Bands from Norway?

Kings of Convenience is a great band, as is Røyksopp. If you understand Norwegian, you should listen to bands like Nøkken - ska-influenced folk-rock from the late 70s/early 80s, and then again after 2007. We have lots of great folk singers - if you like bluegrass, pop and funny lyrics, Øystein Sunde is your man.

But please save a moment or two for the jazz band Jon Eberson group. Some would probably call their early 80s music fusion, but that would not tell the whole story. Most of their albums remain unreleased on CD, but their debut album "Jive Talking" has. (The title track is not even close to the Bee Gees classic, though I love both.) "Polarities" and "City Visions" are equally good. They have made comebacks in the years after 2000, but their 80s albums are still my favourites. (Main reason: They featured Sidsel Endresen as vocalist and lyricist.) NB! These albums are all English language releases.

 

It appears that these are the only artists I have from Norway:

GARBAREK,JAN
RYPDAL, TERJE
WHITE WILLOW
WOBBLER

 

MOTORPSYCHO!

 

Bel Canto

 

The band with the famous 'Take on Me', A-Ha were/are Norweigan if I remember correctly.

 

Big Bang

 

I have spent many, many months gigging in Scandinavia (years, in fact) and I must say some of the greatest musicians on the planet are situated in that neck of the woods. Talk about humbling. Wow.

I have a CD of a Norwegian (from Bergen) covering Beach Boys tunes in his native tongue. However, it's been many years and I cannot recall his name nor find the album. His rendition of "God Only Knows" is quite memorable.

Anyway, I hope I am not sabotaging this thread but here is another Scan Man (from Denmark) named Tim Christiansen with his gorgeous "Love Is A Matter Of". The first time I heard this, I was stuck at a draw bridge while sitting on a bus in Copenhagen. The driver had it playing on the radio playing and I was mesmerized. Love the Mellotron (or sample of one).

 

Orbo & The Longshots! Love this band...

 

a-ha

 

A-ha has already been mentioned, but c'mon, you've got to post one of their videos. These guys were class.

 

Savoy. (Pal Waaktaar-Savoy, guitarist from a-ha!)

Velvet:

Rain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk1-uc3l5Lg

 

The Lovethugs. I bought one of their cds years ago for $2 on the basis of the cover sticker, saying they were a mix of Beatles, Hendrix, and the Doors.

 

I'm gonna have to check out some of the aforementioned Viking Metal, since I've always considered Led Zep's "Immigrant Song" to be a masterpiece in that genre exactly.

I was amazed at the quality of the live jazz in Oslo on a trip there a few years back.

Love this Kings of Convenience Album:

 

Röyksopp - Eple

 

Some of my favourite norwegian artists/albums:

Susanne Sundfør - "The Brothel" (2010):

 

Highasakite - "All That Floats Will Rain" (2012):

 

Your Headlights Are On - "Your Headlights Are On" (2010)

 

Bigbang - "Front Side Rock'n'Roll" (2002):

 

Magnus Hængsle - "Magnus Hængsle" (2006)

https://myspace.com/forwardrecords/video/magnus-h-ngsle-question-for-you/1751988

 

Euroboys (aka "Kåre & the Cavemen) - "Long day's flight till tomorrow" (1999):

 

Possibly my favorite album that came out this year is from Norwegian band Audrey Horne. The album is called Youngblood.

It's fantastic old school hard rock with a big twin guitar type vibe. Sounds like Thin Lizzy but with Danny Vaughn (Tyketto, Waysted, solo) on lead vocals. I never heard of them before but this album blows me away. I've since run out and bought all their other albums but none of them come close to how great this one is.

Other than that I don't think I've ever heard any Norwegian bands but maybe I am forgetting something...

 

Some viking metal, just a warning that a good number use extreme/harsh vocals if that is something you don't like. Some from Norway some not:

First, Asmegin (Norway) - Til Rondefolkets Herskab

 

From MOTORPSYCHO´s latest album - a heavy prog experience!

 

Already mentioned but here's a nice video and another vote for the Cocktail Slippers.

 

Has Turbonegro been mentioned yet?