I've been following Viktor Norén's career with great interest for years now, first as part of Swedish rock band Sugarplum Fairy, then with his awesome solo project Viktorious and now with his new band, Viktor and the Blood. "The Blood's" music is a little more raw and rockier than a lot of what I post, but even when it's a bit out of my realm, Viktor's charisma really carries it through. There's a hint of old-school glam in the album's tracks as well, which is completely welcome. Second single Boys Are In The City is an excellent example of this. It's got that sorta sleazy stadium anthem sound written all over it, kind of like a mix between the Rolling Stones and Jet -- lots of power in both the production and vocals while still retaining a pop edge when it comes to the melody. Weirdly, with different production, it wouldn't sound out of place on one of Robbie Williams' first couple albums. High praise indeed!
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.
You're probably all sick of me posting songs by Viktorious by now, but being that this is his last free song (until Summer, when this whole thing will apparently repeat!), and it's one of the best, I couldn't help but write about it. As you know by now, this Swedish electro-pop-rock artist has been releasing a free track every Friday on his website for the past month and a half. Killing The Fun is the latest, and my favorite since the first released track (the still-brilliant Instant Virtuality). While other songs have been moodier and a bit colder, this is full on propulsive pop. The verses are the standout here, all power chords and a stadium-ready melody. I really like the processing on the vocals, too. It's exactly the sound I hope he explores further. Everything comes together on this one. I could easily hear it on the radio.
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the EP for free here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.
I know I already blogged a Viktorious song a few weeks ago, but this whole "Weekends" thing that he's got going is too good not to share over and over. For anyone who hasn't, you've got to go to his website and start downloading these free tracks he's giving away. They've been universally amazing so far. Unrequited Love, last week's track, is no different. Built on top of a famous Yaz (or Yazoo, if you're British) electro sample, it's a stately piece of electropop with a great chorus. The lyrics are not written from the perspective of the person in love, but from the person who isn't in love. It flips your expectations a little, which is pretty cool. Bottom line, though: this guy hasn't created anything subpar. He's pretty awesome.
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download a new song every Friday here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.
Searching through my blog, I just realized that I have never even mentioned Viktorious. This is a huge oversight on my part, as I've been enjoying his music for months now and he's one of my most anticipated popstars of the year. Debut single, When We Were 10, is beyond brilliant, but there's something even more exciting in the works. For the next six weeks, Viktorious will be giving away a free track every Friday. Let me repeat that... EVERY FRIDAY. He already released the first one last week, and if Instant Virtuality is anything to go by, we're in for an exciting six weeks. For those who don't know, Viktor Norén was a member of popular Swedish rock band Sugarplum Fairy (kind of like a rougher Mcfly), who had a number of hits in their homeland. Now he's gone solo in a poppier, more electronic direction and I am completely obsessed with this project. This track is a propulsive dance-rock anthem railing against modern technology even as it embraces it. The melody's got a bit of a Robbie Williams influence (or am I the only one who hears that?). You can download this track, and the forthcoming ones, on his website. Please do!
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the tracks (and eventual EP) here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.
...Transmissions come in from outposts all over the universe... Unfamiliar melodies stream into our radios... Fronted by colorful aliens with big voices... The music begins to catch on ... It's in our heads and it refuses to leave... And we like it...
