MP3: Ebba Grön - 800°
Critical consensus has it that Ebba Grön's second album "Kärlek & uppror" is their best and I'm inclined to agree. It's the perfect balance between the roughshod debut "We're only in it for the drugs" and the polish of their third self-titled record. Compared to the underground, Ebba Grön's particular brand of punkrock comes off as nearly harmless, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. You could probably say the same about the Sex Pistols - political commentary aside, it's only rock'n'roll and as such, it's not anything I'd consider to be all that subversive. For the time, well that's a different story, but I'm sorry, I'm not old enough to talk about that with any sort of authority. Anyhow, the point is that good music is good music is good music and that's all there is to it. If it happens to change the world along the way, that's pretty awesome too.
"800°" is a great opening number. Like a lot of Ebba Grön material, it'll probably remind you of The Clash. That is, until the synth comes in on the chorus, foreshadowing the more postpunk direction frontman Joakim Thåström would later head with Imperiet. What I like most about it, besides the funny basso background vox, is that it's simple enough that a Swedish-impaired dummy like myself can sing along. "Åttahundra grader / Du kan lita på mej / Du kan lita på mej" Join in, why don't you?
Buy Ebba Grön reissues: [click here]
Ebba Grön - 800°