THE DROWNERS
Is There Something On Your Mind? (Wind Up)
Reviewed by Bill Holmes

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Sweden strikes again! Pop hooks abound on bouncy tracks like "Summer Break My Fall" and the beautifully melodic "Is There Something On Your Mind," with vocalist Magnus Vikstrom leading the way over a tight two guitar/bass/drum pop structure. From the land of not-enough-sun comes The Drowners, a pop quintet weaned on The Posies and other literate bands with a hard edge. Ken Stringfellow sings backup on the bouncy "One Star" and is even the subject of a homage in the driving anthem "Bellingham," which cleverly namedrops song and album titles in its lyrics.

But all that darkness has permeated the songwriting, as slotted amid the effervescent mix are some pretty harrowing, dark images. Sometimes it's merely well-written songs about angst and the longing of love, like the guy in "From A Distance" who's resolved that he'll never be the one. Sometimes it's much darker, like the loss of "Death Has Never Been A Friend Of Mine" or the girl who has been "Deflowered" ("ravished on this solid ground - denial struck without a sound - ...deflowered on a moonlit night - you'll never tell a soul about your trials..."). The rhythmic "Winter Left You Alone" finds the singer telling his lover that "desperation's not attractive - it's got its brand on you" over a pensive Ben Folds beat. Guitarist Leif Rehnstrom claims that the long winter season (seven months with an average of two hours of sunlight per day) "can really fuck you up!" No kidding.

This is the band's third record, but the first one getting a push in the States. The musicianship has enough edge to fit comfortably on modern radio, there are a few songs with obviously airplay-friendly hooks, and Vikstrom's voice is a big plus. What will keep The Drowners... er, afloat in the sea of alternative pop bands is their superior songwriting. And you thought that blondes were all Sweden had to offer.

© 2000 - Bill Holmes