Album: Something To Die For
Label: Warner/SideOneDummy
Rating: 4/5
It’s difficult not to respect The Sounds. A hybrid of musical imagination, the band effortlessly incorporates aspects of indie rock, post punk, new wave and Europop into their act.
Something to Die For is the band’s fourth album, and for the most part should please hardcore fans. Brimming with exceptional production values, the album is a funky, hip-swaggering delight that recalls aspects of early 80s UK synth-pop.
Though not all songs can be categorized as ‘timeless’, the overall appreciation of the album does intensify with each additional listen. “Dance with the Devil” is sure to be a hit with club goers for its seductive treat of tasty pop hooks that swirl with unbridled new wave synthesized sound. While “Something to Die For” is the catchiest of all with its instantly memorable fusion of cheesy, bubbly beats with hypnotically enticing vocalization by Maja Ivarsson.
It’s fair to say that many will misunderstand this album. Most will write it off as an LP that has little to no substance due to its infatuation with simulated sounds. However, it is more than simply an energetic listening experience. Disguised by its mainstream accessibility, Something to Die For is an album that tells a heartfelt story of love and loss. Buried beneath a body of sound, the album is actually a penetrating journey into the sorrowful nature of the soul.
