)
This records features the best use of cowbell in 2007.

Christian Stenbacke

10. Kent – Tillbaka till samtiden (SME)
The journey back into the dark electronical realms of the 80's might not have been the perfect career move, but on the other hand, since when has Kent ever cared about such a petty thing?

09. Sällskapet – s/t (Universal)
Cold and dark and damp - Pelle Ossler vs. Joakim Thåström - Life drained from the body, machines in control, the last thing leaving mankind is hope. Are you ready to enter room 212?

08. Kristofer Åström – RainawayTown (Startracks)
There is something special about Kristofer Åström. He has the ability to get to the things that really matter with small words and measures.

07. Bloodlights – s/t (Playground Music)
All things have to come to and end, Glucifer is no more, but the Captain lives on. Bloodlights is cock rock at its best.

06. The Mary Onettes – s/t (Labrador)
It's so obvious and it's so perfect. The Mary Onettes hardly try to hide their Anglophile influences and why should they?

05. Christian Kjellvander – I saw her from her/I saw here from her (Startracks)
Christian Kjellvander is a man of quality; every song sung from his lips is of highest standard.

04. José González – In our nature (Imperial/Mute)
The man is just marvelous; catching every single raw emotion there is with his incredible guitar work and simple, yet direct, voice.

03. The Raveonettes – Lust lust lust (Border Music/Vice)
Finally back to basics; the magic of Sune Wagner and Sharin Foo's voices bound together and the bleak Jesus & Mary Chain meets 50s surf music is a fascinating combination.

02. Logh – North (Bad Taste Records)
Instead of calling it quits, Logh decided to pull it together and release a new album, the best decision ever made.

01. Sound Like Violence – With blood on my hands (Burning Heart)
What is Niccokick compared to this? This is the best album this year by far; the impact of every song is overwhelming.

Simon Tagestam

10. The Hives – The black and white album (Interscope)
Not as good as I wanted it to be, but The Hives manage to deliver a bunch of great songs.

09. Shout Out Louds – Our ill wills (Bud Fox/Merge)
A strong and solid second album from Shout Out Louds.

08. Frida Hyvönen – Pudel (Licking Fingers)
A mini album that has given me very high hopes for Hyvönen's second proper full-length.

07. Anna Järvinen – Jag fick feeling (Häpna)
It took me some time to warm to this Järvinen's solo debut, but now I find it really cosy and pleasant, it's a great album for cold winter nights.

06. Jonas Game – ADHD (Sincerely Yours)
Bad Cash Quartet's drummer managed to make a very personal and intriguing album full of hits.

05. The Tough Alliance – A new chance (Sincerely Yours)
Nice to see TTA back on track after last year's weird ambient album.

04. The Lovekevins – Vs the snow (Songs I Wish I Had Written)
I knew that The LKs were good, but I didn't think they could be this good!

03. Alexis Weak – Välkommen till Gullmarsplan (La Vida Locash)
Ok, it's only a half an hour (free!) mixtape, but I got really addicted to Alexis Weak's personal rapping style in 2007.

02. Säkert! – s/t (Razzia)
It was nice to see the Swedish public embracing Annika Norlin's side project and making her the star she deserves to be.

01. Jens Lekman – Nights falls over Kortedala (Service/Secretly Canadian)
Ah, the King of Sweden! Or, at least he should be. Lekman is the greatest.

]]> Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/20339 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/20339 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/20339#comments I don't normally post about small tours in Sweden, but this one is a bit unusual: Mattias Alkberg (MABD, The Bear Quartet) and Ulf Stureson are teaming up for a half-acoustic Advent tour kicking off in Umeå on Thursday:

11/29 - Scharinska, Umeå
11/30 - Pinkerton, Skellefteå
12/01 - Norrbottensteatern, Luleå
12/02 - Debaser, Stockholm
12/04 - Debaser, Malmö
12/05 - Styrbord Babord, Göteborg

Jonas Teglund (Park Hotell) will accompany Matti on every date except the first (MABD will play) and Ulf will be joined by Johan Andersson (Björn Olsson).]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:31:58 -0800 news live http://www.itsatrap.com/n/274 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/274 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/274#comments Mattias Alkberg chats a bit about upcoming plans for the new albums from The Bear Quartet and Mattias Alkberg BD and more: http://www.mabd.se/?p=76
My Swedish skills suck (as always), but I can tell you that MABD is working on a double concept album with English lyrics.]]> Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25666-top-10s-for-2006-magnus-Oberg-nomethod-records http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25666-top-10s-for-2006-magnus-Oberg-nomethod-records http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25666-top-10s-for-2006-magnus-Oberg-nomethod-records#comments 01. Mixtapes & Cellmates debut album
They went out to David Sandström's house in the woods and came back with pure magic

02. MABD - Ditt hjärta är en stjärna CD
Mattias Alkberg's finest work to date (except for "Cosy den" by the mighty BQ)

03. J-O Waldner documentary
He is god.

04. Umeå club scene
Getting better & better. This fall has been intense.

05. Italy
Visiting Italy is always great. This year in Catania (Sicily) and Trento (northern Italy) was amazing.

06. Apple
Goodbye Microsoft, I won't return to you.

07. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped CD
The comeback of the greatest band ever. Touching "Daydream nation" greatness.

08. Aerial - The Sentinel CD
Wow. Wow. Wow. they made THIS only 1 year efter "Black rain from the bombing". Can't wait for when they give an album at least 2 years time.

09. TV on the Radio - Return to cookie mountain CD
No comments needed.

10. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Chameleon (Song)
I'm almost dancing (!!!)


---------------------------

As mentioned above, look for new releases from Mixtapes & Cellmates and Aerial in 2007 from Nomethod.
www.nomethod.se
www.myspace.com/nomethodrecords

]]> Mon, 25 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26220-hets-live-debaser-stockholm-04-22-06 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26220-hets-live-debaser-stockholm-04-22-06 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26220-hets-live-debaser-stockholm-04-22-06#comments Hets are something of a Swedish indie "supergroup", with members from Laakso, Doktor Kosmos, Fireside and Moneybrother. With those bands in mind, you don't really expect Hets to play Swedish punk sung in Swedish, but that's exactly what they do. Everyone seems to mention Mattias Alkberg BD when they talk about Hets and I can see why, since Hets do sound like MABD (although I don't think MABD should be the only people allowed to make punk music sung in their native language). Living in London, it's not every day I get to witness a concert like this, so perhaps I'm overreacting slightly, but I really enjoyed this show and I think I will now look into getting my hands on Hets' album (I assume and hope that the punk ethos is reflected in the price of their CD).]]> Sun, 30 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 reviews