http://www.itsatrap.com/ Scandinavian music news, daily mp3 downloads, reviews, interviews and more Sat, 07 Nov 2026 22:53:14 -0800 2026 http://www.itsatrap.com/images/logo.png http://www.itsatrap.com/ 137 141 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26358-uncles-institution-walkie-talk-to-me-iknowwhatyoudidlastrecords http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26358-uncles-institution-walkie-talk-to-me-iknowwhatyoudidlastrecords http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26358-uncles-institution-walkie-talk-to-me-iknowwhatyoudidlastrecords#comments Uncle's Institution is basically Egil Olsen, Norway's answer to Iceland's Mugison and Gisli. "Yet another Scandinavian Beck soundalike, then!" you might retort. Well, yes, and no, it's quite unfair to dismiss to Uncle's Institution as nothing but a Beck copycat, they also sound a lot like Eels. Recently people have lamented a lot about how the age of the mp3 might mean "the death of the album", and I'm definitely one of the people who will weep at the album's funeral. This is why it feels like a waste when artists make an album that sounds like a various artists' compilation, instead of making a proper full length where all the songs live together in harmony. Despite this little exasperation, I can see a lot of people getting into this album and feeling very "hip" listening to it. There are some great ideas here, all carried out with a bit of flair, but the whole product is just way too superficial and forced, no matter how many great hooks/choruses Egil has managed to squeeze into 35 minutes.]]> Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26447-uncles-institution-babe-cds-iknowwhatyoudidlastrecords http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26447-uncles-institution-babe-cds-iknowwhatyoudidlastrecords http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26447-uncles-institution-babe-cds-iknowwhatyoudidlastrecords#comments Uncle's Institution is Ørsta, Norway's Egel Olsen and a rotating cast of musical characters, helping him fill out his songs. "Babe" is clavinet-driven funk, with lyrics that cross the line between humorous and ridiculously over the top: "She's mighty sexy/my personal whore/but not the kind you can buy at the store." It descends into endless repetition, hastily going from borderline funny to boring. Far more interesting is the b-side, "Everything is new". Focused on Olsen's acoustic guitar and falsetto vocals, it does reveal both his versatility and his aim of sounding a bit like a Norwegian Beck. Still, his versatility will shine only if his songcraft improves.]]> Sun, 25 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700 reviews