The Sounds - Living In America

If one didn't know better, having listened to The Sounds debut album Living In America you'd think once 1987 rolled around Sweden just stopped receiving new music. This album is the epitome of the return of the 80's sound. Forget about all that lo-fi 70's throwback stuff, this is 1985. Fortunately it's the kind of 80's keyboard pop-rock that hadn't completely lost it's punk roots. The chanting chorus, inciting dance filled fist pumping, is prevelant and ready to go. From the first track "Seven Days A Week" to the final track "Riot" you are hit with the onslaught of keyboards, simple driving drum beats, straightforward guitar chords strumming, and a female singer bringing it all home. In fact, the sound is so dead on it almost seems like a joke. "Hit Me" has the essential horns, "Dance With Me" is from a brat-pack movie you just somehow forgot about it, "Reggie" is the ska influenced track, "Mine For Life" has the mind melting keyboards racing around your brain, and the ultimate party jams - "Seven Days A Week" and "Living In America." Even the hidden track, that I assume is called "The S.O.U.N.D.S.", is a classic rawkus jam with the chorus gleefully spelling the name of the band. This album is fun. Period. It's a great addition to your stockpile of summer CD's perfect for busting out on warm days and throwing the volume up. At first you may be disoriented by the raw 80's power of Living In America but you'll eventually grow to appreciate it, even if it's just for the summer. [www.the-sounds.com]