MOST PEOPLE WEAR GLASSES: Bjørn Eidsvåg oozes The National on his latest song. Also on the glasses Photo: Sebastian Bjerkvik / PROMO
Most people are kind. But there are also good attempts at wild shots in the songs for the first Easter weekend.
Sunday 24 March at 12:54 p.m
Bjørn Eidsvåg – “Most people are kind”
The national treasure Eidsvåg sounds like he has started in the American The National on his first single after the 70-year mark has been passed. Certainly free of Matt Berninger’s misanthropy. The rhythm, the energy, the naturally slurred vocals in no way make “Most people are kind” sound like it comes from someone who has reached the state’s retirement age. Even if the title should imply rocking chair philosophy from the top shelf. “We are better than we should be”, it is sung. There is also Eidsvåg.
Åge Aleksandersen and Jørgen Nordeng – “Weeds and wild shoots”
Another jubilant leans more towards blue tones about the green and twisted. In two versions, both of which pay tribute to a forgotten record genre: Jam’men. Jørgen Nordeng contributes more with singing than rapping, in a text that does not grow as well through asphalt resistance as the growths in the title. 75-year-old Aleksandersen is all the more powerful, and sings better than in a long time. “Ugress og Villskudt” is still more atmosphere than a real highlight of the upcoming closing tour.
Villskud – “Late Now”
Whether it is Åge or this Oslo quartet that is closest to Gudmund Vindland’s novel of the same name about Jens Bjørneboe, there is no reason to conclude here. “Sent nå” is rattling in Norwegian, as charmingly eccentric as anyone with an Eastern dialect has been on this side of Lars Lillo-Stenberg. In several ways, a thematic mixture of the anxiety in “The clock is much now” and the inclusive loneliness in “Suser avgårde”. Certainly not too late for this. Rather exactly on time.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE IMAGE: Aurora has a unique presence in everything she does. Also the promo pictures. Photo: PROMO
Pearl Jam – «Running»
Lots of energy and sincere grudge in Pearl Jam anno 2024. Helped by Andrew Watt, who also gave the Rolling Stones the right balance last autumn. In Pearl Jam’s catalog, it can resemble a fast version of “Hail, Hail” (1996), or “World Wide Suicide” (1996). Most of all, it sounds like Eddie Vedder wanted to make his own version of Nirvana’s “Breed”. Only with a text that will shout loudly at something concrete, instead of absolutely everything. Stupid that the specifics are still completely unclear.
Benson Boone – «Slow it Down»
TikTok phenomenon Benson Boone already has more streams on three songs than most of us will get if we were reincarnated seven times. In any case, it is not the success the ballad master seems to be going too fast in the debut album teaser. “Slow it Down” asks for the opposite of Pearl Jam. There’s considerable Lewis Capaldi pop in the face of Ed Sheeran and other fervor, but lacks the high-pitched spark. For those still looking for an Easter reference, Boone actually rhymes “pieces” with “Jesus”.
Aurora – «Some Type of Skin»
Here is finally the song for everyone who has dreamed that Björk would have written The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” with the piano from A-ha’s interpretation of “Crying in the Rain”. I know you are out there. Even with Chris Greatti (Yungblud, Grimes) as a side partner and the vocal ensemble Shards in the background, “Some type of skin” fails to be as big, intense and widescreen skinless as you want it to be. Those in the know claim that the live version is much more magnificent. I believe in that.
MOST PEOPLE WEAR SUNGLASSES: Åge Aleksandersen doesn’t need sunglasses to be tough. Åge Aleksandersen needs the sunglasses. Photo: Hans Martin Høydahl
Mörmaid – «Wet Summer»
Speaking of Chris Greatti and Grimes: Live Sollid Schulerud creates electropop that meanders and extends well into Claire Elise Boucher’s spindly dream sphere. Here with something that can most simply be called drum n’ bass crafty. Which in several ways can seem like a forgotten nineties song that has finally been given just the right amount of sugar. In another decade, she had long been a world star.
Adrienne Lenker – «Free Treasure»
Around the turn of the year, Big Thief-front Lenker held a songwriting workshop on Zoom. There you could at times get the impression that her songs almost fell from the sky, even though she herself postulated hard work as the only creative method. Second solo album of the year (the first is a aid release for Gaza is equal parts solid craftsmanship, as curious whimsical. Recorded live in the living room, with various helpers, as steadily blurred as the album cover. A Bonnie “Prince” Billy for our time.
Waxahatchee – «The Wolves»
Katie Crutchfield is already behind one of the year’s best songs. The album “Tigers Blood” doesn’t quite manage to follow up the massive “Right back to it”. It would have been impressive, and downright shocking. Still: Strolling country rock, think The Decemberists meets Neil Young around “Don’t be Denied”, probably won’t feel more heartbreakingly real this spring, summer and autumn.