Nu Rave Brain Wave

Collie Tsunami Socially Awkward here!!!!!!!!!!!

SO. Morrissey is still god, Brianna is still in Texas and I am a little disappointed with the newest Mando Diao album, Never Seen The Light of Day

For those of you not in the know, Mando Diao is a band of attractive Swedish gents that write incredibly catchy feverish garage pop (pop isnt a bad word anymore according to Alex Kapranos)….I remember way back in the ancient times of 2004 I was flipping through my now ex-boyfriend’s CD collection (yes, boyfriend, there once was a human that was attracted to me it was obviously a flaw in the order of the universe) and saw this CD with a funny-sounding band name, MANDO DIAO

I pop it in my stereo and the first song, Sheepdog starts playing and as soon as I got to the catchy-as-hell chorus I knew that this band was formed solely for my enjoyment

Then they released Hurricane Bar and it was so, so good
And then last year, Ode to Ochrasy, also so, so good

I saw them live only three times between 2004 and 2007 but was blown away each time they graced that little Troubadour stage. I selfishly love that they’re nobodies here in the states so they have to keep playing there and I will never have to fight for my front-row spot

And then I hear a few weeks ago they’ve recorded a new album? Say what!?!? Ode to Ochrasy is still fresh out of the oven! I may be the most impatient person on the planet, but I’m always willing to wait when good music is on the line

So here we go, Never Seen the Light of Day

What exactly happened here, guys. Stop trying to be innovative because it isnt working for you. This album sounds like they’re trying to be wild west outlaws which sounds great in theory but no thanks.

Let’s go over these song titles first of all. “Mexican Hardcore” (ok i actually like this song) “Macadam Cowboy”. “Misty Mountains”. “Gold” (Gold Rush???????) There is clearly a theme here, and that theme is not “Swedish guys in leather jackets that stick stubbornly to the blues form”–the way I like my Mando Diao!!

Sweden is not the wild, wild west

And also, the beginning of the song “I Don’t Care What the People Say”? THAT IS A GARAGEBAND SOUND EFFECT. And trust me, I know my GarageBand noises. So stop it, you are a band with songwriting and instrument-playing skills, leave the GarageBand-ing to The Socially Awkwards

It isn’t an awful album though, really. I have to give them kudos for trying to think outside the box, I guess….. but it was a really, really good box they were in. And there are some songs that I really, really dig–”Mexican Hardcore” for one, and “Train on Fire”, despite the weird Saturday Night Fever-ish synth progression

And you all know full well next time they play the Troubadour I will be there ticket in hand as excited as can be

Listen for yourself..the whole album’s up on Myspace. http://www.myspace.com/mandodiao

Next album, Mando Diao….take it back to Sweden!