Caesars - Paper Tigers

Of all the catchy singles that have come out already this year, none are as amazingly cool as “Jerk It Out,” the first single from Sweden’s Caesars new release. It’s the kind of fun go-go jerky song that makes your shoulders have a life of their own, and if you’re like me, there’s no way you can keep yourself still while it’s playing. I continue to be amazed at the overwhelming abundance of good music coming out of Scandinavia, and this quartet is no exception. Not only do they have a fantastic song out right now, but the rest of their fourth official album, Paper Tigers is quality as well. Giving a modern update to 60’s rock, the Ceasars’ sound is a welcome breath of fresh air when compared to the more prevalent run of strict garage rock acts of late. Not that they don’t tip their hats to garage; they do. But they also are more interested in melodies and lyrics in more of a Lennon/McCartney fashion than the rest of the crop. The songwriting is top-notch, netting one song title/line that I’ve shamelessly stolen as my sig, “It’s not the fall that hurts/It’s the landing.” Perhaps it’s the title track that gets the lump up in your throat the most though. It starts sweetly, with light guitars, tambourine, delicate keyboards and Cesar Vidal’s plaintiff vocals, leading into the sweeping chorus of “It’s in every single one of us/Every single one of us/Looking for a single cause/Hoping for a second shot.” Maybe it’s the two years of care that it took to get Paper Tigers out there, but the skillful melodies and thoughtful lyrics make this more than just another rock offering with retro tendencies. This is, simply put, a really good record. [www.caesarsweb.com]