I have been following P3 Guld/P3 Gold, Sveriges Radio/Swedish Radio's annual awards ceremony, for a long time now, almost as long as the event has existed. Which also happens to be about as long as I've been seriously following Swedish/Scandinavian music and running this site. There's no doubt that SR has been a huge part of my Swedish musical education over these years, both due to their outstanding website and online streaming offerings, but also because of their devotion to quality programming and the promotion of domestic acts. Of course, Sweden's outstanding music scene makes the latter a no-brainer, but you know that if someone's gonna mess it up, it's gonna be a state-run institution. Anyhow, I usually try to listen in to the show's audio broadcast every year (Swedish Television/SVT's live stream is blocked for international users), but never in my life did I ever expect the opportunity to attend in-person. The idea never even occurred to me. So as soon as I received an email asking me if I wanted to go, I immediately jumped at it. Who wouldn't? Even with a scarce one-week notice, I would be a fool to pass up the offer.

So off I went, spirited halfway 'round the world in some sort of fever-dream, all for a gala previously thought unaccessible. But before we get into my personal experience of the event, let us first take a history lesson.

P3 Guld was started by Swedish Radio nine years ago, evolving out of and superceding the then-current Popstad (Pop City) live music event. "So we have Grammy awards in Sweden as well and this was a year that there was some controversy surrounding them," says SR's Pia Kalischer, the official "mother" of P3 Guld, "They said they would no longer have anything to do with quality, they would only be based on sales and we thought that was kind of dumb so I saw a gap in market and I figured, well we should do something that's an event that will have to do with new music and also live music, as we broadcast a lot of concerts [see P3 Live for example]. So I figured it would be fun if we could do something that was open to an audience with live music and let's throw in a few awards to have a reason to throw this thing."

"Today I'm the Commissioner of Music and Events at Sveriges Radio, before that I was Head of Music for P3 for ten years. I was also a program manager and before that I was a producer and I've always had my heart in the music and for as long as I was working as Head of Music, I was continuously working with the P3 brands musically so that it would be connected to new Swedish music. That was the whole idea that people would associate P3 with new Swedish music."

And so P3 Guld came to be. The first year was small and humble, taking place at a tiny theater in Växjö (home of The Ark, Melody Club and uh, Birdflesh) before relocating permanently to its current home in Göteborg, Sweden's second city. Pia explains: "The city of Gothenburg came to us and said, "Please, come over, we'll help you. We have a very strong music scene in this city and all kinds of genres as well." It's the home of Swedish heavy metal and also lots of indiepop and also hip-hop, it's got everything basically. And a good organization within the city that helped us to get connected with the venues, the arenas, the people... so we grew from a small theater to a little bit of a bigger theater which seated 900 people, to [another] which seated maybe 1000 and then suddenly our partners said "Let's do this big" so we went to Scandinavium which is a huge arena that usually has hockey games. So went from 900 to 3000 people in a couple years. And we did that for 2 years in Scandinavium and that was huge." This year, however, the event has been scaled back and moved to the slightly smaller Lisebergshallen at the Liseberg amusement park. Seating approximately 2,500 with the complex, multi-tiered stage setup to allow for quick set changes, this is the first time the event was slated to include a standing audience. As to whether it was a fully conscious choice or rather the result of Scandinavium being booked for the European handball championships, nobody seemed too daunted or disappointed by the switch. "I personally feel that it was wonderful and it was fun and it just suddenly exploded, but for me," says Pia, "I've always wanted the P3 Guld to be sort of intimate. I want it to have a club feel so that audience gets closer to the bands and the bands get close to the audience. When the bands and audience connect that's when you get that certain electrical feel that really makes for good radio and good television. When it's real. That sounds so trite, but I really mean it."

All the same by me, as a newcomer to the P3 Guld live experience. I'm more than happy to play the part of the humble guest, letting myself get shuffled here and there for whatever pre-arranged activities my hosts have in mind. Well, except for the P3 Live-sponsored pre-pre-party on Friday night -- I really don't need to see some (ex?) cokehead pop-music producer's feeble attempt at playing in a rock band, so I opted out for a quality evening with my local friends, exploring the exciting, burgeoning world of Swedish craft beer. So then on Saturday, after a slow day of recovery and light window-shopping around Haga, we're spirited away to the official pre-party at the Brew House, a swirling mess of tabloid photographers snapping shots of the various pop artists who decide to make an appearance, mixed in among far greater numbers of industry reps and hanger-ons. I say hellos to the few folks I recognize and am introduced to many more, including a project manager from Music Export Norway down from Oslo to check things out (Øyvind, I'm ready to come over anytime!). Then there's also Watain, lurking on the fringes, looking seriously bummed and out of place. And intimidating -- no way am I going to attempt to introduce myself though a picture with the band would've surely been awesome. My fellow guest DJ Grace and I do a short interview on the air for the pre-show (I manage to be coherent enough to give props to the year's current best single, "Coming from you" by Paper) and we're off again, following a trail of torch-wielding sentries on our way to the venue.

As for the show itself, the live broadcast (on both P3 and SVT) demands a strict schedule. Pia has prepared us: "Some other award shows like the Swedish Grammis they have 21 prizes to give out. So you have to sit there for what? 3 hours? And they can only fit in 4 or 5 musical acts. So we do it in 90 minutes, 9 prizes and I think we have 10 bands this year. So it's very fast-paced. And there are always some of the big acts [who] really like to debut new songs... we don't only do the big hits of last year, we want them to play new music." Once things start moving, they stay moving and there is no downtime whatsoever.

The actual array of categories at P3 Guld is an interesting sidenote. Unlike every other music award, there are very few niches. "P3 Guld is really just a segment of the Swedish music business because we felt that we wanted to do something that reflects the music format of P3," Pia tells me, "The Grammis also gives out awards for, y'know, new children's music, classical music, jazz, every genre... which I really personally think is great. I think they should concentrate on being a very grand prize. And we basically do a rock show. [laughs] So it's pop, rock, some soul and hip-hop, some heavier stuff, but it's one piece of the cake of the whole musical landscape. So there's no jazz award, there's no opera award." And more importantly, there's also no longer an award based on gender. "We used to have two prizes for the best female artist of the year and the best male and we changed that two years ago," Pia informs me, a decision that apparently did not come without unintended consequences. "Last year we got lots of criticism because [P3 Guld] didn't feature enough females. Now it's hard for us to change the recording business where men seem to have an easier time than women, but we really tried to think about that this year. We really worked very hard to change and we also decided to joke around a bit with it." As we would later discover. Furthermore: "Part of the reason I'm afraid that we didn't have enough women solo artists last year, because not a lot of women released records. Or rather there were so many men last year who released records that were really good, that it was hard. But this year there are more females that have had a stronger... that have put their foot down I suppose."

"Is that just on stage or behind the scenes as well?" I ask.

"Well the thing is with P3 Guld is that behind the scenes, it's 98% women. I think that's due to me actually. Without thinking about it I appointed a female producer, we have female bookers and one of the TV producers is a woman and so in the production team, as it comes to the people who make the decisions, 70% are women."

"So do you think that's reflected in other parts of Sweden or do you think that this is a special thing you've created?"

"I don't know, I just know that... of course I'm a feminist. Yes I am. But I'm maybe not the most conventional one, I don't always count heads. I think that there's different ways of gaining equality, but I do think it was a good thing we were criticized last year and I do think we've really shaped up. There's a big discussion and I think the discussion in itself makes for change. What's been interesting is that you've seen all these women who've gone solo, women in the indie bands like Jenny Wilson, Sophia Somayo. They've decided to do everything by themselves as a way of being empowered and I think that's interesting. So that's kind of specific to the Swedish scene -- lots of women working and doing everything every step of the way, writing the songs, into the production, and gaining full control of the final product. Which I think is amazing."

Not to mention artists such as Marit Bergman and Robyn, I might add. The intersection of gender and music is an ever-evolving, fascinating subject, so it's especially interesting to see a prominent event such as P3 Guld tackle the issue head-on.

Which doesn't mean I could necessarily follow the discussion every step of the way during the actual show. I could understand when Howlin' Pelle of The Hives awarded Robyn the Guldmicken for Sweden's "2nd best" live act, I could understand host Kitty Jutbring's recurring references to Ace of Base thanks to the musical cue, but as far as gender-relations go, I could only really pick up on Kitty's vagina dress and her coinciding use of the word "fitta", which apparently is totally acceptable for broadcast. Not that I wasn't fully entertained. Like I said above, the show was action-packed and unrelenting and my language barrier did little to interfere.

Local fave Håkan Hellström kicked things off in style with "River en vacker dröm".

Säkert! performed an exceptional take on the song "Influensa".

Those Dancing Days killed it with "Reaching forward", as previously mentioned.

Awards were given, speeches were made. There were also a few surprises, a rarity for such a highly-scripted, high profile event. The biggest and most obvious: This Is Head winning Best Pop over Robyn. Another: Skudge winning Best Dance over the far more popular Swedish House Mafia, though it must be reiterated, P3 Guld is not necessarily a popularity contest. While some categories are decided by audience votes, the specialist genres are done by jury. Once again, Pia gladly fills in the details: "We have one jury that takes out the nominees for the audience to vote for and those are made up of the music editors that work within P3 and a couple of people from outside; we have one person from SVT [Per Sinding Larsen], so he's with us to do the five open categories. And then when it comes to specialist juries, there's a head of jury who's always that person who has that type of specialist program [at P3] and the brief to them was to select people that are experts in their field. So it's either very senior music editors and music journalists or very genre-specific experts [so we] have quality before the quantity or sales, which is not a parameter in this at all. But of course sometimes those things sort of match." As is the case with Robyn, who has deservedly won almost every award she's been nominated for this year.

Another highlight: the unexpected collaborations. Hello Saferide and Detektivbyrån from 2009 is a definite standout in my memory, Pia cites Anna Ternheim's collaboration with Max Peezay as hers. She says, "I like all the stuff that really goes under your skin and becomes exclusive for this event, things that touch people." As for 2011's best song medley by Orup and Spiderdogs, well, it was certainly nothing I expected, though I'm not so sure it will go down in history. What was far better however, was Tove Styrke doing "Million pieces" together with Familjen:

See, now that's the kind of perfect collaboration I'm talking about.

As with all major events, P3 Guld comes in three stages. We had the pre-party, the party itself and then of course, what remains at last is the after-party. Once Robyn brought the house down with her 3-song medley/finale (thankfully, rumors of a surprise Roxette appearance did not come to pass), we gathered our coats and made our way back through the cold to the Hotel Elite where, as with most large gatherings in Sweden, I felt like a fish out of water and about a foot shorter than everyone else, a feeling most easily remedied by the consumption of alcohol. Which is exactly the point -- the post-show party is when everyone finally starts to relax and feel comfortable enough to simply hang out and enjoy themselves. Free from expectations, they were all smiles and I was excited to reacquaint myself with numerous people I have met on previous trips over the years, or merely communicated with via email. And rub elbows with bonafide Swedish popstars: somehow I ended up getting my picture taken with a member of Kent, no fooling. Not at all what I expected, but more than welcome. Beyond that, what goes on at the after-party is off the record as far as I'm concerned, though it's not as if anything scandalous went down in my presence (besides the telling of tales from previous years). Perhaps everyone was holding out for the after-after-party, but with me scheduled for an early flight home only hours away, that was not even a remote possibility. The bar shut down, I went to bed, I was happy. Even if I never get a chance for a repeat visit, I'm more than content with my experience.

Total news items: 3880
Reviews: 77
Mp3s: 235

Top downloads (for tracks posted in 2009):
01. Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco
02. Ison & Fille - Jag skratter idag
03. King Diamond - No presents for Christmas (slightly cheating since I also posted it last year)
04. The Scrags - Psycho cyclone
05. Mercy - Heavy metal warriors

Top search terms:
01. Porno (no surprise, though I suspect most people aren't actually looking for the Swedish rapper)
02. Darkthrone
03. King Diamond
04. Melody Club
05. Black Uniforms

Remember, the mailorder goes on hibernation tomorrow so get your orders in now. Otherwise, I'm hard at work on revamping the site for 2010 and will be back with regular updates next week. Take care and happy New Year!

Adam Tensta, Eboi, Infinite Mass - Area turns red 09 (dir. Marcus Lundin)
Adiam Dymott - Miss you (dir. Senay & Kolacz)
Air France - No excuses (dir. Marcus Söderlund)
Amanda Jensen - Happyland (dir. Jerker Josefsson)
Bob Hund - Bli aldrig som oss bli värre! (dir. Johan Söderberg)
BWO - Right here right now (dir. Josef Andersson)
El Perro Del Mar - Change of heart (dir. Filip Nilsson)
Elin Lanto - Love made me stupid (dir. Robinovich)
Fever Ray - When I grow up (dir. Martin de Thurrah)
Jenny Wilson - Like a fading rainbow (dir. Marcus Söderlund)
Pato Pooh feat. Adam Tensta - Follow me (dir. Maceo Frost)
Peter Bjorn and John - It don't move me (dir. Filip Nilsson)
Promoe - Svennebanan (dir. Magnus Härdner)
Taken By Trees - My boys (dir. Marcus Söderlund)
The Sound Of Arrows - Into the clouds (dir. The Sound Of Arrows)
Timbuktu - Välj mej (dir. Daniel Wirtberg & Jonas Rudström)
Promoe - Mammas Gata (dir. Magnus Härdner)
Moneybrother - Born under a bad sign (dir. Kalle Haglund)
Mando Diao - Gloria (dir. Jörn Heitmann)
Melody Club - The only ones (dir. Peder Bergstrand)

View/vote here: http://grammis.mtv.se/

Album:
A Camp - Colonia
Agnes - Dace love pop - The love love love edition
Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
Caroline af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
Erik Hassle - Hassle
Kent - Röd
Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
Mando Diao - Give me fire!
Takida - The darker instinct
Thåström - Kärlek är för dom

Folk music/ballad:
Cajsastina Åkerström - Sånger om dej och mej
Esbjörn Hazelius - Blunda och du ska få se
Miriam Aida - Letras ao Brasil
Olle Adolphson - Tystnaden smyger som en katt... 1956-2004
Sofia Jannok - Åssogáttis - By the embers
Sofia Karlsson - Den allra båsta (1999-2009)
Sofia Karlsson - Söder om kärleken
Stefan Sundström - Ingenting har hänt
Taken By Trees - East of Eden
Väsen - Väsen Street

Hard rock:
Candlemass - Death magic doom
Crucified Barbara - 'Til death do us party
Dead By April - Dead By April
Hammerfall - No sacrifice, no victory
Hardcore Superstar - Beg for it
Lillasyster - Det här är inte musik, det här är kärlek
Mustasch - Mustasch
Raised Fist - Veil of ignorance
Renegade Five - Undergrounded universe
Wolf - Ravenous

Jazz:
Alice Babs - As time goes by
Bengt Berger - Beches brew
Georg Wadenius/Arild Jensen - Jul på Svenska
Jan Lundgren Trio - European standards
Jeanette Lindström - Attitude and orbit control
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - The half naked truth
Lina Nyberg - The snow
Lisa Ekdahl - Give me that slow knowing smile
Magnus Lindgren - Batucada jazz
Trummor & Orgel - Visions

Club/Hip-hop:
Andreas Tilliander - Show
J-Son - Never half stepping
Ken Ring - Hip hop
Lorentz & M Sakarias - Vi mot världen
Mange Schmidt - Odenplan Stockholm 1988
Maskinen - Boys II men
Mohammed Ali - Processen
Näääk - Näääk vem?
Promoe - Kråksången
Swingfly - God bless the IRS

Composer:
Amanda Jenssen & Pär Wiksten - Happyland
Anna Järvinen - Man var bland molnen
Christian Walz - The corner
Deportees - Under the pavement - the beach
El Perro Del Mar - Love is not pop
Joakim Berg & Martin Sköld (Kent) - Röd
Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
Nina Persson, Niclas Frisk, Nathan Larsson (A Camp) - Colonia
Salem Al Fakir - Astronaut
Thåström - Kärlek är för dom

Female artist:
Agnes - Dace love pop - The love love love edition
Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
Anna Järvinen - Man var bland molnen
Caroline af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
Jenny Wilson - Hardships!
Laleh - Me and Simon
Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
Miss Li - Dancing the whole way home
Pernilla Andersson - Ashbury apples
Sarah Dawn Finer - Moving on

Male artist:
Christian Walz - The corner
Erik Hassle - Hassle
Freddie Wadling - The dark flower (Den mörka blomman)
John Me - I am John
Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
Markus Krunegård - Lev som en gris dö som en hund
Olle Ljungström - Sju
Salem Al Fakir - Astronaut
Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
Tingsek - Restless soul

Newcomer:
Adiam Dymott - Adiam Dymott
Dead By April - Dead By April
Erik Hassle - Hassle
John Me - I am John
Jonathan Johansson - En hand i himlen
Larz Kristerz - Hem till dig
Lorentz & M.Sakarias - Vi mot världen
Maskinen - Boys II men
Miike Snow - Miike Snow
Name The Pet - Name the Pet

Pop:
A Camp - Colonia
Asha Ali - Hurricane
BWO - Big science
Calaisa - Grafton Street
El Perro Del Mar - Love is not pop
Fibes, Oh Fibes! - 1987
Jill Johnson - Music row II
Melody Club - Goodbye to romance
Miike Snow - Miike Snow
Peter Bjorn And John - Living thing

Producer:
A Camp - Colonia
Amanda Jenssen & Pär Wiksten - Happyland
Bloodshy & Avant (Miike Snow) - Miike Snow
El Perro Del Mar & Rasmus Hägg - Love is not pop
Goran Kajfes (Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet) - Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet
Jenny Wilson - Hardships!
Kent & Joshua - Röd
Laleh - Me and Simon
Salem Al Fakir - Astronaut
Thomas Rusiak (Adiam Dymott) - Adiam Dymott

Rock:
[Ingenting] - Tomhet, idel tomhet
Bob Hund - Folkmusik för folk som inte kan bete sig som folk
Deportees - Under the pavement - the beach
Dundertåget - Skaffa ny frisyr
Europe - Last look at Eden
Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco
Kent - Röd
Mando Diao - Give me fire!
Takida - The darker instinct
The Bear Quartet - 89

Lyrics:
Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
Anna Järvinen - Man var bland molnen
Caroline af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
El Perro Del Mar - Love is not pop
Joakim Berg (Kent) - Röd
Laleh - Me and Simon
Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
Louise Hoffsten/Peter Lemarc - På andra siden vättern
Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
Thåström - Kärlek är för dom

For the full list in a hard-to-read format, go here: http://www.grammis.se/

01. Thorleifs - Sweet kissin' in the moonlight
02. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
03. Promoe - Kråksången
04. Larz Kristerz - Hem till dig
05. The Boppers - Vibrations
06. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
07. E.M.D. - A state of mind - deluxe
08. Alcazar - Disco defenders
09. Måns Zelmerlöw - MZW
10. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
11. Lisa Ekdahl - Give me that slow knowing smile
12. Innocent Rosie - Bad habit romance
13. Melody Club - Goodbye to romance
14. Moneybrother - Real control
15. Malmö Opera Kör & Orkester - Jesus Christ superstar
16. Sofia Karlsson - Söder om kärleken
17. BWO - Big science
18. Bob Hund - Folkmusik för folk som inte kan bete sig som folk
19. Susanne Alfvengren - Bbortom tid och rum - det bästa
20. Shirley Clamp - För den som älskar...en samling

01. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
02. E.M.D. - A state of mind - deluxe
03. Larz Kristerz - Hem till dig
04. Alcazar - Disco defenders
05. The Boppers - Vibrations
06. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
07. Lisa Ekdahl - Give me that slow knowing smile
08. Malmö Opera Kör & Orkester - Jesus Christ superstar
09. Måns Zelmerlöw - MZW
10. Kevin Borg - The beginning
11. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
12. Moneybrother - Real control
13. Maia Hirasawa - GBGvsSTHLM
14. Melody Club - Goodbye to romance
15. Sofia Karlsson - Söder om kärleken
16. BWO - Big science
17. Pauline - Never said I was an angel
18. Miss Li - Dancing the whole way home
19. Magnus Lindberg - Ett eget liv
20. Stiko Per Larsson - Kap farväl

If you have, by some miracle, heard a Melody Club album before, you'll know exactly what to expect from "Goodbye to romance". Disregarding the current trend to do the opposite, Melody Club have moved away from their original electropop sound and added more guitars and a stronger 1960s influence, but are still unmistakeably Melody Club. The infectious choruses and entertaining lyrics the band are known for are present on every track. After just a few listens, I feel attached to all of them individually and find it difficult to choose a standout. "Oh Candy call me"'s brilliantly catchy riff made it an early favourite, while anthemic recent single "Girls don't always wanna have fun" has been the biggest grower. However, the track that never seems to leave my head is "Where do I belong", a song that would have fit perfectly on my favourite Melody Club album, "Face the music".

While "Goodbye to romance" doesn't quite match up to "Face the music", it's one of my favourite albums of 2009 so far and thoroughly recommended to anyone wishing to broaden their knowledge of the Swedish music scene.
- Jessica Popper
Rating: 8

04/30 - Studentkåren, Luleå (SWE)
05/11 - Älvan, Avesta (SWE)
05/12 - Dala Riot, Malung (SWE)
05/17 - Snitch, NYC, NY
05/19 - Molotow, Hamburg (GER)
05/22 - Szene Wien, Vienna (AUS)
05/23 - Atomic Cafe, Munich (GER)
05/24 - Lido, Berlin (GER)
05/25 - Siesta, Hässleholm (SWE)
05/26 - Spring Break, Kalmar (SWE)
06/14 - Fett Med Kärlek, Uppsala (SWE)
06/17 - Hamnfestivalen, Oxelösund (SWE)
06/28 - Peace And Love, Borlänge (SWE)
06/30 - Kirunafestivalen, Kiruna (SWE)
06/30 - Stadsfestivalen, Skellefteå (SWE)
07/06 - Gatufesten, Sundsvall (SWE)
07/13 - Arvikafestivalen, Arvika (SWE)
07/14 - Sommarrock, Svedala (SWE)
07/14 - Landskronafestivalen, Landskrona (SWE)
08/03 - Luleåkalaset, Luleå (SWE)
08/18 - Folkets Park, Huskvarna (SWE)
08/30 - Alingsås Gästabud, Alingsås (SWE)]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2586 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2586 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2586#comments 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]]> Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2701 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2701 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2701#comments This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (05) Regina Spektor - Samson
02. (06) The Shins - Phantom limb
03. (01) The Ark - Absolutely no decorum
04. (NY) Sahara Hotnights - Cheek to cheek
05. (03) Säkert! - Vi kommer att dö samtidigt
06. (02) The Pipettes - Judy
07. (12) Joss Stone - Tell me about it
08. (NY) Tingsek - Proud to be part of these days
09. (04) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan said dance
10. (ÅT) Klaxons - Golden skans
11. (07) Kleerup med Robyn - With every heartbeat
12. (NY) The Concretes - Oh no
13. (09) Melody Club - Fever fever
14. (17) Koop - I see a different you
15. (NY) The Jai Alai Savant - Arcane theories
16. (NY) Marit Bergman - Mama, I remember you know
17. (NY) Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
18. (10) Bloc Party - The prayer
19. (14) Ison & Fille - Hela dan varje dag
20. (11) The Cinematics - Keep forgetting

Leaving the chart:
Cold War Kids - Hang me up to dry
Timbuktu - Karmakontot
[ingenting] – Suzanne (Vi kan inte gå hand i hand)
Weeping Willows - The burden
Juvelen - Hanna
Laleh - November
Superpumas - Clear]]> Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2817 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2817 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2817#comments Melody Club on tour in the UK:

03/16 - Academy, Newcastle
03/17 - Engine Rooms, Scotland
03/19 - Little Civic, Wolverhampton
03/20 - Engine Rooms, Brighton
03/21 - Water Rats, London]]> Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3082 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3082 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3082#comments The video for Melody Club's latest single "Fever fever" is now online: http://www.melodyclub.com/]]> Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3224 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3224 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3224#comments Swedish student radio's top 20 for the 2006 fall semester:

01. The Knife - Like a pen
02. David & The Citizens - A heart and a hand and the love for the band
03. Mando Diao - Tv & me
04. Deportees - Missing you, missing me
05. The Streets - Prangin' out
06. The Pipettes - Pull shapes
07. Johnossi - Glory days to come
08. The Magic Numbers - Take a chance
09. Melody Club - Destiny calling
10. Jet - Put your money where your mouth is
11. Peter Bjorn and John - Let's call it off
12. Gnarls Barkley - Smiley faces
13. Regina Spektor - Better
14. Salem Al Fakir - Good song
15. Timo Räisänen - Let's kill ourselves a son
16. The Roots - Don´t feel right
17. Marit Bergman - No party
18. Tingsek - World of it's own
19. The Lost Patrol Band - Automatic kids
20. Koop - Come to me]]> Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3376 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3376 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3376#comments This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (01) Mando Diao - TV & me
02. (Ny) Ison & Fille - Hela dan varje dag
03. (Ny) Albert Hammond Jr - 101
04. (07) Laleh - November
05. (02) Johnossi - Glory days to come
06. (03) Regina Spektor - Better
07. (Ny) Babyshambles - The blinding
08. (09) Muse - Knights of Cydonia
09. (06) Salem Al Fakir - Good song
10. (Ny) M Ward - Chinese translation
11. (10) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (hey oh)
12. (Ny) Panic! At The Disco - But it's better if you do
13. (17) 1990's - You're supposed to be my boyfriend
14. (13) Bodyrox med Luciana - Yeah yeah
15. (05) Koop - Come to me
16. (04) Gnarls Barkley - Who cares?
17. (Ny) Herman Düne - I wish that I could see you soon
18. (Ny) Marit Bergman - Eyes were blue
19. (16) The Streets - Prangin' out
20. (Ny) Emmon - Wake up time

Leaving the chart:
Tingsek - World of it's own
Melody Club - Destiny calling
Asha Ali - Fire fire
Juliette & The Licks - Sticky honey
The Knife - Like a pen
Chingy med Jermaine Dupri - Dem jeans
Moneybrother - De vet ingenting om oss
Jeremy Warmsley - I promise]]> Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26042-melody-club-scream-emi http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26042-melody-club-scream-emi http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26042-melody-club-scream-emi#comments I've never liked Melody Club and their cheap and nasty synth-driven melodic pop, but their latest (and third) album is much better than I thought it'd be. Saying that, my expectations for it were lower than you can imagine. I've always thought of them to be quite pathetic, but they've become much less so now, which is really in their favour. The hit single of the album "Destiny calling" sounds like something by The Sounds and I can easily picture the song soundtracking a video featuring fast open top cars (after writing this I checked out the video on YouTube and was very disappointed, they've managed to make a very non-anthemic video for an über anthemic song), and I wouldn't be surprised if the Roxette fans of Germany and America will love this. If they'll keep on progressing like this, come their 27th album, and I might just buy it for my niece.
- Simon Tagestam
Rating: 0

Best album:
Anna Ternheim - "Separation Road"
BWO - "Halcyon Days"
Lisa Miskovsky - "Changes"
Marit Bergman - "I Think It's A Rainbow"
The Knife - "Silent Shout"

Best hiphop/soul:
Fattaru - "Mina drömmars stad"
Ison & Fille - "Stolthet"
Mange Schmidt - "Samtidigt, i Stockholm"
Promoe - "White Man's Burden"
Snook - "Är"

Best club/dance:
Basshunter - "LOL <(^^,)>"
Christian Falk - "People Say"
SUMO - "The Danceband"
Sunblock - "I'll Be Ready"
The Attic - "The One"

Best jazz:
Anna Christoffersson & Steve Dobrogosz - "It's Always You"
e.s.t. - "Tuesday Wonderland"
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - "Son Of A Drummer"
Koop - "Koop Islands"
Oddjob - "Luma"

Best hardrock:
Backyard Babies - "People Like People Like People Like"
Europe - "Secret Society"
Hammerfall - "Threshold"
In Flames - "Come Clarity"
The Haunted - "The Dead Eye"

Best pop/rock female:
Anna Ternheim - "Separation Road"
Linda Sundblad - "Oh My God!"
Lisa Miskovsky - "Changes"
Marit Bergman - "I Think It's A Rainbow"
Veronica Maggio - "Vatten och bröd"

Best pop/rock male:
Andreas Johnson - "Mr Johnson, Your Room Is On Fire"
Darin - "Break The News"
Eric Gadd - "Eric Gadd"
Håkan Hellström - "Nåt gammalt, nåt nytt, nåt lånat, nåt blått"
Timo Räisänen - "I'm Indian"

Best pop group:
Bo Kaspers Orkester - "Hund"
BWO - "Halcyon Days"
Fibes, Oh Fibes! - "Emotional"
Melody Club - "Scream"
The Knife - "Silent Shout"

Best rock group:
Atomic Swing - "The Broken Habanas"
Johnossi - "Johnossi - With 3 Bonus Tracks"
Mando Diao - "Ode To Ochrasy"
The Refreshments - "24-7"
Whyte Seeds - "Bold As Love"

Best newcomer:
Asha Ali - "Asha Ali"
Basshunter - "Boten Anna"
I'm From Barcelona - "Let me introduce my friends"
Sebastian - Sebastian
Veronica Maggio - "Vatten och bröd"

Best producer:
Anders Hansson & Alexander Bard - "Halcyon days"
Christian Falk - "People say"
Jara Haapalainen - "Brott & Straff Sånger från ett kvinnofängelse"
Joakim Berg & Simon Nordberg - "Changes"
Karin Drejer Andersson/Olof Drejer - "Silent shout"

Read more: http://www.grammis.se/]]> Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3501 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3501 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3501#comments The latest Swedish student radio top 20:

01. (01) Mando Diao - TV & me
02. (02) Johnossi - Glory days to come
03. (04) Regina Spektor - Better
04. (03) Gnarls Barkley - Who cares?
05. (07) Koop - Come to me
06. (09) The Salem Al Fakir - Good song
07. (NY) Laleh - November
08. (10) Tingsek - World of it's own
09. (17) Muse - Knights of Cydonia
10. (NY) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (hey oh)
11. (11) Melody Club - Destiny calling
12. (15) Asha Ali - Fire fire
13. (NY) Boxyrox - Yeah yeah
14. (NY) Juliette & The Licks – Stick honey
15. (05) The Knife - Like a pen
16. (08) The Streets - Prangin' out
17. (NY) 1990's - You're supposed to be my boyfriend
18. (19) Chingy w/Jermaine Dupri - Dem jeans
19. (NY) Moneybrother - De vet ingenting om oss
20. (13) Jeremy Warmsley - I promise

Leaving the chart:
The Magic Numbers - Take a chance
Peter, Bjorn & John - Let's call it off
Fat Joe - Make it rain
Lupe Fiasco - I gotcha
David & The Citizens - A heart and a hand and the love for the band
Goose - British mode]]> Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3560 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3560 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3560#comments This week's Swedish student radio top 20:

01. (02) Mando Diao - TV & me
02. (03) Johnossi - Glory days to come
03. (01) Gnarls Barkley - Who cares?
04. (NY) Regina Spektor - Better
05. (05) The Knife - Like a pen
06. (09) The Magic Numbers - Take a chance
07. (19) Koop - Come to me
08. (08) The Streets - Prangin’ out
09. (07) Salem Al Fakir - Good song
10. (06) Tingsek - World of it’s own
11. (15) Melody Club - Destiny calling
12. (16) Peter, Bjorn & John - Let’s call it off
13. (04) Jeremy Warmsley - I promise
14. (18) Fat Joe - Make it rain
15. (12) Asha Ali - Fire fire
16. (NY) Lupe Fiasco - I gotcha
17. (NY) Muse - Knights of Cydonia
18. (20) David & The Citizens - A heart and a hand and the love for the band
19. (NY) Chingy med Jermaine Dupri - Dem jeans
20. (14) Goose - British mode

Leaving the chart:
Supersci - Move on
The Dears - Whites only party
Danko Jones - Don’t fall in love
Firefox AK - The draft]]> Mon, 27 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3579 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3579 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3579#comments This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Refreshments - It's gotta be both rock & roll
02. Orup - Faktiskt
03. Martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
04. Caj Karlsson & Världens Bästa Band - När sanningar tränger sig på
05. Peter Jöback - Flera sidor av samma man
06. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Hund
07. Helena Paprizou - The game of love
08. Vikingarna - Bästa
09. Jill Johnson - The woman I've become
10. The Boppers - Jingle bell rock
11. Linda Sundblad - Oh my god!
12. Roxette - A collection of Roxette hits! Their 20 greatest
14. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
15. Anna Ternheim - Separation road
16. Lisa Nilsson - Hotel Vermont 609
17. Lisa Miskovsky - Changes
18. Melody Club - Scream
19. Hammerfall - Threshold
20. Europe - Secret society]]> Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3634 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3634 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3634#comments This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (06) Gnarls Barkley - "Who Cares?"
02. (01) Mando Diao - "TV & Me"
03. (03) Johnossi - "Glory Days to Come"
04. (NY) Jeremy Warmsley - "I Promise"
05. (05) The Knife - "Like a Pen"
06. (10) Tingsek - "World of It's Own"
07. (04) Salem Al Fakir - "Good Song"
08. (02) The Streets - "Prangin' Out"
09. (20) The Magic Numbers - "Take a Chance"
10. (08) Supersci - "Move On"
11. (09) The Dears - "Whites Only Party"
12. (12) Asha Ali - "Fire Fire"
13. (13) Danko Jones - "Don't Fall in Love"
14. (15) Goose - "British Mode"
15. (18) Melody Club - "Destiny Calling"
16. (19) Peter Bjorn & John - "Let's Call It Off"
17. (Ny) Firefox AK - "The Draft"
18. (ÅT) Fat Joe - "Make It Rain
19. (NY) Koop - "Come to Me"
20. (16) David & the Citizens - "A Heart and a Hand and the Love for the Band"

Leaving the chart:
Fattaru - "Hörde jag skål"
Ying Yang Twins med Wyclef Jean - "Dangerous"
Lily Allen - "LDN"
Deportees - "Missing You, Missing Me"]]> Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3664 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3664 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3664#comments This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
02. The Refreshments - It's gotta be both rock & roll
03. Jill Johnson - The woman I've become
04. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Hund
05. Linda Sundblad - Oh my god!
06. Peter Jöback - Flera sidor av samma man
07. Roxette - A collection of Roxette hits! Their 20 greatest
08. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
09. Europe - Secret society
10. Vikingarna - Bästa
11. Melody Club - Scream
12. Lisa Miskovsky - Changes
14. Lisa Nilsson - Hotel Vermont 609
15. Anna Ternheim - Separation road
16. Hammerfall - Threshold
17. Anders Ekborg - Äkta vara
18. Sara Isaksson & Rebecka Törnqvist - Fire in the hole - Sing Steely Dan
19. Tingsek - World of its own
20. Lars Winnerbäck - Efter nattens bränder - 1996-2006]]> Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3734 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3734 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3734#comments The latest Swedish student radio top 20:

01. (01) Mando Diao - "TV & me"
02. (03) The Streets - "Prangin' out"
03. (NY) Johnossi - "Glory days to come"
04. (09) Salem Al Fakir - "Good song"
05. (05) The Knife - "Like a pen"
06. (NY) Gnarls Barkley - "Who cares?"
07. (NY) Fattaru - "Hörde jag skål"
08. (10) Supersci - "Move on"
09. (NY) The Dears - "Whites only party"
10. (12) Tingsek - "World of it's own"
11. (NY) Ying Yang Twins med Wyclef Jean - "Dangerous"
12. (17) Asha Ali - "Fire fire"
13. (NY) Danko Jones - "Don't fall in love"
14. (NY) Lily Allen - "LDN"
15. (NY) Goose - "British mode"
16. (16) David & The Citizens - "A heart and a hand and the love for the band"
17. (14) Deportees - "Missing you, missing me"
18. (13) Melody Club - "Destiny calling"
19. (15) Peter, Bjorn & John - "Let's call it off"
20. (ÅT) The Magic Numbers - "Take a chance"

Leaving the chart:
(02) The Mary Onettes - "Lost"
(04) The Plan - " Walk for gold"
(06) Depeche Mode - "Martyr"
(07) Fat Joe med Lil' Wayne - "Make it rain"
(08) Jet - "Bring it on back"
(11) The Lost Patrol Band - "Automatic kids"
(18) [ingenting] - "Punkdrömmar"
(19) Psapp - "Hi"
(20) Universal Poplab - Heart apart"]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3766 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3766 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3766#comments This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (NY) Mando Diao - "TV & Me"
02. (05) The Mary Onettes - "Lost"
03. (04) The Streets - "Prangin' Out"
04. (08) The Plan - "Walk for Gold"
05. (01) The Knife - "Like a Pen"
06. (06) Depeche Mode - "Martyr"
07. (09) Fat Joe med Lil' Wayne - "Make It Rain"
08. (02) Jet - "Bring It on Back"
09. (NY) Salem Al Fakir - "Good Song"
10. (07) Supersci - "Move On"
11. (03) The Lost Patrol Band - "Automatic Kids"
12. (12) Tingsek - "World of It's Own"
13. (11) Melody Club - "Destiny Calling"
14. (10) Deportees - "Missing You, Missing Me"
15. (14) Peter, Bjorn & John - "Let's Call It Off"
16. (17) David & the Citizens - "A Heart and a Hand and the Love for the Band"
17. (19) Asha Ali - "Fire Fire
18. (18) [ingenting] - "Punkdrömmar"
19. (ÅT) Psapp - "Hi"
20. (15) Universal Poplab - "Heart apart"

Leaving the chart:
Wolfmother - "The Joker and the Thief"
The Long Winters - "Rich Wife"
Camera Obscura - "Let's Get Out of This Country"]]> Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3914 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3914 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3914#comments The video for the new Melody Club single "Destiny calling" is now online: http://exodus.interoutemediaservices.com/?id=fc001bd1-ea6a-424a-a98f-898c3e001582&delivery=stream]]> Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3918 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3918 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3918#comments This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (01) The Knife - "Like a Pen"
02. (04) Jet - "Bring It on Back"
03. (02) The Lost Patrol Band - "Automatic Kids"
04. (NY) The Streets - "Prangin' Out"
05. (11) The Mary Onettes - "Lost"
06. (05) Depeche Mode - "Martyr"
07. (13) Supersci - "Move On"
08. (07) The Plan - "Walk for Gold"
09. (NY) Fat Joe - "Make It Rain"
10. (15) Deportees - "Missing You, Missing Me"
11. (19) Melody Club - "Destiny Calling"
12. (NY) Tingsek - "World of It's Own"
13. (NY) Wolfmother - "The Joker and the Thief"
14. (03) Peter, Bjorn & John - "Let's Call It Off"
15. (09) Universal Poplab - "Heart Apart"
16. (14) The Long Winters - "Rich Wife"
17. (12) David & the Citizens - "A Heart and a Hand and the Love for the Band"
18. (18) [ingenting] - "Punkdrömmar"
19. (NY) Asha Ali - "Fire Fire"
20. (08) Camera Obscura - "Let's Get Out of This Country"

Leaving the chart:
(06) Mates of State - "Fraud in the 80's"
(09) Psapp - "Hi"
(10) The Magic Numbers - "Take a Chance"
(16) Dukes Special - "Last Night I Nearly Died"
(17) Otur - "Enough"
(20) Shareefa - "Need a boss"]]> Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4031 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4031 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4031#comments This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (01) The Knife - Like a pen
02. (05) The Lost Patrol Band - Automatic kids
03. (15) Peter, Bjorn & John - Let's call it off
04. (NY) Jet - Bring it on
05. (NY) Depeche Mode - Martyr
06. (06) Mates Of State - Fraud in the 80's
07. (19) The Plan - Walk for gold
08. (10) Camera Obscura - Let's get out of this country
09. (17) Psapp - Hi
10. (03) The Magic Numbers - Take a chance
11. (NY) The Mary Onettes - Lost
12. (04) David & the Citizens - A heart and a hand and the love for the band
13. (NY) Supersci - Move on
14. (NY) The Long Winters - Rich wife
15. (02) Deportees - Missing you, missing me
16. (12) Dukes Special - Last night I nearly died
17. (NY) Otur - Enough
18. (13) [ingenting] – Punkdrömmar
19. (14) Melody Club - Destiny calling
20. (20) Shareefa - Need a boss

Leaving the chart:
The Pipettes - Pull shapes
Timo Räisänen - Let's kill ourselves a son
Gnarls Barkley - Smiley faces
Tingsek - I love you (part 1)
Jet - Put you money where your mouth is
M Ward - Tog go home]]> Wed, 18 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4103 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4103 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4103#comments This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (01) The Knife - Like a pen
02. (03) Deportees - Missing you, missing me
03. (20) The Magic Numbers - Take a chance
04. (02) David & the Citizens - A heart and a hand and the love for the band
05. (NY) The Lost Patrol Band - Automatic kids
06. (06) Mates Of State - Fraud in the 80's
07. (04) The Pipettes - Pull shapes
08. (09) Timo Räisänen - Let's kill ourselves a son
09. (05) Gnarls Barkley - Smiley faces
10. (12) Camera Obscura - Let's get out of this country
11. (11) Tingsek - I love you (part 1)
12. (NY) Dukes Special - Last night I nearly died
13. (NY) [ingenting] - Punkdrömmar
14. (NY) Melody Club - Destiny calling
15. (NY) Peter Bjorn & John - Let's call it off
16. (19) Jet - Put your money where your mouth is
17. (NY) Psapp - Hi
18. (18) M Ward - To go home
19. (NY) The Plan - Walk for gold
20. (07) Shareefa - Need a boss

Leaving the chart:
(08) Sugarplum Fairy - Last chance
(10) Björn - Son of a gun
(13) Duels - Brothers & sisters
(14) Justin Timberlake - Sexyback
(15) Marit Bergman - No party
(16) Promoe - Headache
(17) The Roots - Don't feel right]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4240 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4240 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4240#comments The full tracklist for Melody Club's new album "Scream" is now online: http://www.melodyclub.com/]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4245 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4245 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4245#comments Melody Club's anticipated US record release and tour have been postponed to February. In other news, you can now hear the first single "Destiny calling" from their forthcoming album "Scream" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/melodyclub]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4797 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4797 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4797#comments Melody Club reports that drummer Richard Ankers is out and now replaced by some dude named Andy.]]> Wed, 16 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5617 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5617 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5617#comments Melody Club have revealed that US label The Saturday Team will be launching the band in the States with a CD featuring various cuts from the band's two records. Nothing confirmed 100% yet, but look for it around September to coincide with a tour. In other news, Melody Club has started work on their third album with producer Klas Ålund.]]> Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9037 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9037 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9037#comments New European dates for Melody Club:

10/09 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
10/10 - Underground, Cologne (GER)
10/11 - Mudd Club, Berlin (GER)
10/12 - Atomic Café, Munich (GER)
10/13 - Zoo Bar, Rome (ITA)
10/14 - Rainbow Club, Milan (ITA)
10/15 - Hiroshima Mon Amour, Turin (ITA)
10/17 - B72, Vienna (AUS)
10/28 - Palace, Kalmar (SWE)
10/29 - Harrys, Avesta (SWE)]]> Fri, 16 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25490-festival-report-emmaboda-festival-05 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25490-festival-report-emmaboda-festival-05 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25490-festival-report-emmaboda-festival-05#comments The path to get here was long and hard. I hard originally planned to come with a good friend who pulled out. However, his subsequent cancellation made me all the more determined to make it out here. The Emmaboda Festival looked appealing as 90% of the bands on the bill had never played the UK before, plus there was a cheap(ish) hotel within a 20 minute walk of the site.

The first day of the festival opened with Band Of Joy. They're one of those groups that do exactly what it says on the tin. Instrumental gypsy party in this case. All sorts of crazy dancing ensued from stylish characters. These included one guy who wore a matching outfit of an incredibly light shade of pink, and another guy who dressed up in a full suit who danced like Elvis in his prime. After that it was off to the smaller stage to see Gaddan & Braxen. The group makes what Swedes call "Nintendo music." It's fairly inoffensive and there are a lot of bands who do that kind of thing better, notably Slagsmalsklubben who played on Friday. Slagsmalsklubben are lead by a chic geek with a curly afro and huge glasses. He dances incessantly, and the crowd are only too happy to mimmick him. SMK took me back to the early 90s and reminded me of a whole lot of forgotten euro pop bands who used to grace MTV's European Top Twenty.

Another of the best bands on the Friday were Lovekevins. To my knowledge this Swedish band are still unsigned. They came across like a slightly more shambolic version of the Lucksmiths, with beautiful songwriting at the core of their sound. They were shortly followed by the all female Rough Bunnies who are a modern take on Beat Happening. Apparently, they are also unsigned. After hearing so much it was greatly to finally get a chance to see the Detroit-based Saturday Looks Good To Me, who were a bluesier take on Motown. Interestingly, the band are relatively unknown outside of Scandinavia. I was annoyed to miss Springfactory, who I later found out feature a member of Suburban Kids With Biblical Names.

The final day started with Three Is A Crowd (TIAC). I must say that this band were a bit of a disappointment. They do that indie/dance crossover thing. "We fucked up" is a gem, but the rest of the set didn't live up to this song. Still, full marks for the matching brown tracksuit tops. Mixtapes & Cellmates are like a slightly more lo-fi version of Radio Dept. The drum machine sounded great. Not sure if these guys are signed. If so, surely this can't be the case for much longer? Over on the main stage Frida Hyvönen was a little disappointing. As good as she was, her songs lacked variation. Her lyrics and style are a bit kooky. I guess she's the closest Sweden has to Kate Bush. Jens Lekman gave one of the best performances of the festival. It's quite amusing that his whole band is made up of female members. The selection of songs he played was reasonably obscure, taking in just a handful of the tracks from "When I said I wanted to be your dog", a few songs from his EPs, and a couple I hadn't heard before. It's a mystery to me why he isn't better known in the UK.

The quality of the artists booked at Emmaboda is a testament to the promoters and organisers. Shortly after arriving at the festival, it soon became obvious that most of the crowd had only heard of a handful of the artists playing. For example, take the Pipettes, the only UK artists who played. The band had never played outside of the UK previously, yet the promoters had the foresight to predict that they would go down a storm. They weren't wrong, and in fact The Pipettes gave one of the best received performances of the entire festival. Surely their twee take on Motown and polka dot dresses is now destined to take the rest of Sweden by storm.

One of the reasons I wanted to come out to Emmaboda in the first place is that Sweden is great at predicting musical trends. Whilst it is only in the last year or so that England and America has started to "get" synth pop, the genre has been huge in Sweden for a good few years, with Weeping Willows and Melody Club serving as just two examples. If pushed to predict the next musical trend to emerge from Sweden, I'd suggest indie pop. Whilst this genre is not new at all, it has been out of vogue for quite some time in the UK. However, in Sweden the success of the entire roster of Labrador Records (including the excellent South Ambulance who played on Saturday) suggests that the tide might be about to change. This is given greater weight when you consider that The Boy Least Likely To (a relatively small UK indie pop band with one self-released album to their name) have already been booked to play a handful of club dates in Sweden, whilst the Pipettes are booked to return in November. Roll on next year…
- Nick Levine

]]> Mon, 22 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 articles fest http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9793 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9793 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9793#comments Stylus gives a thumbs-up to Melody Club: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3196]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9860 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9860 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9860#comments Check out the video for "Wildhearts" from Melody Club: http://exodus.interoutemediaservices.com/deliverMedia.asp?id=f4622f5a-b33c-4e94-9c0d-b24f65b01c00&delivery=stream]]> Tue, 12 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10197 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10197 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10197#comments "Wildhearts" will be the next single from Melody Club off their latest album "Face the music". It comes out July 6.]]> Wed, 08 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10216 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10216 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10216#comments In case you haven't heard about it already, those boys in Melody Club are having a tiff and bassist Magnus Roos has quit the band. Rumor has it that drummer Rickard Ankers will soon follow.]]> Tue, 07 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10568 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10568 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10568#comments Summer tour plans for Melody Club:

05/20 - Ågatan 29, Enköping
05/21 - Mc Evans, Borås
05/27 - Studentkåren, Gävle
05/28 - Musikfest, Aneby
06/10 - Rabarock, Järvakandi
06/11 - Göteborgstalangen, Göteborg
06/17 - Cityfest, Kramfors
06/18 - Fest i Flen, Flen
06/20 - Jahalli, Helsingfors
06/22 - Globen, Stockholm
07/02 - Olssons Brygga, Arvika
07/07 - Sundsvalls Gatufest, Sundsvall
07/08 - Peace and Love, Borlänge
07/09 - Tivolirock, Kristianstad
07/14 - Torget, Borås
07/17 - Havsbadet, Lysekil
07/23 - Rockoff, Åland
07/28 - Storsjöyran, Östersund
07/29 - Stranddagar, Karlskoga
08/10 - Göteborgskalaset, Göteborg
08/13 - Karl Oskar Dagarna, Växjö

Check out some pics from their just-finished tour with Kylie here: http://www.diary.melodyclub.com/]]> Tue, 10 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26586-moneybrother-live-camden-barfly-london-03-24-05 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26586-moneybrother-live-camden-barfly-london-03-24-05 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26586-moneybrother-live-camden-barfly-london-03-24-05#comments This gig was a bit of a funny one. I could never have predicted the hysteria that would surround Moneybrother's first performance on English soil. I first became aware of this band at the Hultsfred Festival in 2003 when I was informed by a friendly stranger that I had to make Moneybrother one of the absolute priority bands to see that weekend. Unfortunately, I never made said gig. However, I made sure that I tracked down the "Blood panic" CD when I returned to the UK. I was intrigued by the cover which I guessed was a pastiche of Michael Jackson, but was ultimately only drawn in by "Reconsider me" and "Don't call the police". Those two tracks showed great promise.
Fast forward two years and I found myself at the Camden Barfly, with the band's new record "To die alone" sitting pretty at the top of the Swedish album chart. Somewhat predictably, the shoebox sized venue was completely sold out. Demand was so high that the promoter had oversold the show, selling an additional 150 tickets to the 180 which should have been on sale. The upshot of this nonsense was that when buzz support act The Modern (who I predict will be a great band for Melody Club to play alongside) finished their set, the entire crowd was kicked out of the venue and forced to queue up again to see Moneybrother. Only the lucky 180 with green wrist bands were granted exclusive access. It would be interesting to note how many of these people who were let back in were non-Swedish or non-industry people. I reckon you could probably count the number on one hand.
When Moneybrother eventually came on I was surprised at how tight the group was. When I found out that they had recently played an industry gig in America, I really didn't give them much of a chance of succeeding Stateside. However, the way in which the band seemed happy to change the arrangements of the recorded versions and skit off of each other made me think that they really could make it as a "jam" band over there. As most of the set was made up of songs from the new record (which I am unfamiliar with) the main body of the set was new to me. However, these new tracks seemed to be more sincere and varied than "Blood panic". I enjoyed how each member of the band was attired in a ridiculous fashion. For example, take the trombonist who was dressed head to toe in tight white denim. It takes balls to carry that look off, believe me.
By the time Moneybrother came on for their encore, the entire crowd was moshing and one brave chap attempted to crowdsurf. The band ended on a chaotic drawn out version of "Reconsider me". Moneybrother do justice to the once derided music genre of white soul. However, although the gig was an undoubtedly enjoyable experience, I expect the band to achieve greater success in the US than the UK due to their sound being more palletable to the tastes of the former market.
- Nick Levine
Rating: 0

01. Millencolin - Ray
02. Angu - Red Light
03. Kent - Max 500
04. Marie Miller - Playground
05. Moneybrother - They're Building Walls Around Us
06. Carpark North - Human
07. Christian Walz - Never Be Afraid Again
08. Saybia - Bend The Rules
09. Bertine Zetlitz - Ah-ah
10. Darin - Money For Nothing
11. Madrugada - The Kids Are On High Street
12. Melody Club - Boys In The Girl's Room
13. The Ark - Clamour For Glamour
14. Kurt Nilsen - Never Easy
15. Chick Habit - Rule The World
16. Sugarplum Fairy - Far Away From Man
17. Hammerfall - Bloodbound
18. The 69 Eyes - Lost Boys
19. User - Miss Wanted
20. Strip Music - 24 Hrs

Challengers:
01. Radio LXMBRG - It's Cruel Up North
02. Kristin Frogner - Stars Above My Head
03. Nick & Jay - Kan Du Hora Hende Synge
04. Clemens - Dans Me Döden
05. Prominent - Let's Talk It Over

Go here to vote for your favorite.]]> Mon, 18 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11088 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11088 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11088#comments Here's this week's YLE/Morjen top 10 Nordic video chart:

01. Smak - Nousen (FIN)
02. Korpiklaani - Hunting song (FIN)
03. Kent - Max 500 (SWE)
04. Anniina - Who's about to cry (FIN)
05. The 69 Eyes - Lost boys (FIN)
06. Nerdee - Ivy (FIN)
07. Disco Ensemble - We might fall apart (FIN)
08. Nina Rochelle - Mörkertal (SWE)
09. Infernal - From Paris to Berlin (DK)
10. Pain - Same old song (SWE)

Challengers:
11. Humane - Wish God was a woman (FIN)
12. Gåte - Sjå attende (NOR)
13. Melody Club - Boys in the girls room (SWE)]]> Thu, 31 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11148 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11148 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11148#comments Melody Club is keeping a tour diary while on the road with Kylie: http://www.melodyclub.com/diary/]]> Fri, 25 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11246 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11246 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11246#comments The English-language version of the Melody Club website is back online: http://www.melodyclub.com/uk/?NODE=1]]> Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11481 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11481 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11481#comments It's official: Now that Melody Club is opening for Kylie, they will be blowing off the ExMS showcase tour in the US. A no-brainer, really. A replacement act will be announced soon.]]> Thu, 03 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11497 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11497 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11497#comments Växjö's Melody Club will be getting their big break opening for Kylie Minouge on tour in Europe:

03/19 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/20 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/22 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/23 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/24 - Secc, Glasgow (SCO)
03/26 - Zenith, Paris (FRA)
03/27 - Ahoy, Rotterdam (NL)
03/28 - Sportpaleis, Antwerp (BEL)
03/30 - Stadthalle, Vienna (AUS)
03/31 - Olympiahalle, Munich (GER)
04/01 - St. Jakobshalle, Basel (SWI)
04/03 - Gigantium, Aalborg (DK)
04/04 - Color Line Arena, Hamburg (GER)
04/05 - Arena, Cologne (GER)
04/07 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/08 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/09 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/11 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/12 - The Point, Dublin (IRL)
04/15 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/16 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/17 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/19 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/20 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/21 - Nec, Birmingham (UK)
04/23 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/24 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/26 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/27 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/28 - En Arena, Manchester (UK)
04/30 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/01 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/02 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/04 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/05 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/06 - Earls Court, London (UK)
05/07 - Earls Court, London (UK)

I suppose this means they've dropped off the lineup for the US ExMS showcase?]]> Wed, 02 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11522 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11522 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11522#comments "Boys in the girls room" will be the third single from Melody Club's most recent album "Face the music". Here's the tracklist:

01. Boys in the girls room
02. Palace station (live)
03. Electric (live)
04. Cola and rum

The live tracks were recorded at P3 Popstad in Växjö in 2003 and "Cola and rum" is a five-year-old track, one of the first things the band ever did.]]> Mon, 28 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11670 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11670 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11670#comments Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
02. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
03. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
04. Elin Sigvardsson - Smithereens
05. Wilmer X - 13 Våningar Upp
06. Barbados - Best of Barbados 1994-2004
07. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
08. Ane Brun - A Temporary Dive
09. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
10. The Ark - State of the Ark
11. E.S.T. - Viaticum
12. Kina Jaarnek & Elvis Presleys Band - En hyllning till Elvis
13. Pain - Dancing with the dead
14. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
15. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
16. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
17. Fernandoz - Minnenas allé
18. Melody Club - Face the Music
19. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
20. Shirley Clamp - Den långsamma blomman

Check out an e-card for the new Hammerfall album "Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken" right here: http://www.nuclearblast.de/events/hammerfall/ecard/index.htm
As mentioned before, it comes out March 7 via Nuclear Blast Records.]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11738 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11738 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11738#comments Aftonbladet says that this year's ExMS US showcase with The Ark, Moneybrother, Melody Club, Deportees and The Caesars will hit NYC on March 21 at CBGBs.]]> Fri, 11 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11757 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11757 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11757#comments Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Elin Sigvardsson - Smithereens
02. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
03. Wilmer X - 13 Våningar Upp
04. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
05. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
06. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
07. E.S.T. - Viaticum
08. Pain - Dancing with the dead
09. The Ark - State of the Ark
10. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
11. Fernandoz - Minnenas allé
12. Kina Jaarnek & Elvis Presleys Band - En hyllning till Elvis
13. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
14. Barbados - Best of Barbados 1994-2004
15. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
16. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
17. Melody Club - Face the Music
18. Backyard Babies - Live in paris
19. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
20. Shirley Clamp - Den långsamma blomman

Hypocrisy reports that they should have a new album ready for release in September.]]> Thu, 10 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11838 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11838 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11838#comments Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Wilmer X - 13 Våningar Upp
02. Pain - Dancing with the dead
03. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
04. E.S.T. - Viaticum
05. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
06. The Ark - State of the Ark
07. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
08. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
09. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
10. Fernandoz - Minnenas allé
11. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
12. Backyard Babies - Live in paris
13. Dark Tranquility - Character
14. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
15. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
16. Melody Club - Face the Music
17. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
18. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
19. Barbados - Best of Barbados 1994-2004
20. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift

Niccokick, Existensminimum, Convoj and Band of Joy are among the first list of bands confirmed for this year's Emmabodafestivalen.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11865 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11865 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11865#comments Tickets aren't on sale quite yet, but I see that The Troubadour in LA is listing that The Caesars, Deportees, Moneybrother, Melody Club and The Ark are playing an Export Music Sweden showcase on March 16. Who wants to put me up for the night, eh? That also means that these are the acts selected to play the showcases in NYC and SXSW and I presume I'll be getting more details soon. UPDATE: I've just been informed that the date might be changing, so keep checking back for the latest.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11936 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11936 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11936#comments Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
02. Dark Tranquility - Character
03. The Ark - State of the Ark
04. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
05. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
06. Fernandoz - Minnenas allé
07. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
08. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
09. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
10. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
11. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
12. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
13. Peter Jöback & Göteborgs symfoniker - Storybook
14. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
15. Melody Club - Face the Music
16. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift
17. Marie Fredriksson - The Change
18. Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe - 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna
19. Arne Domnérus - Best of Dompan
20. Gyllene Tider - Finn 5 fel!

DJ Martian has the scoop on the 'Fresh Air at Fabric' one-day Norwegian music festial in London featuring performances by a wide range of artists including Annie, Magnet, Nils Petter Molvaer, Satyricon, Biosphere, WE and much more: http://djmartian.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_djmartian_archive.html#110677852973580507
Definitely something not to be missed.]]> Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12058 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12058 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12058#comments Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Ark - State of the Ark
02. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
03. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
04. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
05. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
06. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
07. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
08. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
09. Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe - 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna
10. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
11. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift
12. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
13. Marie Fredriksson - The Change
14. Arne Domnérus - Best of Dompan
15. Lambretta - The Fight
16. Blacknuss - Gold
17. Gyllene Tider - GT 25 live!
18. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
19. Melody Club - Face the Music
20. Ulf Lundell - OK Baby OK

Bassist Timpa has left Finnish rockers Hanoi Rocks in order to spend more time with his family. The band's new album "Another Hostile Takeover" is due out April 30 and the group will be touring internationally throughout 2005.]]> Thu, 20 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12075 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12075 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12075#comments Music Connection Magazine has posted a profile on Danish producer/engineer Thomas Troelsen who is currently working on Junior Senior's new album and whose resumé includes Whyte Seeds and Melody Club along with US acts Le Tigre and Beck: http://www.musicconnection.com/currentissue/crosstalk/crosstalk.lcgi
Thomas was also a recent recipient of P3 Denmark's "Respekten" award. Read more on that here: http://www.dr.dk/p3/p3guld/respekten.asp (in Danish)]]> Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12161 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12161 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12161#comments Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Ark - State of the Ark
02. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
03. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
04. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
05. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
06. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
07. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
08. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
09. Arne Domnérus - Best of Dompan
10. Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe - 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna
11. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
12. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
13. Marie Fredriksson - The Change
14. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift
15. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
16. Markoolio - Bäst off
17. Melody Club - Face the Music
18. Ulf Lundell - OK Baby OK
19. Blacknuss - Gold
20. Silverbullit - Arclight

PopMatters reviews the latest Amorphis album "Far from the sun": http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/a/amorphis-farfrom.shtml]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12328 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12328 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12328#comments MTVe lists their top 20 videos of the year: http://www.mtve.com/article.php?ArticleId=5265
Scandinavian hightlights include Melody Club (#20), Soundtrack Of Our Lives (#16), The Hives (#3), Annie (#7) and Kings Of Convenience (#1).]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12336 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12336 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12336#comments Swedish synth-poppers Melody Club are heading to Italy for a couple gigs in mid-February:

02/17 - Zoobar, Rome (ITA)
02/18 - Rainbow Club, Milano (ITA)]]> Mon, 27 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12461 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12461 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12461#comments Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart, the final one for the year:

01. Saybia - I surrender
02. Nephew - Superliga
03. Mando Diao - God Knows
04. Clemens - Raptus
05. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake Your Beauty
06. Nightwish - Wish I Had
07. The Hives - Two Timing Touch & Broken Bones
08. Dhani - Girl Talk
09. Jonna - Sateen Jälken
10. Black Belt - All to You
11. Melody Club - Baby (Stand Up)
12. Eskobar - You Got Me
13. Burhan G - Take U Home
14. Ayesha - Squaffie
15. Sahara Hotnights - Who Do You Dance For
16. Promoe - Long Distance Runner
17. Ana - Don't Cry For Pain
18. Infinite Mass - Fire Fire
19. Margaret Berger - Lifetime Guarantee
20. Lambretta - Chemical

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.]]> Thu, 16 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12463 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12463 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12463#comments Here's the final top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen for the year:

01. Negative - In my heaven (FIN)
02. Apocalyptica - Bittersweet (FIN)
03. Smak - Hallanvaara (FIN)
04. Melody Club - Baby (SWE)
05. Nephew - Superliga (DK)
06. Kevin - Theme from forever (FIN)
07. Kapasiteetti- yksikkö - Usko parempaan (FIN)
08. Searching for Nurmes - Halti (NOR)
09. The Confusions - Window (SWE)
10. The Soundtrack of our lives - Bigtime (SWE)

New challengers return on January 13.]]> Thu, 16 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12466 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12466 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12466#comments The nominees for the 2004 Swedish Grammy awards have been announced. Here's most of em:

Best newcomer:
Ana Johnsson - "The Way I Am"
Anna Ternheim - "Somebody Outside""
Deportees - "All Prayed Up"
Jens Lekman - "When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog"
Raymond & Maria - "Vi ska bara leva klart"

Best album:
Christian Walz - "Paint By Numbers"
Marit Bergman - "Baby Dry Your Eye"
Stina Nordenstam - "The World Is Saved"
The Hives - "Tyrannosaurus Hives"
The Soundtrack of our Lives - "Origin Vol. 1"

Best artist:
Gyllene Tider - "Finn 5 Fel!"
Lena Philipsson - "Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan"
Marit Bergman - "Baby Dry Your Eye"
The Hives - "Tyrannosaurus Hives"
The Soundtrack of Our Lives - "Origin Vol. 1"

Best song:
Raymond & Maria - "Ingen vill veta vart du köpt din tröja"
Lena Philipsson - "Det gör ont"
Nic & The Family - "Hej Hej Monika"
Gyllene Tider - "Tuffa tider/Sten vid en sjö i en skog"
Shirley Clamp - "Min kärlek"

Best pop (female):
Anna Ternheim - "Somebody Outside"
Lena Philipsson - "Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan"
Marit Bergman - "Baby Dry Your Eye"
Sophie Zelmani - "Love Affair"
Stina Nordenstam - "The World Is Saved"

Best pop (male):
Christian Walz - "Paint By Numbers"
Di Leva - "Tiden faller"
Jens Lekman - "When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog"
Mattias Alkberg BD - "Tunaskolan"
Tomas Andersson Wij - "Stjärnorna i oss"

Best pop group:
Alcazar - "Dancefloor - Deluxe"
Deportees - "All Prayed Up"
Gyllene Tider - "Finn 5 Fel!"
Melody Club - "Face The Music"
Raymond & Maria - "Vi ska bara leva klart"

Best rock album (solo):
Kristofer Åström - "Loupita"
Lars Winnerbäck - "Vatten under broarna"
Nicolai Dunger - "Here's My Song You Can Have It..."
Stefan Sundström - "Hjärtats melodi"
Ulf Lundell - "Ok Baby Ok"

Best rock group:
Sahara Hotnights - "Kiss & Tell"
Silverbullit - "Arclight"
Teddybears Sthlm - "Fresh!"
The Hives - "Tyrannosaurus Hives"
The Soundtrack of Our Lives - "Origin Vol. 1"

Best songwriter:
Anna Ternheim
Christian Walz & Ollie Olson
Marit Bergman
Per Gessle
Stina Nordenstam

Best lyrics:
Anna Ternheim
Jens Lekman
Lars Winnerbäck
Marit Bergman
Tomas Andersson Wij

Best producer:
Christian Walz
Johan Forsman & The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Lars Halapi
Pelle Gunnerfeldt & The Hives
Teddybears Sthlm & Phat Fabe

Best hip-hop/soul:
Damn! - "Youth Style"
Embee - "Tellings From Solitaria"
Infinite Mass - "1991"
Ison & Fille - "Ison & Fille"
Promoe - "The Long Distance Runner"

Best hard-rock/metal:
Dismember - "Where Ironcrosses Grow"
Entombed - "Unreal Estate"
Europe - "Start From The Dark"
In Flames - "Soundtrack To Your Escape"
The Hellacopters - "Strikes Like Lightning"

Best club/dance:
Andreas Tilliander - "World Industries"
Da Buzz - "Dangerous - The Album"
Guidelines - Must Be The Music"
Hird - "Moving On"
Stonebridge - "Can't Get Enough"

Best jazz:
Goran Kajfes - "Headspin"
Kullrusk - "Kullrusk"
Putte Wickman & Jan Lundgren - "We Will Always Be Together"
Rigmor Gustafsson And The Jacky Terrasson Trio - "Close To You"
The Torbjörn Zetterberg Hot Five - "Förtjänar mer uppmärksamhet"

Open category:
Alice Babs & Nisse Linds Hottrio - "Alice Babs & Nisse Linds Hot-Trio"
Anders F Rönnblom - "F-Box"
Blacknuss - "Gold"
Stefan Nilsson - "Så som i himmelen"
Titiyo - "Best of Titiyo"

Check out the full list here: http://www.ifpi.se/02.images/01.top/02.subnav_pdf/08.grammis/pdf/Grammisnomineringar_2004.pdf]]> Thu, 16 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12555 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12555 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12555#comments Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Saybia - I surrender
02. HIM - And Love Said No
03. Nephew - Superliga
04. Dhani - Girl Talk
05. Nightwish - Wish I Had
06. Black Belt - All to You
07. Ana - Don't Cry For Pain
08. The Hives - Two Timing Touch & Broken Bones
09. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake Your Beauty
10. Melody Club - Baby (Stand Up)
11. Burhan G - Take U Home
12. Ayesha - Squaffie
13. Sahara Hotnights - Who Do You Dance For
14. Eskobar - You Got Me
15. Promoe - Long Distance Runner
16. Noble - Hot 2 Nite
17. Beats And Styles - Fire
18. Deportees - Not Tonight
19. The Solution - My Mojo Aint Working No More
20. Margaret Berger - Lifetime Guarantee

Challengers:
01. Majid - My Struggle
02. The Ark - One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young
03. Jonna - Sateen Jälken
04. Infinite Mass - Fire Fire
05. Mando Diao - God Knows

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12557 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12557 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12557#comments Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Smak - Hallanvaara (FIN)
02. Kapasiteetti- yksikkö - Usko parempaan (FIN)
03. The Confusions - Window (SWE)
04. Searching for Nurmes - Halti (NOR)
05. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake your beauty (NOR)
06. Apocalyptica - Bittersweet (FIN)
07. The (International) Noise Conspiracy - A small demand (SWE)
08. Nephew - Superliga (DK)
09. Kevin - Theme from forever (FIN)
10. Melody Club - Baby (SWE)

Challengers:
11. Negative - In my heaven (FIN)
11. Brolle Jr - Sound of a drum (SWE)
12. The Soundtrack of our lives - Bigtime (SWE)]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12595 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12595 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12595#comments Timo Räisänen has confirmed a February 16 release date for his debut solo album "Lovers are Lonely". The artwork will be handled by the very talented Henrik Walse, whose recent work includes album covers for artists such as Thunder Express, Melody Club and The Hives.]]> Tue, 07 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12665 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12665 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12665#comments Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Saybia - I surrender
02. Annie - Chewing Gum
03. HIM - And Love Said No
04. Dhani - Girl Talk
05. Nightwish - Wish I Had
06. Nephew - Superliga
07. Black Belt - All to You
08. Ana - Don't Cry For Pain
09. The Hives - Two Timing Touch & Broken Bones
10. Lazyboy - Facts Of Life
11. Stephen Simmonds - Mother Mary
12. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake Your Beauty
13. Burhan G - Take U Home
14. Ayesha - Squaffie
15. Johndoe - Pyromantikk
16. The Solution - My Mojo Aint Working No More
17. Magne F - Past Perfect Present Tense
18. Eskobar - You Got Me
19. Noble - Hot 2 Nite
20. Promoe - Long Distance Runner

Challengers:
01. Deportees - Not Tonight
02. Beats And Styles - Fire
03. Melody Club - Baby (Stand Up)
04. Sahara Hotnights - Who Do You Dance For
05. Clemens - Raptus
06. Margaret Berger - Lifetime Guarantee

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.]]> Thu, 02 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12667 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12667 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12667#comments Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Kapasiteetti- yksikkö - Usko parempaan (FIN)
02. The Confusions - Window (SWE)
03. Apocalyptica - Bittersweet (FIN)
04. Kevin - Theme from forever (FIN)
05. Týr - Regin smidur (DK)
06. Melody Club - Baby (SWE)
07. The (International) Noise Conspiracy - A small demand (SWE)
08. Nephew - Superliga (DK)
09. Lars Winnerbäck - Elegi (SWE)
10. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake your beauty (NOR)

Challengers:
11. Smak - Hallanvaara (FIN)
12. Timo Räisänen - Lovers are lonely (SWE)
13. Searching for Nurmes - Halti (NOR)]]> Thu, 02 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12802 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12802 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12802#comments Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Lars Winnerbäck - Elegi (SWE)
02. The Confusions - Window (SWE)
03. Steep - Complete lack of ideals and integrity (FIN)
04. Kevin - Theme from forever (FIN)
05. Nightwish - Wish I had an angel (FIN)
06. Týr - Regin smidur (DK)
07. Nephew - Superliga (DK)
08. Anna Ternheim - To be gone (SWE)
09. The Knife - Heartbeats (SWE)
10. Promoe - Long distance runner (SWE)

Challengers:
11. Apocalyptica - Bittersweet (FIN)
12. Melody Club - Baby (SWE)
13. Infinite Mass - Fire fire (SWE)]]> Thu, 18 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13141 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13141 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13141#comments Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Steep - Complete lack of ideals and integrity (FIN)
02. Nephew - Superliga (DK)
03. Týr - Regin smidur (DK)
04. The Rasmus - Guilty (FIN)
05. The Confusions - Window (SWE)
06. Johnny Deluxe - Drömmer jeg? (DK)
07. Nightwish - Wish I had an angel (FIN)
08. Melody Club - Take me away (SWE)
09. Snook - Mister Cool (SWE)
10. Christian Walz - Wonderchild (SWE)

Challengers:
11. Humane - Crucify (FIN)
12. Ana Johnsson - Don't cry for pain (SWE)
13. Madcon - Doo wop (NOR)]]> Thu, 21 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13176 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13176 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13176#comments Check out the video for "Baby" from Melody Club: mms://qstream-wm.qbrick.com/01728/video/melodyclub/melodyclub-baby.wmv]]> Tue, 19 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13250 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13250 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13250#comments Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Týr - Regin smidur (DK)
02. Steep - Complete lack of ideals and integrity (FIN)
03. The Rasmus - Guilty (FIN)
04. Melody Club - Take me away (SWE)
05. Snook - Mister Cool (SWE)
06. Nightwish - Wish I had an angel (FIN)
07. Nine - Anxienty report (SWE)
08. Johnny Deluxe - Drömmer jeg? (DK)
09. Múm - Will the summer make good for our sins? (ICE)
10. Christian Walz - Wonderchild (SWE)

Challengers:
11. Mighty 44 - This love aint going on (FIN)
12. Nephew - Superliga (DK)
13. The Confusions - Window (SWE)]]> Thu, 14 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13357 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13357 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13357#comments Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Snook - Mister Cool
02. The Rasmus - Guilty
03. Bomfunk MC's - No Way In Hell
04. Johnny De Luxe - Drømmer jeg
05. Sugarplum Fairy - Sweet Jackie
06. Annie - Chewing Gum
07. Christian Walz - Wonderchild
08. Ana - We Are
09. Lazyboy - Facts Of Life
10. Mando Diao - Clean Town
11. Private Line - 1-800-Out Of Nowhere
12. Maria Mena - Just A Little Bit
13. Erik Faber - Yesterday´s Call
14. Ayesha - Fire
15. Saybia - Brilliant Sky
16. Tungtvann - Plan B
17. Melody Club - Take Me Away
18. Empire Dogs - Oh Lord
19. Anna Ternheim - To Be Gone
20. Miio - Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Challengers:
01. Petter - Tidens tempo/Prolog
02. Arash - Boro Boro
03. HIM - And Love Said No
04. Janove Ottesen - Go Tell Her
05. Vacuum - They Do It
06. Blacknuss - All Your Lovin'

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.]]> Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13358 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13358 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13358#comments Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Týr - Regin smidur (DK)
02. The Rasmus - Guilty (FIN)
03. Melody Club - Take me away (SWE)
04. Nightwish - Wish I had an angel (FIN)
05. Nine - Anxienty report (SWE)
06. Bomfunk MC's - No way in hell (FIN)
07. Johnny Deluxe - Drömmer jeg? (DK)
08. Ville Pusa - I dina ögon (FIN)
09. Lazyboy - Facts of life (DK)
10. Snook - Mister Cool (SWE)

Challengers:
11. Steep - Complete lack of ideals and integrity (FIN)
12. Christian Walz - Wonderchild (SWE)
13. Múm - Will the summer make good for our sins? (ICE)]]> Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13410 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13410 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13410#comments "Baby" is the name of the next Melody Club single. It comes out October 27.]]> Mon, 04 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13442 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13442 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13442#comments Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - Guilty
02. Ana - We Are
03. Snook - Mister Cool
04. Tungtvann - Plan B
05. Maria Mena - Just A Little Bit
06. Johnny De Luxe - Drømmer jeg
07. Bomfunk MC's - No Way In Hell
08. Saybia - Brilliant Sky
09. Christian Walz - Wonderchild
10. Ayesha - Fire
11. Erik Faber - Yesterday´s Call
12. Sugarplum Fairy - Sweet Jackie
13. Private Line - 1-800-Out Of Nowhere
14. Melody Club - Take Me Away
15. Beats And Styles - Dance Dance Dance
16. The Confusions - Window
17. Empire Dogs - Oh Lord
18. Anna Ternheim - To Be Gone
19. Bring Me The Fucking Riot Man - The Riot Boys Got Your Soul
20. Moi Caprice - Riding In Cars With Girls

Challengers:
01. Mando Diao - Clean Town
02. Annie - Chewing Gum
03. Brainpool - Junk
04. Lazyboy - Facts Of Life
05. Miio - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
06. Kaada - AllrightR No

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.]]> Thu, 30 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13443 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13443 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13443#comments Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. The Rasmus - Guilty (FIN)
02. Nightwish - Wish I had an angel (FIN)
03. Johnny Deluxe - Drömmer jeg? (DK)
04. Lazyboy - Facts of life (DK)
05. Nine - Anxienty report (SWE)
06. Snook - Mister Cool (SWE)
07. Björk - Oceania (ICE)
08. Ville Pusa - I dina ögon (FIN)
09. Indica - Ikuinen virta (FIN)
10. Annie - Chewing gum (NOR)

Challengers:
11. Bomfunk MC's - No way in hell (FIN)
12. Týr - Regin smidur (DK)
13. Melody Club - Take me away (SWE)]]> Thu, 30 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13518 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13518 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13518#comments New pics of Melody Club up at Rockfoto: http://www.rockfoto.nu/visabild.php?intSpelning=144&intBand=26]]> Fri, 24 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13526 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13526 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13526#comments Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Lisa Ekdahl - Olyckssyster
02. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
03. Alcazar - Dancefloor - Deluxe
04. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
05. Anna-Lotta Larsson - Känn en doft av kärleken
06. Vikingarna - Bästa Kramgoa Låtarna
07. Gyllene Tider - Finn 5 Fel
08. Raymond & Maria - Vi ska bara leva klart
09. Stefan Sundström - Hjärtats melodi
10. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
11. The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
12. Ted Gärdestad - Sol Vind & Vatten - Det Bästa
13. Shirley Clamp - Den Långsamma Blomman
14. Stephen Simmonds - This Must Be Ground
15. Gyllene Tider - Gt 25 - Samtliga Hits!
16. Ana Johnsson - The Way I Am
17. Melody Club - Face the Music
18. Nic & the Family - Hej hej skiva
19. Sandelin & Ekman - I stereo
20. Teddybears Sthlm - Fresh

I didn't realize it yesterday, but that upcoming Circle tour in the UK is in support of their new album "Empire", a new limited-edition vinyl-only release from Riot Season Records. The record contains two extremely long live tracks, "Dragon" and "Empire" and you can get more info here: http://www.riotseason.com/]]> Fri, 24 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13536 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13536 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/13536#comments Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - Guilty
02. Snook - Mister Cool
03. Ana - We Are
04. Johnny De Luxe - Drømmer jeg
05. Tungtvann - Plan B
06. Kemopetrol - My Superstar
07. Maria Mena - Just A Little Bit
08. Saybia - Brilliant Sky
09. Ayesha - Fire
10. Beats And Styles - Dance Dance Dance
11. Melody Club - Take Me Away
12. Christian Walz - Wonderchild
13. Sondre Lerche - Days That Are Over
14. The Confusions - Window
15. Empire Dogs - Oh Lord
16. Erik Faber - Yesterday´s Call
17. Moder Jords Massiva - Out of My Hands
18. Maria Arredondo - Mad Summer
19. Venke Knutson - Kiss
20. Kleen Cut - Hands Up

Challengers:
01. Private Line - 1-800-Out Of Nowhere
02. Bring Me The Fucking Riot Man - The Riot Boys Got Your Soul
03. Moi Caprice - Riding In Cars With Girls
04. Anna Ternheim - To Be Gone
05. Bomfunk MC's - No Way In Hell
06. Sugarplum Fairy - Sweet Jackie

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.]]> Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 news