Lacrosse - This New Year Will Be for You and Me (Album)
Swedish sextet, Lacrosse, debut with their feel-good luscious indie-pop album, This New Year Will Be For You and Me. Bursting with catchy melodies, these guys have quite dark lyrics at times to mix and match with their happy loving music.
Upon learning that the only group that each of the band members of Lacrosse like is Sonic Youth, you may be fooled into what you think might tease your ears. Far from grunge and rock’n’roll, the only two things in common Lacrosse have with Sonic Youth are 1) they both have a female in the band and 2) Lacrosse have slightly in your face punk-ish lyrics. Aside this, these two bands are far apart.
This album opens with Bloc Party dance beats which are joined with keys and drilling telecasters. “No more love songs for you// No more songs at all for you// One day you’ll be alone, and where will I be then? I’ll be gone” is such a gorgeous chorus in coming to terms with aching heartbreak and it’s carried our in such optimistic melodies and character by Nina and Kristian singing together.
Acoustic guitar and soft bass lines in You Can’t Say No Forever compliment the sweet vocals of Nina and Kristian. Gradually the song builds as each instrumentalist joins. Though, in songs like Go Ego, they know how to break it down into simple pop songs. This proves their tame ways in understanding how to write great pop songs well in full and also simplicity.
New York or Alingsas has squealing telecaster lead guitar throughout a rocker pop song. With a fast marching beat behind the trumpet, this is one of the better tracks on the album along with Shiner, an alt-country rock number. Songs like this on the album really bring these guys afar from other pop groups as they consider to delve into rock-pop with infectious melodies.
This debut from Lacrosse is definitely an eye opener and these guys have definitely something more to look forward to. With energetic songs and fantastic instrumentalists, I can only suggest if you are into your pop music, to check this album out – one of the best pop records already in 2008. This New Year is out now through Tapete Records.
