The Swede
And the Swede
Shoddy Merchandise (2006)
God bless Matthew William Kohnle. Kohnle is The Swede. While I'm not sure if the name is a reference to his nationality (or if he is in fact a root vegetable), this project is solely his. With the exception of some bass clarinet by Todd Knapp and some vocals by Mrs. Kohnle, all songs are written, performed, and even recorded by Matthew. Kicking off with "The First Song on This Record" we get a six-minute slice of acoustic-led balladry. Don't mistake this album for a 'singer/songwriter' vanity project: while Kohnle runs the ship, it's certainly not limited to one genre. We hear Pink Floyd synths, elegant keys, and laid back vocals that know just when to drop out and let the music take over. It's a nice balance. Indeed, part of the appeal of And the Swede is the use of silence. Long pauses between the opening chords of "They Hate This Where I'm From" give it depth and sustain that make the eventual transition into a free-jazz jamfest all the more rewarding, discordant brass section and all. As Kohnle notes on his website, much of the recording was just done with a relaxed vibe where the listener can feel … Read more
Foo Fighters
The Colour and the Shape (Reissue)
RCA (2007)
The Colour and the Shape was the Foo Fighters second full-length release, though it was the first album in which … Read more
Year of No Light
Nord
Crucial Blast (2007)
As our global society is brought closer and closer as a result of the Internet and other lightning fast communicative … Read more
Happy Mondays
Uncle Dysfunktional
Sanctuary (2007)
This review is dedicated to Anthony H. Wilson. Fuck Keith and Mick, Fuck the Toxic Twins of Aerosmith, and fuck … Read more
J Church / Flamingo 50
Split
Los Diaper (2007)
Oh J Church how I love you and your noisy simple pop-punk brilliance. And thank-you for doing a good cover … Read more
