Ett slag för dig

Album review

With the cover picture taken from the '70s film En Kärlekshistoria and with a deserted countryside and car wrecks in the booklet, the first impression of Ett Slag För Dig is easily that of a nostalgia album. And sure, there are songs showing sadness over what has happened to society, like "Landet Vi Föddes I" and the title track. The factories are closed down, and people are moving to the cities. But the sentimental quality this adds is not the main event, but the backdrop, and a well-painted one. Most songs tell small stories, like that about a young boy and girl meeting once by chance in a big city, "Du Skulle Tagit det Helt Fel." Here Andersson Wij shows his skill in writing lyrics using an easy flowing and natural language, avoiding clichés and using rhymes sparsely. In this he is probably outstanding in Sweden around 2000. But unfortunately, without in any way being inept, he has not got the same talent for songs as he has for lyrics, or at least does not show it here. While most of the slower numbers are atmospheric and nice enough, the faster songs are actually quite boring. That they sound like they could have been recorded in 1986, by any singer/songwriter inclined on rock, probably Ulf Lundell, may attract some people and is probably somewhat intentional. And listening to "Avsked Till en Svensk Predikant," being in style and arrangement a religious song from the beginning of the century, with the production adapted to the style, you get the thought that the old-fashioned production on the other songs may have a purpose. But if that is true, it is still a shame that it makes the album sound old already at the release. But this complaint is not because of the music being bad -- the music is decent. But decent is just not good enough when the lyrics are truly great, and it prevents the album from being exceptionally good.

© Lars Lovén /TiVo