When an artist is so moved by the release of his new album as to go out and break a world record for highest-altitude concert, it's hard to avoid puns about other high things: spirits, melodies, hopes. Norwegian artist Magnet raised just such allusions in a March solo acoustic performance of his new album in a plane between Oslo and Reykjavik (in-flight altitude: 40,000 feet; check the video). Now the album is being released stateside, and the question is: will the high spirits of the album live up to the high hopes for its release? Will its world record for altitude take the album to similar heights on the charts?
Before we tackle those questions--what is it about Scandanavian indie rock artists? First Peter Bjorn and John come out of nowhere (er, Sweden) with "Young Folks," with a whistle hook to die for (and which is already being sampled by Kanye West). Now Magnet, aka Even Johansen, brings a brilliant collection of pop songwriting in his third full-length, The Simple Life, along with pop production that the Shins would give eyeteeth for. What is it about the Scandanavians? Something in the Northern Lights, perhaps.
So, about the music. Some things this release is not:
- A continuation of the dark, earnest vibe of The Tourniquet
- Anything to do with Paris or Nicole
Instead, The Simple Life is a collection of upbeat, clever pop, propelled by killer horn and string riffs and buoyed by Johansen's high, aching vocals. Where The Tourniquet's "Hold On" registers as an urgent, synth-thick plea, many of the songs on The Simple Life are joyous little ditties, including the handclaps of "The Gospel Song" and the bouncy drumline of "Lonely No More." Throughout, unusual instrument choices pop out of the texture: a banjo here, a treble harmonica there, poking through the horn sections and pianos.
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