Artist: The Bear Quartet

Country: Sweden
Genre: Indie/Pop/Rock
http://www.thebearquartet.com/
http://www.bearquartet.com/
Reviews: We're not gonna make it (mp3) / Monty Python / 89 / Millions (mp3) / Grammar (mp3) / I'm not in here with you (you're in here with me) (mp3) / Roads home (mp3) / Hot meal (mp3) / Blizzard (mp3) / Ghosts for laundry (mp3) / Needs vs. facts (mp3) / From nowhere (mp3) / Load it (mp3) / I know my owner (mp3) / Broken heart (mp3) / Walking out (mp3) / Bear Quartet International Airport (mp3) / I'm still in the grass (mp3) / I'm still her (mp3) / You built your life upon the ruins of mine (mp3) / I would be poor (mp3) / Headacher (mp3) / Born with teeth (mp3) / Where do you put your hate? (mp3) / Mom and dad (mp3) / Battle hymn (mp3) / Number (mp3) / His spine (mp3) / Placard (mp3) / Ask me don't axe me (mp3) / Weakling keep blinking (mp3) / Birds are singing deep within the greenery (mp3) / Punks (mp3) / From nowhere (mp3) / Your name here (mp3) / Disappearing act (mp3) / Old friends (mp3) / An epidemic touch (mp3) / Euthanasia (mp3) / I don't wanna (mp3) / Helpless (mp3) / Hrrn hrrn (mp3) / It only takes a flashlight to create a monster (mp3) / Put me back together (mp3) / Portrait painter (mp3) / Earthly pastime (mp3) / Super confidence (mp3) / I'm still her (mp3) / Before the trenches (mp3) / Fuck your slow songs (mp3) / Everybody gets to play (mp3) / The Supremes (mp3) / What I hate (mp3) / The lost kid office (mp3) / World War III (mp3) / Mom and dad (mp3) / Volksblues (mp3) / Eternity now / Sailors (mp3) / Birds are singing deep within the greenery (mp3) / I have an itch (mp3)
Viewing posts 181-195 out of 330

Here's the playlist for this past weekend's radio show:

01. Pluxus - Bootstrap
02. TALK 1
03. Marit Bergman - Straight into my lovers arms
04. Grande Roses - Dead town
05. Mikko Singh - Rauha
06. TALK 2
07. Namur - Draw us near
08. Lapko - Sawyer the brother
09. Paper - To her
10. TALK 3
11. Johnossi - Train song
12. Markus Krunegård - Rocken spelar ingen roll längre
13. Printer - You need to
14. TALK 4
15. Firefox AK - Once I was like you (Boeoes Kaelstigen remix)
16. Aerial - Time is on fire
17. Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna
18. TALK 5
19. Siena Root - Time will tell
20. Kristofer Åström - I collect knives
21. Anna Ternheim - Better be
22. TALK 6
23. Anna Leong - Guollotine
24. Folie - Krogg
25. Hearts of Black Science - Empty city lights
26. TALK 7
27. Inuit - En förlorad generation
28. The Psyke Project - Dark halls red floors
29. Memento Mori - Epilog
30. TALK 8
31. The Bear Quartet - Lights out, sound off
32. Fun - I know Ted Kennedy
33. Johan Heltne - Hjärta. Instinkt. Principer.
34. TALK 9
35. Lama - Bussi
36. Niccokick - Love & neon lights
37. Little Jimmy Reeves - Drowsy dogs
38. C.Aarmé - Visions
39. TALK 10
40. No Privacy - Blood over Denmark

Reminder: my show on Sirius Blog Radio runs Saturdays at 12 noon and midnight ET on channel 26 (Left of Center).

Peter Morén does the guest list thing for Pitchfork, throwing in shout-outs for Park Hotell and The Bear Quartet: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/49705-guest-list-peter-morn

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Peter Morén - This is what I came for
02. TALK 1
03. Entombed - Hollowman
04. King Of All The Animals - Concrete skyline
05. Jettie - The lay up
06. TALK 2
07. Happy Trash Culture - Frisky pet
08. Josse - You had a plan
09. Ondo - Sleep
10. TALK 3
11. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - This room seems empty without you
12. Håkan Hellström - För sent för edelweiss
13. Marvins Revolt - Deliberate deeds
14. Marybell Katastrophy - Hey Frank
15. TALK 4
16. The Bear Quartet - Mvh contempt
17. Lögnhalsmottagningen - Snacka gär ju
18. Ghost Brigade - Based on you
19. TALK 5
20. September Malevolence - I shut doors and windows
21. The End Will Be Kicks - Ass of a friend
22. Anna Leong - Battered, bruised and cold
23. TALK 6
24. Bright Oak - On the list
25. Tape - Moth wings
26. Axewitch - Hot lady
27. TALK 7
28. Nationalteatern - Jack the Ripper
29. Tsukimono - Heart beater
30. Zeigeist - Bunny
31. TALK 8
32. First Floor Power - The jacket (Karin Dreijer remix)
33. No Hope for the Kids - Angels of destruction
34. Docenterna - Popmusik
35. Vapnet - Skorpan
36. TALK 9
37. Björn Kleinhenz - Olis
38. Fireside - Ambulance
39. Looptroop Rockers - Living on a prayer
40. TALK 10

Paddington DC, the solo project of Calle Olsson (The Bear Quartet, Paper), will release the new album "Från hat till handling" ("From hate to heaven") on June 6 in a limited edition of 100 copies.

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Boys of Scandinavia - Worse than a girl
02. TALK 1
03. Markus Krunegård - Jag är en vampyr
04. Deathbed - Neon light fantasy
05. The Grand Opening - Dark dark dawn
06. TALK 2
07. The Bear Quartet - I have an itch
08. C.Aarmé - Dustin
09. Noxagt - Wall's end
10. TALK 3
11. Menfolk - Hell is in Texas
12. Detektivbyrån - Hemvägen
13. Folk&Røvere - Solveigs sang
14. TALK 4
15. Bobby Baby - Goodbye love
16. Häive - Raina: Yömyrsky
17. Peter Bjorn and John - All those expectations
18. TALK 5
19. Meleeh - Vittra
20. Rigas - The hardest pocket to pick
21. The Kid - Mayhem troopers
22. TALK 6
23. Cortex - Warrior night
24. Tiger Lou - The war between us
25. Sophie Rimheden - Stay the night (ft. Adam Tensta)
26. TALK 7
27. Moto Boy - Beat heart
28. Nina Ramsby & Martin Hederos - Kanske jag kommer hem
29. September Malevolence - Who watches the watchmen?
30. TALK 8
31. Säkert! - Sanningsdan
32. Paper - Before that day
33. Moonbabies - Walking on my feet
34. TALK 9
35. Susanne Sundfør - I resign
36. Stina Nordenstam - Trainsurfing
37. Red Moon - The height
38. TALK 10
39. Broder Daniel - When we were winning

You can now hear new tracks that Park Hotell recorded with Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.) at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/parkhotell
The band still remains unsigned and is actively seeking a label to work with.

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. The Bear Quartet - Put me back together
02. TALK 1
03. Karin Ström - Silent night
04. Camouflage - Syster sol
05. Ulf Ljusberg - Whatever was
06. TALK 2
07. Juvelen - Don't mess
08. Invocator - Breed of sin
09. The Grand Opening - Secrets revealed
10. TALK 3
11. Motorpsycho - For free
12. Coldworker - Flammable
13. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Photo Jenny
14. TALK 4
15. Egil Olsen - Singer/songwriter
16. Last Days of April - Will the violins be playing?
17. Desert Planet - Riot sector 68
18. TALK 5
19. Printer - Satisfaction
20. Psyke Project - Physical romance
21. Promise and the Monster - Light reflecting papers
22. TALK 6
23. Marybell Katastrophy - Hidden agenda
24. Pan Sonic - Johdin
25. Opération Zéro - Etude no. 1
26. TALK 7
27. Jonas Game - Nothing to lose
28. Mari Boine - Tundra flower
29. Vapnet - Plötsligt händer det inte
30. TALK 8
31. Moto Boy - Ride my wild heart
32. Markus Krunegård - Jag är en vampyr
33. Gravy - Behind my walls
34. TALK 9
35. Looptroop Rockers - The building
36. Victims - Victims in blood #5
37. Anna Leong - Guillotine
38. Zeigeist - Humanitarianism
39. TALK 10
40. Ef - Appendix

MP3: Paper - To her

"To her" is the lead single from Paper's upcoming debut album "An object", due out March 15 via Novoton Records. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this is yet another one of my most anticipated new releases. The demo tracks were great (see here), but the album versions I've heard so far are even better. More intense, more defined. As before, the sound is deeply rooted in 1980s Swedish postpunk and you can also definitely hear little quirks that call to mind the members' other projects such as Audionom and The Bear Quartet. It's insistent. Maybe even a little bit sinister, though perhaps not as much as "My life is going under" as the 3rd person perspective of the lyrics here creates a natural buffer. Anyhow, it's good stuff and I'm sure I'll be talking about these guys a lot in days to come, so check it out!

Paper - To her

Bonnier Amigo Music has signed Anna Maria Espinosa (Moder Jords Massiva, Club Killers) and will be sending her into the studio with producer Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.) to record her debut album. As for the actual songs she'll be doing, she's lined up an illustrious cast including Ellekari Larsson (The Tiny), The Concretes, The Plan, Mattias Hellberg, Andreas Mattsson, Moder Jords Massiva, Nicolai Dunger and of course, the aforementioned Jari Haapalainen. Expect a fall release.

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Niccokick - The poet
02. TALK 1
03. Montys Loco - Farewell Mr Happy
04. David Sandström - Apropå det här med att finnas till
05. Mew - Why are you looking grave?
06. TALK 2
07. C.Aarmé - Rhythm
08. Dieter Schöön - Lot's of free Shoes but nowhere to run
09. Meshuggah - Pravus
10. TALK 3
11. Elin Ruth Sigvardsson - Antidote
12. The Bear Quartet - Volksblues
13. Ljudbilden & Piloten - Wedding
14. Lack - Naked girls
15. TALK 4
16. Don't Be A Stranger - Lonely together
17. Namur - Marching
18. NEI - Trip to Luleå
19. TALK 5
20. Printer - All right
21. Moto Boy - Beat heart
22. Christel Alsos - Come back to me
23. TALK 6
24. Promoe - Headache
25. Mustasch - Dogwash
26. Montt Mardié - Too many songs unwritten
27. Pascal - Smärtstillande
28. TALK 7
29. Pan Sonic - Virta 1
30. Pekker - Ass electro
31. Regulations - Police siren
32. TALK 8
33. Deud - Lördag
34. Linus Larsson & John Roger Olsson - Beyond the south tunnel
35. Barra Head - Undermine
36. TALK 9
37. Aerial - Kallisti
38. Paris - Office killer
39. Lukestar - The shade you hide
40. TALK 10
41. Jazkamer - Metal music machine

MP3: Ståålfågel - Något senare...

Of all the Swedish postpunk acts that I have become acquainted with, Ståålfågel are by far the best example of what I consider to be "mutant pop". The fucked-up synthpunk sound of their 1980 self-titled debut is unrivaled. The use of drum machines give them a rigid, off-kilter sound similar to Devo, but with a different, angrier energy. Devo is fun, Ståålfågel not so much. This particular track I've posted today is awfully similar to The Bear Quartet's "The supremes" in that it starts off with near-unintelligible screaming before kicking off into the song. The BQ track is ultimately far, far harsher, but those first few seconds share an eerie resemblance. I doubt it's intentional, but it's definitely the first thing I thought of when I heard it. Anyhow, it's a great track so if you're even remotely curious about Swedish postpunk, I strongly suggest you check it out.

Ståålfågel - Något senare...

Park Hotell is in Stockholm this week recording an album with fellow Luleå native Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.).

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Britta Persson - Cliffhanger
02. TALK 1
03. Death By Kite - Sweet M
04. KVLR - Traitors and thieves
05. Anna Ternheim - Today is a good day
06. TALK 2
07. Don Juan Dracula - Take me home (Johan Angebjörn remix feat. Sally Shapiro)
08. Amorphis - Weaving the incantation
09. Thomas Denver Jonsson - Dreams at the film club (feat. Nina Kinert)
10. TALK 3
11. Don't Be A Stranger - Lonely together
12. Madrugada - Tonight I have no words for you
13. Majessic Dreams - Have to go
14. TALK 4
15. Pavan - The bird
16. Bröderna Lindgren - Om en guldfisk (feat. Kristofer Åström)
17. The Tarantula Waltz - Where I end and you begin
18. Adam Tensta - They wanna know
19. TALK 5
20. Commando M Pigg - Mot stjärnorna
21. Gravy - Rock scientists
22. Jonas Game - ADHD
23. TALK 6
24. Linus Larsson & John Roger Olsson - In the shadow
25. Idiot Kid - Go to sleep
26. Mats Öberg - Cool water - på Den Gyldene Freden
27. TALK 7
28. Pascal - Längtar efter dig
29. The Bear Quartet - I would be poor
30. Peloton - Aranburu
31. Royal Downfall - Lightning strikes twice
32. TALK 8
33. Made In Sweden - Winter's a bummer
34. Erik Enocksson - The state the sea left me in
35. Asha Ali - Coward heart
36. TALK 9
37. A-ha - Celice

MP3: Björn Kleinhenz - Better company

Saturdays in 2007 were dedicated to the music of The Bear Quartet and now, in 2008, we're opening things up beyond a single band to explore the music of Göteborg, Sweden. Past, present and future, we'll do our best to examine it all and make some sense of it over these next 52 weeks. First up, we start nice and easy with my good friend Björn Kleinhenz:

How long have you lived in GBG?

6 years

Where did you move from and why?

Sölvesborg. It's way down south. You'd understand the move had you been there. It's just a small small town.

Favorite part about the city?

Having being able to make it mine. My friends and the few little spots I like to think of as my own. Small things you do that have a meaning to you.

Least favorite?

I guess any city gets a bit too small for you no matter what the size. Sometimes you just wanna flee 'cos it seems as if everyone knows everyone and it's quite stressful at times. It's like a Dallas episode.

Do you think that there's a particular GBG sound?

No I don't.

Lastly, how has the city inspired you?

I've written the songs for my new album here. I don't think they could have been written anywhere else. For good and bad.

Unfortunately, Björn's new record is not quite ready for primetime just yet, so here's a track from 2004's "Trans pony". Enjoy!

Björn Kleinhenz - Better company

MP3: The Bear Quartet - Grammar

It's the last Saturday of 2007, hence the last Bear Quartet post I'll do until their next album comes out. I asked Mattias Alkberg if he would contribute something this week, but he politely declined noting that it's a bit awkward to write about his own band like that, though quite flattering. Can't argue with that, so instead I've roped in Jim Kelly from Parasol once again. His pick: "Grammar" from 2003's "Angry brigade". He writes:

"Angry brigade" was The Bear Quartet's last true guitar-bass-n-drums rock/pop record, albeit sprinkled with inklings of the electro-tempest spawned on successive albums. Hot on the heels of the album's two singles, "Axe me don't ask me" and "All my life", the swaggering, cocksure, Clash-inspired "Grammar" is "Angry brigade"'s centerpiece, a bridge between the batch of luminous proto-popsongs in one hand and the sampledelic electro-punk squirming in the other. "Grammar" was a big tough rock song with big tough guitars, a song about righteous school-age badassess planning an assault on the neighborhood pedophile. But while the narrator and pals miss their chance, they hope that Hell awaits this person in some form. With sentiments like this, and mortality a common motif, "Angry brigade" ended up being the band's fiercest and most tightly-wound record since "Moby Dick", incorporating both the band's sublime pop sophistication and madcap punk/noise roots.

Download below, as always. As for next year's special Saturday post focus - wait and see!

The Bear Quartet - Grammar