Besides the fact that Norway is blessed with wild and stunning nature, an amazing health care system and ridiculously beautiful natives, it is also a country of astonishing musical talents. I am not speaking of the dimwits who composed Hompetitten and the likes, more in direction of bands like Postgirobygget, Madrugada, Kaizers Orchestra and Kings of Convenience. They're all extremely capable musicians who write great lyrics, perform with impeccable enthusiasm and deliver a 120% every time, in everything they do. In true Norwegian spirit.
Postgirobygget write and sing in their mother tongue, but their is no less enjoyable for foreigners. I suppose you'd say it's primarily summer music - it evokes feelings of vacation, midnight sun, barbecues and guitars. Some of their best songs include "Bohemen leve", "Sløv uten dop", "Idyll" and "Lei av å bli lurt". Their best album by far is "Melis", and I recommend it to anyone who has the slightest interest in anything resembling good music.
Madrugada is the most popular band to emerge from Norway in a long, long time, and have had particularly great success in Denmark, Germany and Spain. Their music is dark, melancholy and powerful, their lyrics are just enchanting poetry, and Sivert's voice is the best you've heard since Freddie Mercury. True story. The first album, "Industrial Silence" together with their last, "Madrugada", are by far the best ones. Fantastic songs include "Majesty", "Beautyproof", "Shine", "Hour of the Wolf" and "New woman/new man". Oh, and so many more. Now, I've met Sivert on a couple of occasions, and it seems he's kind of a dickwad. That doesn't impair his genius though, and as long as you don't speak to him, you will keep loving him forever.
Also the fact that he's ridiculously fit. Sigh. Oh, and their guitarist Robert Buraas died in...2008? Sad times, he was also in another great Norwegian band, My midnight creeps. He's on the left.
Now for an institution in Norwegian music history. Kaizers are a fan-friggin-tastic band who don't just sing in Norwegian, but in their oh so charming southern dialect. They play a massive organ, wear gasmasks and bang on hubcaps and those large things that bums make fires in. Random? yes. Amazing? OHH yes. They do the most unreal live shows, and are probably the best live band in Norway. In 2007 they played the Orange stage at the Roskilde Festival, and there were soo many people there - the space in front was practically full! Which was pretty cool. The concert was amazing, and Janove had complete control of the crowd. Cause that's just how he is;) And I don't think he's a dickwad, which helps! Their album "Ompa til du dør" is without a doubt the best one, and grrrrreat tunes include "Ompa til du dør", "Kontroll på kontinentet" og "Dekk bord". This is something you aaaall should definitely check out.
Ok, I'll do a quick one on Kings of Convenience as well. They're actually quite popular over here, as well as Erlend Øye's other band, the Whitest Boy Alive. Now, Kings of Convenience's first album, "Quiet is the new loud", is like the quietest, chillest, beautifullest, amazingest, relaxingest album ever. It's so,so,so,so nice and fantastic, and I shall NEVER tire of listening to it. Their voices are superb and work together in perfect harmony, and their songs can condone any mood, happy or sad. The best songs are "Winning a battle, losing the war", "Failure", "Summer on the westhill" and "The weight of my words". Fantastic shit, I love it <3 
