Customer Reviews

Somersault

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

 

 

This record is less than a decade old, but I think that it sounds just as good now as it did some years back. I can't emphasize enough how great I think this record is. Nearly all the songs are fantastic, you can put it on and just listen. Seriously, how many disks can you do that with nowadays? Eggstone is one of the most creative and great sounding pop bands to come out of Sweden. They can rock out as twitchy as the Hives on one tune, and then the next one is a sweet ballad in the Brazillian style. Very verstile, these guys. Incredible song writing, incredible musicianship. Now if they would just come to America and play a darned concert!

From the opening chords of Me Against The Sun you can tell this album is a perfect power pop classic. I've never been too much of a fan of Swedish pop, except mid period Cardigans but THIS cd is LOADED with hooks, twisty chord changes and great pop song ideas. Better than the Cardigans, This Perfect Day, etc. Think mid-60's McCartney, Cardigans, XTC & Todd Rundgren. Great changes everywhere. Get Vive le Difference, their third and seemingly final studio release for more of the same (except add some High Llamas/Stereolab notes). Great band. Seek everything they've released (Save In San Diego for last as that is their weakest release by far).

A friend loaned me a copy of Somersault a couple of years ago and I made a copy of it since it was unavailable through any music channels I could find. I was especially taken with the song 'Water' which is just a simple and beautiful ballad. But other songs are clean, hard-driving addictive rock/pop at its best. I've spent years looking to buy other Eggstone, and I recently found ca Chauffe which is a compilation that includes 3 tracks from Somersault. Somersault just made me want more. This is a highly recommended CD. Can't wait to find more from this band.

However, it's a good, harmless joyride. WATER alone is worth a normal cd price (as are a couple others) if you're the type to buy a cd for one song. If you're familiar with the Merrymakers, Eggstone's similar. If you're into the quirk, Eggstone's worth a try, but don't expect a genious masterwork. But if you're like me, the move from harpsichord driven singsongy to housish psychedelia to crunching guitar riffs is worth it.