The Lionheart Brothers
Dizzy kiss
Racing Junior/NONS
The newest from Norway's Lionheart Brothers is a sweet little pop-rockin' 10-song confection that bears a heavy Beach Boys influence (the "Smile" era of Brian Wilson and crew, that is). Everything here is bright and peppy, with horns, organ and loads of other instruments adding delightful adornments to the concise tunes. Marcus Forsgren's lead vocals tend to be in the high register and they're mostly smooth as honey. The signature track is probably "Down at my place," which dazzles with a slinky mid-tempo arrangement, an infectious lead vocal and distinctive wordless backing vocals. Also stellar is "I burn myself on you," a cleverly constructed song that straddles major and minor keys in a compelling manner. Peter Rudolfsen's drumming is more than just timekeeping - there's artful intricacy in his playing. And the presence of instruments such as vibraphone, bouzouki and clavinet keeps the sound mix fresh and appealing - "Bring it down" is a good example of this. Although consistent and self-assured, one or two more really top-notch songs would have elevated this one a bit. But it's still a genuinely charming album, and I'd bet on Lionheart Brothers being one of the next Nordic outfits to gain attention stateside.
- Kevin Renick