BUCK C. COOKE
| 3.29.2006
ARE YOU BORED WITH MUSIC? Does every song on the radio sound the same? You must not have heard The Sounds yet.
A musical import from a small city in Sweden, The Sounds’ sound is an eclectic mixture of new wave, punk, synth-pop, garage band and glamour rock. Think Blondie, the Kinks, the Violent Femmes, the Cars and the Pretenders rolled into one — but with a modern kick.
Fresh off the release of their sophomore album "Dying to Say This to You," the quintet hits Atlanta on April 8 to play with Morningwood at The Masquerade. "Dying to Say This to You" marks the group’s return to the music scene after its critically acclaimed debut in 2002, "Living in America."
Maja Ivarsson (pronounced "Mya") fronts the band, with Felix Rodriguez on guitar, Fredrik Nilsson on drums, Jesper Anderberg on keyboards and Johan Bengtsson on bass.
The debut single, "Song with a Mission," is raw and evokes The Sounds’ signature attitude.
"You’re feeling shitty/ I don’t feel no pity/ Without me you’ve got nothing at all."
The video for the single brings to mind classic U2 videos from the ‘80s, and The Sounds’ reputation for onstage attitude is well deserved. The band members strut, preen and slam out the music like they are already the Rolling fucking Stones.
IVARSSON BORROWS A PAGE FROM Björk on "Night After Night," which The Sounds describe as their "tearjerker piano ballad." Ivarsson croaks out the lyrics choked with emotion and intensity.
"Don’t feel sorry/ ‘Cause there’s no reason/ For us to fight anymore/ Tears are coming/ And years are going/ I hope we learned something."
As a bonus track, a full-band version of "Night After Night" is included at the end of the album. Instead of the forlorn album version, this feels more like in-your-face defiance, and Ivarsson sounds less Bjork-like. It’s an excellent example of the group’s versatility.
Another nod to The Sounds’ larger-than-life personas, "Ego" serves up the bitchiness, just coming out with "I’ve been doing someone you know."
That’s right, just lay it out there, sweetie.
A limited edition of "Dying" was released with the Brooklyn Fire Remix of "Tony the Beat" by Tommie Sunshine, the music video for "Song with a Mission," and a live performance video of "S.O.U.N.D.S." from the 2004 Warped Tour. Ivarsson peppers the crowd with profanities and smokes while she sings, and the band truly looks as if they were plucked right out of the ‘80s.
THE ALBUM SOUNDS A LOT LIKE A harder, more raw version of the Killers, but with a female vocalist. This is undoubtedly due to the work of producer Jeff Saltzman, who produced the Killers’ debut "Hot Fuss."
In addition to working with different producers, the band approached the writing process in a new way as well. The first album goes for up-tempo songs with catchy hooks, but the new one mixes in darker themes and moods.
"There’s still a catchy chorus, but maybe the lyrics aren’t about drinking and partying," Ivarsson says. "That combination of darkness and light is the kind of twist I like."
The Sounds certainly made a name for themselves in the music industry following their debut four years ago, even if many laymen didn’t hear about them. In addition to performing over 300 live shows (including tours with Foo Fighters and the Strokes), The Sounds already boast a number of celebrity fans.
When your fans range from Dave Grohl to Pharrell and Quentin Tarantino to Britney Spears, you know there is something special going on. The Sounds bring a fresh sound rooted in the solid musical past of ‘80s rock.
Get out and revel in The Sounds.
‘Dying to Say This to You’ is on New Line Records. The Sounds hit Atlanta on April 8 with Morningwood at The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. 404-577-8178, www.the-sounds.com
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