March 3, 2009
I would like to interrupt the Retro blogging for a moment to bring you a bit of my Swedish music experience. I really thought Swedes would be talking music all the time seeing as Sweden is the third biggest exporter of music in the world, after the US and the UK. But I’ve really had to pull band recommendations out of friends like beets out of Smaland soil. I’ve still managed to export some knowledge home to you all. Below is a range of notables thus far:
Swedish musicians are really good at being sentimental, soft, melodic, and poppy with a wee edge. Perfect, I say! I heard about these guys while still living in the States, but I don’t get sick of them.
I went to see this lady the other night in Helsingborg. She’s from the South, but lives way up North. Her laid back fashion really surprised me, as Swedes are usually dressed very particularly. She won the Swedish Grammy last year, but I just found out about her recently after (trying) to read the local paper Dagens Nyheter. She’s likeable, but too much of her starts sounding generic. When asked to describe her music, my Swdish pal Jens said she’s “easy listening.” He didn’t mean it in the way Americans mean it, but I kind of do. I like her, but in doses.
This guy used to rock. I really like his music from ye olde days. But when I saw him last summer at Malmöfestivalen, I felt as though I was at a John Fogarty show like if John Fogarty played now. That said, Pugh still rocks in my book.
Dungen provides us with the opportunity to see what going to a psychedelic rock show in 1975 was like. For this I am grateful. Smoke machines, bright green lights, and long hair. It’s such a wonder that they exist in Sweden.
The original version of Dungen.
Adorable and energetic. Love is All reminds me of going to shows while at school. They also are friends of a friend, and that makes any band more endearing.
Special mention: Alphabeat
They’re Danish, so maybe they don’t belong on this list. But since I only live a half an hour from Denmark, they’re in. I just love this infectious sugary single so much, I had to share it. They make me feel like I am riding in mom’s minivan and we are listening to Casey Kasem and it is 1987.
I also want to mention here that there’s something very rehearsed and almost too perfect about seeing Swedish bands. Its as though they are performing on Gossip Girl for the lead ingénue’s Sweet 16. Hair is always just so, clothes are genre-specific costumes, the sound is evenly balanced, and there is very little audience interaction and impromptu riffing. Though I appreciate the Swedish audio guys’ talents, I very much miss the rough edges and mistakes that come with seeing bands in America. Sorry, Swedish friends.
