Customer Reviews

My Dear

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember the first purchase clearly; I was 13 or 14, on my annual trip to Canada and exploring the music section of the Christian bookstore where my mom was rummaging through books to buy for the following year. On a rack just in front of the new releases was an entire row of Scandinavian indie, punk and metal bands; Selfmindead, Extol and Royal.

I purchased My Dear, and have not looked back. The initial listening was a strange experience, full of wonder and sometimes even fear (are they allowed to do that?). Poppy melodies were subverted by jarring guitars, lilting vocals or fuzz bass, and the inversion of the song provided the yin the yang so dearly missed.

Elements of Emil Nikolaisen's prior experiences in Silver and Extol come forth in the closing moments of Haze or the all-out rocker Reveal, but most tracks opt for a gentler, more seductive approach. The gorgeous verse of Treasure rewards the patient, and the lullabye of M rke Natt is delightful whether you understand Norwegian or not.

I have not found any other work by the band in existence, and while Emil is still making music in the form of Serena-Maneesh, I will not soon forgot the wonder of Royal.

Originally reviewed on hewhocutsdown/blogspot/com

Great album by a largely unheard-of band. The style ranges from all-out rock to dreamy balads with beautiful vocals layered on top. This album is really different from anything else I've heard. In fact, it's quite refreshing to hear something so different. I recommend you check it out!

It's a shame there aren't any other releases by them.

I liked this record from the first time I heard it. The band makes very good music, dispite that they're very young. Man, I've never been into Emo before, but this record was more than I expected. Well, it's maybe wrong to call them emo only, because they have a lot of different influences. And to all you boys and girls who thought they were from Sweden: They're from NORWAY(!) and the songs that are not in English are in Norwegian. Elvira's voice is just amazingly good. Emil is a genious musician. It's so cool that they're christian, too. Go and buy this one immediately... You won't be disappointed... You will find it absolutely worth listening to and even more.

this cd has become one of my favorites. there is so much variety in each song, yet each song has a particular "style". it's melodic, beautiful, quirky, funky, and gritty all at once. (and, for all you bi-linguals out there, some of the lyrics are in swedish...VERY beautiful...) it's definitely one to add to your collection.

Imagine that you put 2 spoons of Sonic Youth, 2 spoons of Cardigans and a little bit of metal, put it on the mixer, turn it on to med. speed and..Voila!! you have Royal-My dear, this album is really cool, the sound is, in most of the songs, increscendo type, wich is the best point of the C.D. they change from a Hard Rock Sound to a 60's sound and it sounds amazing, then why am I giving 4 stars?? simple, the voice..this girl sings pretty nice, but she needs more volume in her vocals, besides of this, the album is a very cool Debut Album, be sure that the next will be better!!!

Chances are, you are only looking at this page because you remember Royal. It is too bad there is only a hand full of people in the world that have had the oppurtunity to hear the majesty of this album. If this album was picked up by a major label, it could have changed music culture as we have come to know it. It's almost been 2 decades since the last big paradigm shift in music, Nirvana's Nevermind. No one has released anything different and amazing enough to change directions again. I believe this could have been it. Beautiful, softly sung female vocals floating about in endearing melodies over teeth-gnashing, mathematically chaotic, dissonant, distorted rock. And then the distortion pedals are switched off almost randomly in every song to give the guitar players a chance to show off their jazz sensibilities. Oh, and the rhythm section plays off-beats timed to perfection. It's emo. But not emo you've ever heard before. But chances are, like I said, you have heard it before because who else but me and you and the 7 other reviewers would be looking up Royal on Amazon?

Well, it is not even really a tooth and nail release. They just have re-released something from Soulscape Records of Sweden. Even if Tooth$Nail does sign some good bands, I can't see this album being beat anytime soon. Emil's (guitar) songwriting is spectacular, and Daniel Smith's (Danielson Famile) production is the best I have heard in 5 years. The band has the ability to change from post-punk/hardcore (Roadside Monument), to some of the newer experimental Sonic Youth stuff, to Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins. Throw in some Bjork/Cardigans just to factor in the Scandinavian flavor. Why haven't you bought this record yet? By the way, email Tooth and Nail and tell them to bring Royal over to North America for a tour....they don't seem to be planning on doing that so far....

I have really enjoyed this album. It really has a style of its own, and to classify it would do injustice. I really enjoy the sense of harmony and beauty that is present, even in the midst of really dirty guitar work. And the lead singer is such a cutie. I am sure that anyone who would enjoy listening to some great Christian music will find great pleasure in Royal. The band is from Sweden...too cool!