Customer Reviews

Nine Times That Same Song

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

 

 

I've always had a special place in my heart reserved for new Swedish musicians. I won't go as far as saying that it started with Abba or even admit that I was alive when they stormed the world. But what I will say is that Love Is All is perhaps the most exciting rock outfit to surface in the last several years. This is one of those albums that you listen to for the sake of musical harmony and not much else. I've probably listened to this album in its entirety close to 50 times in the last week but still don't even know the names of any of the songs. Because when you're listening to good music, who cares about the little things. But seriously, I hate remembering titles of songs I like and in Love Is All's case, I'd need to remember the title to all 10 tracks because every song on this debut album is amazing. I first heard Love Is All on college radio last month while scrolling thru the left side of my dial when all of the sudden, "Felt Tip" came on and I quickly became ecstatic about the song that this DJ was playing in her set. I love Blondie's first album, where Deborah Harry did "X Offender" so perfectly, you know straight up rock music with a female vocalist - exactly how I love it! Close to 30 years later, I've found an album just as exciting in 'Nine Times That Same Song' in a similar manner. Oh, look at that, I burnt my food in the other room while writing this review; darnit! Suffice to say, I'm still loving Love Is All!

Wow, such negativity from jerseygirl! Love is All is another great pop group from Sweden which makes music to rival the best of the 80's Rough Trade bands. While they may not be for everyone they certainly are an original and exciting band. If you like the Raincoats, Kleenex, Liliput, this is the best modern band in that vein going. There new record also comes out in November. I recommend this highly!

The similarity between Love is All and X-Ray Spex is undeniable. However, for those of you who find X-Ray Spex a little grating and unrefined, Love is All fixes that. The production is good and clear and her voice is not quite as, well, annoying as that in X-Ray Spex (I actually love that about X-Ray). This is one of my favourite albums from that year.

Two minutes into the first song (of ten), you're not sure what you signed up for and might wonder if they'll literally trip through the rush of noise and urgent singing, by Josephine Olausson, nine more times. They don't. It's a charming kind of mess, apparently mixed loud with distortion for effect, amazing, heavy on the reverb and short on details like a wall of sound that's been stapled over with shag carpeting.

I had the pleasure (snick snick) of seeing this band live at a Tilly and the Wall concert. I have to say it, they were awful! Yes the band is from Sweden and play horns... but so do a lot of bands before for them. They are unoriginal and not even good abstract art. The lead singer just stood there looking at the corner of the wall and attempting to sing - which sounded more like screaming. Everytime they paused between songs people said under their breath "thank God! please let that be the last one". Being very open to the arts and different things I decided to try their musical cd. Wow, not a difference in any sense. I would pass up on this band as this is going to be a one hit wonder if that. If you are looking for something similar I recommend Tilly and The Wall and Pony Up! from Canada.

Blah to this band!! ugh..