Antimatter

Michael Moss has a wonderful voice and amazing songwriting skills. I love it. Absolutely love it.



Artist: Antimatter
Album: Planetary confinement
Song: Legions



Artist: Antimatter
Album: Leaving Eden
Song: Leaving Eden

If you like his music, and I know you do, don't hesitate to contact Mr. Moss through their website www.antimatteronline.com.

Anathema

In their doom days they were second only to My dying bride. Nowadays, with their progressive angle, they're still (but not quite as) good.



Artist: Anathema
Album: The Crestfallen EP
Song: ...and I lust



Artist: Anathema
Album: Serenades
Song: They (will always) die



Artist: Anathema
Album: Eternity
Song: Angelica

My dying bride

Aahhhh....the sweet inner calm of My dying bride. This band has been my brain sanitizer for nigh on 20 years now.



Artist: My dying bride
Album: As the flower withers
Song: Sear me



Artist: My dying bride
Album: For lies I sire
Song: My body, a funeral



Artist: My dying bride
Album: I am the bloody earth EP
Song: I am the bloody earth

Hederos & Hellberg

This is one of, if not the, best bands ever to have come out of Sweden (and the world). The sadness, the soul, the face-in-my-hands-crying, the absolute beauty.



Artist: Hederos & Hellberg
Album: Together in the darkness
Song: No fun
Written by: The Stooges



Artist: Hederos & Hellberg
Album: Together in the darkness
Song: Concrete Jungle
Written by: Bob Marley

...and I'm insanely proud of the fact that they are from Karlstad, Varmland. As am I.
I once saw Nymphet Noodlers live.

Tindersticks

This is one of the very few bands that....it's always the right time to put one of their albums on. It's very red wine and tears....cigarettes on black and white streets and all that, but above all very, very, very good.



Artist: Tindersticks
Album: s/t
Song: Jism



Artist: Tindersticks
Album: Curtains
Song: Desperate man

Vic Chesnutt

Amazing.....absolutely amazing...



Artist: Vic Chesnutt
Album: Drunk
Song: Supernatural




Artist: Vic Chesnutt
Album: North Star Deserter
Song: Everything I say


...amazing

The Coffinshakers

Old school vampire country....the best name of any music genre, and these guys completely dominate the scene. If you've never heard them, do, oh do check them out.



Artist: The Coffinshakers
Album: The Coffinshakers
Song: Last night down by the grave



Artist: The Coffinshakers
Album: Dark wings over Finland
Song: Black Sunday


P.S I'm not sure that's the name of the music genre...but eh, to me it is. And it's awesome.

Cornelis Vreeswijk

And now for the greatest of them all...this Dutch Swede is the paragon of swedish music. He passed away in 1987.



Artist: Cornelis Vreeswijk
Album: Linneas fina visor
Song: Till Linnea via Leonard Cohen




Artist: Cornelis Vreeswijk
Album: Tio vackra visor och Personliga Person
Song: Saskia

Dan Andersson

A swedish poet and writer with an incredible sense for the swedish language.
Sung here by Thorstein Bergman.



Artist: Thorstein Bergman
Album: ...sjunger Dan Andersson
Song: Spelmannen
Lyrics: Dan Andersson



Artist: Thorstein Bergman
Album: ...sjunger Dan Andersson
Song: En spelmans jordafärd
Lyrics: Dan Andersson

Allan Edwall

I've become more and more appreciative of this type of music. I'd like to blame the fact that I now live in Canada and this represents "good'ol Sweden", but I'm afraid it's age..I am now old enough to see the good in this. :)



Artist: Allan Edwall
Album: Den Lilla Bäcken
Song: Jämtländsk vaggvisa

Thåström

This is Thåström.

...and that's pretty much all I need to say. He's is -the- swedish rockstar.
These are just a couple of songs...could've picked any one of his creations.



Artist: Thåström
Album: Skebokvarnsv. 209
Song: Om Black Jim



Artist: Thåström
Album: Kärlek är för dom
Song: Linnea

Seigmen - Hjernen er Alene

Another Norwegian band...this one covering a song by fellow countrymen DeLillos. Seeing them live was a religious experience, or as close to one I'll probably ever come.
Seigmenn, Firklover and Ringnes....



Artist: Seigmen
Album: Monument (Best of..)
Song: Hjernen er Alene
Originally by DeLillos

Ane Brun - This Voice

Superb late night walking the streets Ipod-type song.



Artist: Ane Brun
Album: A temporary Dive
Song: This voice

N.A.S.A - Way Down

Saw this one on late night MTV and loved it. Turns out the rest of the cd differs quite alot in style from this song, still, an album most definately worth the $.



Artist: N.A.S.A
Album: Spirit of Apollo
Song: Way Down

Lyle Lovett - I will rise up

This is an awesome song with amazing backing vocals...a song that, I guess, was made famous to Jo-Jo and the kids (and myself) when it was featured in an episode of True Blood.



Artist: Lyle Lovett & his large band
Album: It's not big it's Large
Song: I will rise up

CocoRosie - South 2nd

...another favourite, one of their best...



Artist: CocoRosie
Album: Noah's Ark
Song: South 2nd

http://www.cocorosieland.com/

Re-do

I'm switching the "I have something important and slightly pretentious to say" for the more relaxed "meh..." approach.

This is a favourite song of mine:



Artist: Lumsk
Album: Det Vilde Kor
Song: Om hundrede aar er alting glemt
Lyrics: Knut Hamsun

Nu mörknar min väg och mitt dagsverk är gjort,
mitt hjärta är trött, min säd har jag sått.
Som tiggare står jag, o Gud, vid din port,
och blodrosor växa på stigen jag gått.
- Dan Andersson


Det ar underbart att, nu nar man vuxit till sig, upptacka och uppskatta all den vackra lyrik och musik Sverige har att erbjuda.

[-]
Jag ska spela när ni gräva era kära ner i jord,
jag ska spela hela sorgen i en visa utan ord.
Och det svarta som var döden och som hälsat vid er säng,
det skall forsa som en strömmande sorg från min sträng.
[-]
- Spelmannen, Dan Andersson

Season is about to start

Hockey season is (finally) upon us. Yesterday I watched the opening game of the pre-season where the Canucks played the Islanders in Terrace, BC, the town that won Kraftville 2009. The game itself wasn't much to remember, but there were a couple of new names that took the opportunity to show themselves to the Sportsnet viewers. I personally thought that Shirokov (obviously) played his part very well, and I was also very impressed with the left D-man Rome, especially on the offensive blueline. The game ended with a 2-1 victory for the Canucks with Shirokov scoring both for the "hometeam".

If you're ever looking for a good book to read, ask my buddy Pär. He'll tell you to read:

Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
-and
Pär Lagerkvist - Bödeln (The executioner)

Farfar

My first entry on this my first blog will be in Swedish. It's what I wrote in my little notebook the day my Grandpa died.

Farfar - Aug 7 2009

Han hade alltid glimten i ogat.
Han gav mig alltid patar.
Han gav oss alltid trisslotter.
Han smog ofta till mig och Daniel en femhundring nar ingen sag.
Handerna i byxfickorna, blickande ut genom fonstret ner mot alven.
Han ar borta for alltid.
Se tipsextra pa overvaningen.
Han lat mig aka pa moppen sa mycket jag ville.
Damerna pa Konsum var alltid sa glada att se honom.
Grovbyxor, rutig skjorta och keps.
Han sag tydligen valdigt fridfull ut pa sin dodsbadd.
Han har levt ett rikt liv.
Klaralvdalen.
Han var skogshuggare forr i tiden.
Han var rolig.
Jag saknar honom.
Kanner mig hjalplos och otacksam.
Jag skulle varit dar mer.
Branasresor.
Jag far aldrig mer se honom.