Tag: Reviews
Rock 'n' roll from Finspång, Sweden akin to The Hellacopters. Guitarist/vocalist Andreas Axelson and company deliver 12 tracks of good, clean retro-rock (see: Jet and any other band in the same category.) The album's opening track, "State of Shock" is a good opener that gets the toes tapping but then I found myself getting kinda bored halfway through the album. The last two tracks, "Too Much" and the album's title track, sound like how the entire album should have sounded. Recommended for fans of The Hellacopters and bands of that vein.
- Navy Keophan
Dramatic, atmospheric pop with tons of soaring melodies and long, dreamy instrumental passages. Great songs, great recording and production, just well-done in every way. Definitely one of the best new things I've gotten in the mail recently.
- Avi Roig
I guess I'd label this emo-pop as it's in the same vein of bands like Jimmy Eat World or maybe Last Days of April. They're quite good at what they do, but that doesn't mean I have to like it as my tolerance for this over-saturated genre is quite low these days. Being said, I was mostly unimpressed the first time I heard this, but it's growing on me the more I listen mostly thanks to the near-perfect drumming of Hans Svensson.
- Avi Roig
Ah... another band from Gothenburg. The moment I started listening to the quartet, I found myself going through my usual "What the hell does this remind me of?" routine. I was expecting something upbeat from the first sounds of "Marginal Cirkus" but it quickly changed when I listened to the rest of the tracks on this six-song EP. The other tracks, such as "Turn your fist" and "Soul survivor", are sort of trippy rock tunes that remind me of another Gothenburg band called The Soundtrack of Our Lives. I found myself losing track of time when listening to them, which is a good thing. Highly recommended.
- Navy Keophan
Boring heavy bar rock with drum machine, a bit of electronic programming and topped off with female vocals. This wouldn't be so bad if it had a bit more energy, but the performances just ain't cutting it. And couldn't they get one of the three guitarists to play bass? It's not as if they're all playing different riffs either.
- Avi Roig
The debut by this quintet from Gothenburg, Sweden contains 13 tracks of songs that range from mostly bouncy indie rock ("Take me on") to a few that delve into dreamy pop ("You are numb"). My brother kindly pointed out to me that it was "kinda like The Postal Service but better." I have to agree with the guy. Good stuff, overall. Not too loud and not too sappy. Nice mix of guitar and keyboard work throughout every track.
- Navy Keophan
The three songs on this single are all relatively decent, but Stellan just isn't a very good singer. It would be different if he had a distinctive, unique voice or maybe a bit more power of presence, but he's got a very limited range and poor pitch. The negatives outweigh the positives. No thanks.
- Avi Roig
These Finns play standard mid-tempo heaviness ala Isis, Koma, Cult of Luna and the like. They've got some good riffs here and there, but the songwriting is lacking too much in terms of dynamics and flow to elevate them above generic status. They have good ideas, they just don't quite know what to do with them. The screamy vocals kind of bug me too, but that's a minor peccadillo when so much of the album is instrumental. Not bad for a debut album, but kind of unnecessary in an increasingly overcrowded genre.
- Avi Roig
If this album was from someone else other that Enslaved, I'd probably recommend it wholeheartedly. However, considering the band's reputation as one of the longest-running and most progressive black-metal acts ever, it is sadly disappointing. There's just too many plodding, grim (read: boring) riffs that go nowhere. Every time they break away from same ol' tired formulas and decide to change up the rhythm or build upon the melody, the results are fantastic. It just doesn't happen nearly enough. I still think Enslaved are one of the world's best BM bands, I just wish they'd do more to keep moving the genre forward.
- Avi Roig
This Stockholm quintet plays a heady mix of experimental art-rock and more accessible, subtle rock. Singer Magnus usually steers you in the direction the rest of the band wants to go. The natural weariness of his voice on "Touch the tiger" works well with the song's understated melody, while the heavy, robotic effects on it provide one of the many odd hallmarks of the more free-form "Brest". The band uses repetition in the same way that Stereolab does, with subtle lines setting up a rhythmic hook instead of beating you over the head with boredom (as repetition can do in the hands of less capable musicians). Guitarist Oscar adds some potent crackles, buzzes and other sound effects, giving some of the songs a Sparklehorse feel. Holiday for Strings experiment without falling into the trap of self-indulgence. Hopefully this demo will get a proper release soon.
- Matthew W. Smith
Niccokick are from Sweden, play fantastic angst ridden "lo-fi rock", and have previous to this full-length, released various eps, 7"s and a self made cd-r. This is a really good album and it contains plenty of excellent tunes, but it's also quite a disappointment, since too many of the songs feature on their other releases. It feels more as a best of disc than a new album. But if you've never heard Niccokick before, this album is a very good introduction and I think you should go out and get it (that is if you like your indie rock stuffed with catchy riffs and songs about not-feeling-too-old and drinking).
- Simon Tagestam
Being a massive Starmarket fan, "Abandon Time" really took me by surprise. It appears that singer Fredrik Brändström has decided that his other band The Crystal Committee from now on will concentrate on the slower alt.country tinged songs, and Starmarket will do the shorter, faster, and poppier numbers. I wouldn't say that Starmarket has regressed per se, but it could be seen that way since we all know that bands usually go from playing fast rocky music to a slower more mature sound, and not the other way around. Not that I mind the least though, I think Starmarket are great, whether they play depressive emo, or catchy power pop. Also, this album really makes me want to witness them play live, and I hope they decide to play in London next year (and not just Spain and Germany).
- Simon Tagestam
Bouncing along whimsically, the "#1 EP" by Haninge, Sweden's Peter Gunnarsson and Johan Hedberg is smart pop that never takes itself too seriously. It's an impressively catchy four-song debut, especially considering the group started playing together a year ago this month. "Ba ba bas" are in abundance (especially on the harmony-driven "Trumpets and Violins"), matched splendidly with simple piano and acoustic guitar melodies. Against such a sugary backdrop, lyrics like "I notice she's been listening a lot to Joy Division lately/and I notice that darkness in her smile" and "I want to turn all the dance floors/into a burning inferno of ba-ba-ba" sound even funnier than they would otherwise. The closing track even brings Morrissey to mind. Sometimes the lead vocals are a little hard to hear, but then again the EP was recorded at the home of Peter's parents. With melodies that will stay in your head for days and enough zaniness to make you laugh, the young Suburban Kids with Biblical Names are off to a promising start. Labrador was wise to snatch them up.
- Matthew W. Smith
Indierock heavily influenced by Prince – a match made in heaven, some might say, but although a band like Phoenix has demonstrated that the result of such a mix can be quite good, the Deportees (hailing from Umeå, Sweden) gives us all a warning example of how disastrous this alluring blend can turn out. They almost had me fooled though, with their first fine single "Arrest me 'til it hurts", but compared to the other songs on this debut album, it sticks out like a flower growing in the middle of the highway. It's a real shame that "Arrest me 'til it hurts" has to be accompanied by such an insipid bunch of soulless tracks that "All prayed up" consists of. In fact, this album is so slick, bland, and unsexy that it often comes across as something by a second rate boyband. A bit harsh you think? Yes, perhaps, but even harsher for the poor souls who buy this album, lured by "Arrest me 'til it hurts" (hopefully the awful record cover will have a repelling effect).
- Simon Tagestam