Blake Solomon
08/29/08, 09:57 AM
Heart-Sick Groans – Oh, I Can Do a Number of Things
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: August 23, 2008
Who?
Three simple Swedes create simple indie-pop. After having visited tranquil Sweden, I can now understand the country’s ability to churn out such sunny melodies and child-like lullabies. Everything and everyone is beautiful, why make gloomy tunes?
How Is It?
Oh, I Can Do a Number of Things is Heart-Sick Groans’ first release. (Let it be known I am vehemently against their band name.) Four songs rife with full-bodied violin strumming (“A Bell of Bronze”), country/folk musings (“I Suppose I’ve Shocked You”) and handclap sections (“The Season For Us”) mark this album as mostly rudimentary but thoroughly enjoyable. Singer Johan Brannstrom has a soulful, open-air voice that prefers lovable/story-based lyrics like, “A good book to read / Who wrote these pages / Unfolding in my knee?” This is the type of album that makes you feel guilty for being so jaded all the time, but it may also make a good gift for the friend who’s heard it all and needs to relax a bit. I’ll take this little dose of Prozac any day.
Recommended If You Like: Simon and Garfunkel, Loney Dear, lemonade, Jens Lekman, iced tea
www.myspace.com/heartsickgroans
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: August 23, 2008
Who?
Three simple Swedes create simple indie-pop. After having visited tranquil Sweden, I can now understand the country’s ability to churn out such sunny melodies and child-like lullabies. Everything and everyone is beautiful, why make gloomy tunes?
How Is It?
Oh, I Can Do a Number of Things is Heart-Sick Groans’ first release. (Let it be known I am vehemently against their band name.) Four songs rife with full-bodied violin strumming (“A Bell of Bronze”), country/folk musings (“I Suppose I’ve Shocked You”) and handclap sections (“The Season For Us”) mark this album as mostly rudimentary but thoroughly enjoyable. Singer Johan Brannstrom has a soulful, open-air voice that prefers lovable/story-based lyrics like, “A good book to read / Who wrote these pages / Unfolding in my knee?” This is the type of album that makes you feel guilty for being so jaded all the time, but it may also make a good gift for the friend who’s heard it all and needs to relax a bit. I’ll take this little dose of Prozac any day.
Recommended If You Like: Simon and Garfunkel, Loney Dear, lemonade, Jens Lekman, iced tea
www.myspace.com/heartsickgroans