SOUNDS LIVING IN AMERICA ALBUM METRONOME, WARNER RELEASE: NOVEMBER 11, 2002 REVIEW: DECEMBER 17, 2002

This is one of the most hyped bands here in Sweden right now, along with another newcomer The Melody Club and good old Kent. As one fantastic package, these three bands played Stockholm largest indoor venue some week ago, to much acclaim. My personal favourite is Kent, and I think that it's the best band ever to come out of Sweden.
Out of these three, Sounds comes in second. They have that youthful energy that older bands often lack, as well as a talent for writing the kind of melodies you have to surgically remove from your brain to have a moment's peace. In this case I don’t mind having the songs with me though.
The hype also led to the band being attacked for making advertisements for a certain jeans brand, along with Ladytron and others. Don’t get me started on the fact that everything Ladytron does seems to be divine, but other electropop acts gets no attention whatsoever.
Anyway, I’ll try to explain what the band Sounds like (pardon the pun) for those who haven’t heard them. Imagine a very eighties new wave and rock base, sprinkled with keyboards, solid melodies, modern production and a very cocky female singer on top. The band is all about having fun, they claim, and I have to say that it shows. Charismatic front girl Maja has a good control over the mic, but I think the songs would benefit if she tried to vary her singing a bit. The same style of ”yelling” in tune is evident throughout. Her voice fits very well with their style though.
Another problem is that most of the songs are very similar; shaped with the same mould, so to speak. This gets pretty annoying after a while, and I lose my interest about halfway through the album. But this is a strong debut from these five youngsters. I bet the next album is even better.

JOHAN CARLSSON