Mando Diao
bring 'em in
On Sale Now
For $6.98

These Swedes are coming to the world stage with a twisted combination of rock ‘n roll that is obnoxious and stout yet distinct and refreshing. Their sound trails in and out several genres, a virtual amalgamation of punk and psychedelic rock, swaying back and forth between soul-filled ballads and angst-laden jams that could whip your ass in a drag race. Their method is derived from molten Noel Gallagher, Ian Astbury, The Animals, Beatles, and a drunken Van Morrison with a hot, Irish temper. Mando Diao blends the punk of The Hives with the soul of Detroit’s yesteryears, even featuring a sample of Hound Dog Taylor’s Let’s Get Funky on track number three, Motown Blood.

bring ‘em in packs a punch right from the first track, Sheepdog, which is also their single. Following Sheepdog, Mando Diao throws out two more punk-tinted songs (Sweet Ride, Motown Blood) before Bjorn Dixgard assumes the lead vocals for Mr. Moon, a track that feels like The Cult but sounds like Noel Gallagher.

There is no doubt that Mando Diao is confident in their ability to bend musical genres at will by piecing together songs with scraps from at least four different decades of rock ‘n roll. Van Morrison song structures creep onto the album in songs like Lady and The Band. They contain sixties sensibilities with a punk rock bowtie to hold it all together. At other times, some vocals can sound quite mid-60s Beatles in stature, reminiscent of McCartney singing Revolution or Birthday.

From time to time, a scream will splinter from a song, but funny thing is that those otherwise irritating shards of noise fill space so well that nothing else would seem to be more appropriate. It’s as if the band knew precisely what they were doing from the start. Jangly guitars meander through the album but particularly soften Gustaf Noren’s howling on Little Boy Jr. and Paralyzed. The two vocalists, Noren and Dixgard take turns singing, trading vocal styles over the course of the album’s twelve tracks. Dixgard with his soulful, rich tone digs deep into rock roots to deliver his notion of the blues while Noren wails magnificently from the mast of the Mando Diao vessel. The remaining members, Daniel Haglund (keyboard), Carl-Johan Fogelklou (bass), and Samuel Giers (drums) complete the group, adding the rhythm and harmony that fuel the ship on which they play.

In many ways, their self-righteous attitude appears to serve as an advantage, unlike many other modern semi-punk bands, because their music seems to thrive in their own very distinct and diverse universe. It is as if they could care less if anyone else is out there listening to them because they seem to be content with who they are, yet probably always keeping one eye peered towards rock glory. You can be sure that you’ll see these lads bringing their blunk (bluesy punk) to a city near you soon; they have too much going for them to be held back.

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