MP3: Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna

Another surprisingly good record that just came out is Sahara Hotnights's new one "What if leaving is a loving thing". I wasn't sure they were capable of a comeback, but they've gone and proved me wrong. Once you reconcile your expectations and understand that they'll never make another loud rock record like "C'mon let's pretend", you too might be pleasantly surprised. I think the band has always had pop aspirations, they've simply didn't know how to attain them. Hiring Björn Yttling to produce was certainly a big step in the right direction. He's got a great ear for arrangements and the decision to use acoustic guitar as the main rhythm track on opening number "Visit to Vienna" was certainly the right way to go. Build it up with some simple monophonic pianoline doubling the bass and throw in some hand-claps - can't go wrong. Vocalist/frontwoman Maria Andersson gets a little too PJ Harvey with the caterwauling, but overall, I don't think she's ever sounded better. She has always had great attitude, there's no doubt, but she is capable of more. I guess that's what you call maturity, eh? Really well done.

Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Takida - Bury the lies
02. Mustasch - Latest version of the truth
03. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
04. Cornelis Vreeswijk - CV - Det bästa med Cornelis Vreeswijk
05. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
06. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
07. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
08. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
09. The Tough Alliance - A new chance
10. Lillasyster - Hjärndöd musik för en hjärndöd generation
11. Markoolio - Värsta Plattan
12. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
14. Jimmy Jansson - Sån e jag
15. Sonic Syndicate - Only inhuman
16. Shout Out Louds - Our ill wills
17. The Boppers - 30
18. Vikingarna - Bästa kramgoa låtarna 2
19. Marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
20. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
02. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
03. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
04. Cornelis Vreeswijk - CV - Det bästa med Cornelis Vreeswijk
05. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
06. Lillasyster - Hjärndöd musik för en hjärndöd generation
07. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
08. Vikingarna - Bästa kramgoa låtarna 2
09. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
10. Marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
11. Markoolio - Värsta Plattan
12. The Boppers - 30
14. Shout Out Louds - Our ill wills
15. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
16. Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande
17. Mr Jones Machine - Återvändsgränd
18. Jerry Williams - I can jive - Det bästa med Jerry Williams
19. Laleh - Prinsessor
20. Emilia - Små ord av kärlek

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
02. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
03. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
04. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
05. Vikingarna - Bästa kramgoa låtarna 2
06. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
07. Marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
08. Cornelis Vreeswijk - CV - Det bästa med Cornelis Vreeswijk
09. Markoolio - Värsta Plattan
10. Shout Out Louds - Our ill wills
11. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
12. Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande
14. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
15. Jerry Williams - I can jive - Det bästa med Jerry Williams
16. Laleh - Prinsessor
17. Calaisa - Calaisa
18. Sophie Zelmani - Memory loves you
19. The Boppers - 30
20. Björn Rosenström - Ett Jubileum som är sådär....10 1/2 år

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
02. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
03. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
04. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
05. Vikingarna - Bästa kramgoa låtarna 2
06. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
07. Shout Out Louds - Our ill wills
08. Markoolio - Värsta Plattan
09. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
10. Jerry Williams - I can jive - Det bästa med Jerry Williams
11. Marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
12. Jimmy Jansson - Sån e jag
14. Sebastian - The vintage virgin
15. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
16. The Boppers - 30
17. Björn Rosenström - Ett Jubileum som är sådär....10 1/2 år
18. Arvingarna - All included - Arvingarnas största hits 1992-2007
19. Laleh - Prinsessor
20. Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
02. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
03. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
04. Vikingarna - Bästa kramgoa låtarna 2
05. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
06. Jerry Williams - I can jive - Det bästa med Jerry Williams
07. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
08. Dark Tranquility - Fiction
09. Markoolio - Värsta Plattan
10. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
11. Marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
12. Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande
14. Pain - Psalms of extinction
15. Emilia - Små ord av kärlek
16. Kristofer Åström - RainawayTown
17. Laakso - Mother, am I good looking?
18. Björn Rosenström - Ett Jubileum som är sådär....10 1/2 år
19. Laleh - Prinsessor
20. Andreas Johnson - The collector

The video for the new Sahara Hotnights single "Cheek to cheek" is now online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtrW5Tvvmh8
I really dig the song, but have yet to hear the whole album. Soon that shall be remedied.

The new Sahara Hotnights website is now open: http://www.saharahotnights.com/

Sahara Hotnights have added more new tracks from their forthcoming album to their myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/saharahotnights

This week's Swedish student radio top 20:

01. (01) Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
02. (NY) Shout Out Louds - Tonight I have to leave
03. (08) Maxïmo Park - Our velocity
04. (19) The Honeydrips - (Lack of) Love will tear us apart
05. (05) Vapnet med Jens Lekman - Håll ihop
06. (NY) Bloc Party - I still remember
07. (03) Kings of Leon - On call
08. (06) The Moonbabies - War on sound
09. (04) The Kooks - Ooh la
10. (13) Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
11. (11) Lily Allen - Littlest things
12. (NY) The Ripps - Loco
13. (02) Asha Ali - Coward heart
14. (NY) Bonde Do Role - Solta o frango
15. (NY) Familjen - Kom sager dom
16. (07) Maia Hirasawa - And I found this boy
17. (NY) Oi Va Voi - Yuri
18. (18) Tingsek - Proud to be part of these days
19. (NY) Common & Will.I.Am - A dream
20. (15) Jamie T - If you got the money

Leaving the chart:
Badly Drawn Boy - A journey from A to B
The Ark - Absolutely no decorum
Korn med Amy Lee - Freak on a leash
The Long Blondes - Giddy Stratospheres
Sahara Hotnights - Cheek to cheek
Tokyo Police Club - Nature of the experiment
Joss Stone - Tell me about it

The new Sahara Hotnights album "What if leaving is a loving thing" will be released on April 18.

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (07) Arctic Monkeys - Brainstorm
02. (02) Asha Ali - Coward heart
03. (15) Kings of Leon - On call
04. (11) The Kooks - Ooh la
05. (NY) Vapnet med Jens Lekman - Håll ihop
06. (04) The Moonbabies - War on sound
07. (14) Maia Hirasawa - And I found this boy
08. (NY) Maximo Park - Our velocity
09. (03) Badly Drawn Boy - A journey from A to B
10. (01) The Ark - Absolutely no decorum
11. (05) Lily Allen - Littlest things
12. (NY) Korn med Amy Lee - Freak on the leash
13. (12) Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
14. (18) The Long Blondes - Giddy stratospeheres
15. (19) Jamie T - If you got the money
16. (08) Sahara Hotnights - Cheek to cheek
17. (16) Tokyo Police Club - Nature of the experiment
18. (13) Tingsek - Proud to be part of these days
19. (NY) The Honeydrips - (Lack of) Love will tear us apart
20. (09) Joss Stone - Tell me about it

Leaving the chart:
Regina Spektor - Samson
The Shins - Phantom limb
Cold War Kids - Hang me up to dry
Amerie - Take control

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (02) The Ark - Absolutely no decorum
02. (03) Asha Ali - Coward heart
03. (06) Badly Drawn Boy - A journey from A to B
04. (05) The Moonbabies - War on sound
05. (01) Lily Allen - Littlest things
06. (07) Regina Spektor - Samson
07. (NY) Arctic Monkeys - Brainstorm
08. (08) Sahara Hotnights - Cheek to cheek
09. (09) Joss Stone - Tell me about it
10. (11) The Shins - Phantom limb
11. (10) The Kooks - Ooh la
12. (12) Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
13. (04) Tingsek - Proud to be part of these days
14. (13) Maia Hirasawa - And I found this boy
15. (NY) Kings of Leon - On call
16. (19) Tokyo Police Club - Nature of the experiment
17. (14) Cold War Kids - Hang me up to dry
18. (16) The Long Blondes - Giddy stratospheres
19. (NY) Jamie T - If you got the money
20. (15) Amerie - Take control

Leaving the chart:
The Mary Onettes - Void
Grinderman - No pussy blues
Marit Bergman - Mama I remember you now

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (01) Lily Allen - Littlest things
02. (03) The Ark - Absolutely no decorum
03. (05) Asha Ali - Coward heart
04. (02) Tingsek - Proud to be part of these days
05. (06) The Moonbabies - War on sound
06. (07) Badly Drawn Boy - A journey from A to B
07. (04) Regina Spektor - Samson
08. (08) Sahara Hotnights - Cheek to cheek
09. (09) Joss Stone - Tell me about it
10. (12) The Kooks - Ooh la
11. (11) The Shins - Phantom limb
12. (14) Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
13. (NY) Maia Hirasawa - And I found this boy
14. (18) Cold War Kids - Hang me up to dry
15. (15) Amerie - Take control
16. (NY) The Long Blondes - Giddy stratospheres
17. (NY) The Mary Onettes - Void
18. (NY) Grinderman - No pussy blues
19. (NY) Tokyo Police Club - Nature of the experiment
20. (ÅT) Marit Bergman - Mama I remember you now

Leaving the chart:
The Pipettes - Judy
The Concretes - Oh no
Koop - I see a different you
Kleerup w/Robyn - With every heartbeat
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Desecration smile
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan said dance

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (02) The Shins - Phantom limb
02. (NY) Lily Allen - Littlest things
03. (08) Tingsek - Proud to be part of these days
04. (03) The Ark - Absolutely no decorum
05. (01) Regina Spektor - Samson
06. (06) The Pipettes - Judy
07. (NY) Badly Drawn Boy - A journey from A to B
08. (07) Joss Stone - Tell me about it
09. (14) Koop - I see a different you
10. (04) Sahara Hotnights - Cheek to cheek
11. (09) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan said dance
12. (12) The Concretes - Oh no
13. (15) The Jai Alai Savant - Arcane theories
14. (ÅT) Cold War Kids - Hang me up to dry
15. (17) Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
16. (05) Säkert! - Vi kommer att dö samtidigt
17. (11) Kleerup med Robyn - With every heartbeat
18. (10) Klaxons - Golden skans
19. (ÅT) Alex Gopher - Brian Leech
20. (NY) Redo Hot Chili Peppers - Desecration smile

Leaving the chart:
Melody Club - Fever fever
Marit Bergman - Mama, I remember you now
Bloc Party - The prayer
Ison & Fille - Hela dan varje dag
The Cinematics - Keep forgetting