Scandinavian Leather

Turbonegro

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 6, 2003)
• Original Release Date: May 6, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Burning Heart
• ASIN: B00008XEPO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,533 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Scandinavian Leather is rock & roll hedonism in its highest (i.e. lowest) form, combining the theatrics of Alice Cooper, the campiness of Queen, the degenerate glam of Motley Crue, and the urgent punk-rock spirit of the Ramones. Less punk than 1996’s Ass Cobra and more rock than 1998’s excellent Apocalypse Dudes, Scandinavian Leather is everything a proper rock album should be: there’s pomp (strings pop up on "Wipe It ‘Til It Bleeds" and again on "Fuck the World"), shout-along anthems (check out the driving, fists-in-the-air chorus of "Remain Untamed"), and even the occasional, self-indulgent guitar solo. Songs like "Sell Your Body (To the Night)" and "Train of Flesh" are dark and seedy, but the danger is cartoonish. Fortunately, this bunch doesn't make music to be taken seriously; they make music that rocks. --Robert Burrow

Product Description
Long awaited 2003 album from the reunited Norwegian death punks. 13 tracks. Burning Heart.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New album a change from Apocalypse Dudes, May 6, 2003

By	Steven Trilivas (Astoria, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Scandinavian Leather, the latest installment from Turbonegro, once again takes the band in a different direction from past albums. Standing apart from the speed-punk of "Never Is Forever", the aggressive-screams of "[] Cobra", and the glitzy glam-punk of "Apocalypse Dudes", Scandinavian Leather presents a very dark, brooding atmosphere. Sounding like part T. Rex, part Alice Cooper, with packaging reminiscent of a Norgwegian metal band like Immortal, Turbonegro has put out an album that will sure throw many of their fans for a loop (especially a lot of new-comers who will be expecting an Apocalypse Dudes II). This is definitly not to say that the album doesn't have merit; far from it. Many catchy tunes litter the tracks on this album, including "Sell Your Body To The Night", "Gimme Some" "Drenched In Blood", and "Remain Untamed". There are some weak spots too, however, including lack-luster tracks such as "I Want Everything". If you can understand what Turbonegro is trying to do, which is create a very dark and corrupt album, by all means, rock this cd! If you are looking for the happy-pop tunes of A.D., sorry folks....that aint happening!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The denim demons are back!, June 14, 2005

By	Destroy Boy (www.ohboydestroy.com) - See all my reviews

Although not totally expected, it's not a surprise this album came into existence. Turbonegro broke up right before the last album, "Apocalypse Dudes", was released stateside. That album was such a huge step up from "Ass Cobra" and such a tour de force, with it's over the top glam punk and tongue-in-cheek gay overtones, that US punk stardom soon followed. Of course not being there to receive it after years and years of playing together must have hurt. Quick reform and into the studio again and problem solved!

As expected, "Scandinavian Leather" doesn't touch the brilliance of "Apocalypse Dudes" but it's not that far behind. After the typical voiced over intro, this time an 80's Miami Vice theme, it kicks into a few of the more rocking cuts on the album. These definitely have the energy and hard rock swagger of earlier work. Where it falls a little flat is on some of the filler tracks like "Remain Untamed" and "I Want Everything". On the surface there's nothing really wrong with these songs but they don't bring quite the same level of outrageousness and rock n' roll bravado to the table as other cuts. Of course if this was any other band those would be their best songs!

Like their last record, there's a couple more note for note rip offs of Iggy & The Stooges riffs. One on the start of the "Sell Your Body (To The Night)" and the other at the start of "I Want Everything". I always like spotting these as I'm sure other fans do as well so they don't disappoint there.

One surprising cut was the poppy "Drenched In Blood (D.I.B.)" with a big sing-along chorus and a straightforward down stroke punk sound. I have to say it's one of my favorites even if it's not a typical Turbonegro song. They close out with a song sung entirely in French which is sort of fun and the "join the cause" themed "Ride With Us" complete with classic Turbonegro lyrics like "We're on a mission to destroy". What an interesting ride that would be!

So while this album doesn't quite hit their high water mark, it's still a great record. One that any Princes Of The Rodeo will surely give many listens. You just have to wonder whether this is the last stop on the rock n' roll train for Turbonegro. Hopefully not.

Check out more reviews at ohboydestroy.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ach Ja! Another Great Turbonegro Album, June 22, 2003

By	andy7 (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I was pretty disappointed when I first heard "Scandinavian Leather" but after a few plays have grown into the great new release.
The tempos are a little slower but the melodies, lyrics and performances are still top-notch:
"Sell Your Body" will stay in your head for weeks because it's so catchy. "Fix your hair and sell your body to the night".
"Remain Untamed" has some of their most intense guitar work to date, the axes howling like the hounds of Hell.
"Le Saboteur" is just as offensive as their other past tunes in light of all the trendy Gallic-bashing these days.
And "Ride With Us" is awesome, recalling the Dead Boys at their peak ("We're on a mission to destroy!" yells ubermensch Hank von Helvete).
It's strange that the band has only performed one song from the new release in their live act because many of these tunes stand up to their previous classics. And Happy Tom is still a scary guy to look at.