lambchops's Full Review: Living in America [PA] by The Sounds (Rock)
The Strokes, The Hives, The Vines.
It seems that the 00’s have been an era of bands so important that they must use the word “the” as a signal that they are unique, talented, and in the end worth listening to. The end result has been a trend of often sound-alike clones. Now, Sweden has anted up with another “the” band--The Sounds.
The Sounds are a five-person band hailing from Helsingborg, a town in southern Sweden. As with many of their ilk, the band clearly culls from sources including but not limited to Blondie, Duran Duran, and MC5. But unlike the more famous bands of the new garage movement, The Sounds boast a female vocalist. This certainly gives them an edge and allows the band to be somewhat less similar—in this case a great benefit. Maja Ivarsson is the woman in question. She sits at the helm with vocals while Felix Rodriguez (guitars), Johan Bengtsson (bass), Jesper Anderberg (synths), and Fredrik Nilsson (drums) round out the lineup.
Also setting the band apart from the other “the” bands also is the fact that they clearly owe a lot to bubbly eighties new wave and dance. But with the toning down of synths and addition of drums and guitars The Sound creates their own sound and in turn their own niche market. Their debut, Living In America should appeal to most all “the” band fans while not alienating fans of pop music. It is clear that The Sound could have a great future in mainstream America and MTV.
From the start of Seven Days a Week, the album is off to a rousing start. And while The Sounds may never be accused of being deep, rich musicians it is also important to note that there is more to an album that mere thoughtfulness. Living In America is above all other thing fun. It is the perfect album for summer and for twenty-somethings desperately in want of reliving the eighties. Seven Days a Week is an immediate hit with a catchy melody, incredibly effervescent vocals, and overall very well played instruments.
Continuing on, both Dance Wiith Me and Living In America also make an impact. The former is an upbeat, lovely pop-dance-rock track. So much about this song and the album is indebted to successful acts of the 80’s. It is hard to not feel the The Go-Go’s, Depeche Mode, and The Bangles in everything the band does. But something about the updated synths and guitars and drums makes for an entirely new experience. Living In America is also clearly aimed at satiating the masses. The song is immediately comfortable and once Ivarsson breaks into chorus it is impossible to deny the infectious nature of The Sounds and their music.
But as Living In America progresses, the band seems to run out of inspiration and steam. The Sounds builds their songs from the same mold. Nothing comes as a particular surprise, nothing really stands out as good or bad. The Sounds creates unquestionably entertaining music but it needs a dash of something else. Heavier guitars or drums on occasion would have changed the pace up a bit. But instead all twelve tracks are fun and essentially the same. My biggest complain is certainly that this album suffers from a massive case of sameness, though this ailment should by no means deter people from checking the album out as a whole.
Hit Me! is a choppier, sparser song. But it lacks the fun and freewheeling nature of some of the other songs. Mine for Life is the lengthiest track of the album. Fortunately for The Sounds it also is one of the best. I appreciate the intensity that Maja wields. This is the direction that the band should be advised to venture in the future. It is something that would have been a hit twenty years ago and should be today. Definitely one of the album’s best.
Rock ‘n Roll, Like a Lady, and Reggie all are equally well done. Rock ‘n Roll is light and whimsical, starting in the same way that many Blondie tracks do. It begins lightly and as it progresses more elements are added and increasing energy and unease are injected. Like a Lady features Maja emoting as though Cyndi Lauper had invaded her body. And while the song itself is pretty forgettable, she does sound pretty darned good. Finally, Reggie is probably the least accessible track of the album. It is vaguely ska with a dash of punk and a dash of rock. In the future, if refined, this too would be a decent direction to head.
As Living In America wraps up, The Sounds continues in the same vein. Fire recalls Seven Days A Week with a catchy melody and relatively hard-hitting drums. Hope You’re Happy Now once again makes a step back into the decade of the band’s childhood and returns to the formula better exploited by the title track. Riot is the final titled track, and also a decent offering. The melody feels comfortable but something about it (probably the repetitive vocals and synths) makes it also feel worn out. Even at just a few minutes, it is too long.
Living In America wraps up with an three minute untitled track. There’s nothing special to be said about it aside from it is perfectly fitting to the band and album as a whole. The Sounds are a welcome release to the self-important, brooding usual rock music of today. Sure it is pop, but there is a difference between the bubblegum variety and the truly decent variety. The Sounds is a good band, even if they are pretty formulaic and at times lack inspiration. Everything about Living In America is fun. Fun is good, and absolutely appropriate in the summer months.
Apparently, former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist and sometimes singer James Iha discovered the band overseas. He was so impressed that this album was released earlier in May on his own label. Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) also has been known to wear a t-shirt emblazoned with the cover image of The Sounds debut LP. Whatever the fate of this band, I am enough impressed with this album to recommend it to fans of rock, indie rock, garage rock, and 80’s pop music. It may not be for everybody, but if in the right mood most people will probably get a kick out of this band of five throwbacks.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
1. Seven Days a Week *
2. Dance With Me *
3. Living in America *
4. Hit Me!
5. Mine for Life *
6. Rock 'n Roll
7. Like a Lady
8. Reggie
9. Fire
10. Hope You're Happy Now
11. Riot
12. [untitled]
* favorite songs
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