First Aid Kit The Big Black and The Blue
B
There’s got to be something in the water in Sweden. Is it just me, or are half of the great new songs on the airwaves today by Swedish artists? I’m thinking maybe Sweden’s got a pretty incredible music program in elementary schools or something. Well, national generalizations aside, First Aid Kit is one of Sweden’s more recent musical exports and they’re ready to impress. Those who have heard of First Aid Kit probably discovered them, much as I did, through their memorable YouTube cover of Fleet Foxes’ “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song.” The Stockholm folk duo of sisters, Johanna and Klara Soderburg, shines equally bright on their beautifully harmonized first LP, The Big Black and the Blue.
The album has folk style but not the bluegrassy type, instead I would say the sisters Soderburg have that 60s female singer-songwriter sound – think Joan Baez. There are minimal frills to their songs, just pure clear vocals and some guitar strumming. That said, with those few tools First Aid Kit has put out a really beautiful folk album with some key standout tracks (see below). Mid-album, listeners might get a little bored as the blueprint for most their songs is very similar, and to me, it got a little tired.
Still, this duo has a lot to offer and have written some pretty wise and sophisticated lyrics for their young ages (16 and 19). I hope to see more albums like this in the near future from them. Their MySpace music page reads, “We aim for the hearts, not the charts!” but with effortlessly pitch perfect harmonies and pretty melodies, I’m guessing they’ll hit both targets before they know it.
Recommended Tracks: I Met Up with the King (track 10), Hard Believer (track 2), Heavy Storm (track 5).
Listen to "I Met Up With the King" here
--Britt Shaw
Under the Influence, 10am-12pm Fridays on WGTB
2 comments:
I. Love. This. Album. I am so jealous of these little european girls. "ghost town" broke my heart
Love them and hate them--hate them for talent I don't have, love them for HARMONIES. "Winter Is All Over You" broke MY heart. But, one bone to pick: sometimes I think they're not quite sure what they're singing about. Language barrier? "Met your mother at the department store, she looked innocent... like a stillborn." What? Ew? Just a thought.
All that aside, it always SOUNDS absolutely tragic and perfect and wonderful. I like this album a lot better than their first (also better album art).
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