album of the week: 6.5

Acid House Kings

Music Sounds Better With You

(2011)

why you'll love it - good clean fun from one of Sweden's best pop acts

why you'll hate it - too much love, not enough bass

Labrador Records' marquee pop outfit, Acid House Kings, has finally delivered a long awaited follow up to 2005's Sing Along With Acid House Kings. It was starting to feel like Johan Angergård has spent the last few years crafting his other band, Club 8, into an Acid House Kings replacement. The ten songs that make up Music Sounds Better With You have been anticipated for nearly 6 years, but every bit as strong as when they were a quartet in 2005.

Being a trio hasn't changed much of anything. These particular songs don't fill up a space as much as the last release had, but that seems to be a production decision. This isn't as echoey or dense. Most of the accompanying instruments are light handicapping persuasion, xylophones, or acoustics. Aside from that, it's another twee pop knockout! No flaws whatsoever to speak of. The whole album never strays far from it's coffeehouse volume level, but its short enough for that not to be bothersome.

Acid House Kings are really good at sounding romantic without causing nausea, or upbeat without feeling like a lobotomy. They don't even come close to crossing the line. You don't need to be in a particularly lovestruck mood to enjoy these songs. They rely on atmosphere and melody to project a positive message, not tiresome catch phrases.

Favorites on here include, "I Just Called To Say Jag Älskar Dig", "Would You Say Stop?", and the cutest beach party song ever, "Under Water". Because nobody does pop better than the Swedes, frothiness has never felt this indispensable.