Listening through the latest from The Sounds will immediately compel listeners to go back and peruse the lush catalog that the Swedish quintet has already amassed. Not for nostalgia but more for a refresher and an education on how to evolve right in this industry.
But I digress.
The newest album from The Sounds is a hallmark! A towering beacon of light in a world of utter garbage (currently). Fresh, fantastical, and full of life, Things We Do For Love is a grand celebration of all things The Sounds and just of awesome music in general.
As the opening pangs of the title track enter our collective consciousness, it’s apparent that The Sounds ain’t effing around with glimmering guitars, shimmer synths, Johan Richter’s thumping bass, and Maja Ivarsson’s smooth delivery topped with subtle effects to enhance the feel. It’s like White Lies meets Tears For Fears if you’re looking for comparisons.
“Safe and Sound” is a retro-futuristic beastie that pulsates the way that “Physical” did or any Olivia Newton-John style dance jam from the ’80’s for that matter with a New Wave twinge encompassing it all. “Changes” is a slow mammer jammer that sways and grooves with a definite Stevie Nicks vibe permeating.
“Bonnie and “Clyde” has airs of Starship’s iconic “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” all over it with Ivarsson’s voice very reminiscent of Grace Slick here. “Hollow” moves, propelled by Fredrik Blond’s steady beats and Felix Rodriguez and Jesper Anderberg’s razor sharp riffing leading into this eerie chorus as Ivarsson’s haunting delivery echoes on.
“Fingertips” is modern Electro at its’ finest while “Dreaming Of You” glistens within an all around subdued performance that’s just as energetic as the faster tracks on Things We Do For Love. “Dim The Lights” is a straight up Electro Rawk Fest and then “Stay Free” comes straight at listeners with a sound that captures the earlier records. Rounding out the record, “Home” provides a brief respite after the steady barrage of synthetic Rawk bliss that preceded it easily paving the way for a formidable conclusion. The conclusion in question takes the shape of the grandiose “Miami” which is this ghostly hymnal injecting heaping helpings of soulful Blues into The Sounds sound as it hums for an epic six minutes before ending this equally epic new record.
Things We Do For Love is out on June 12th through Arnioki Records. Pre-orders are live now and can be perused and purchased by clicking here. For more on The Sounds, follow them online by clicking here, here, or here.