Never judge a book by its cover, or an album by it's first song; the latter is something I learned while reviewing Loney Dear's fifth full-length album Dear John. Loney Dear is the musical project of Emil Svanängen, and the album Dear John, released January 27th to the US, is a culmination of genres, experimentation, and perfectionism.
Having never heard anything of Loney Dear before this album, the opening tracks, "Airport Surroundings," and, "Everything Turns to You" had me pegging this album as something it's not. I envision these two tracks as perfect soundtrack material for some action sequence in a film. "Airport Surroundings" starts the album off with a strong drum-machine beat and rushed vocals. "Everything Turns to You" starts with tense orchestrals, and the overlying siren-esque vocals only add to the sense urgency that these songs create.
The album then softens with the next track, "I Was Only Going Out." This a different side of Svanängen entirely; a side that features whistling and organs as instrumental accompaniment to soft voices and evocative lyrics. If I were to pick a favorite track it would be this one because of the atmosphere it creates, the softness of it. But this isn't an album easy to separate into favorites; I think it works well as a singular element, one of those that doesn't leave you skipping tracks when listening straight through.
Throughout Dear John there is genre bending abounds (some songs lean towards techno, other towards folk) and simple musical talent. Nothing sounds out of place, each musical element sounds precise and perfected as though it was carefully thought out. Certainly a product of perfectionism.
The obvious comparisons can be made to other Swedish artists like Jens Lekman, or other soft-spoken vocalists the likes of Stuart Murdoch. In listening to this album I was also reminded of Teitur in terms of the vocals, the strength behind a soft and contained vocal range. Loney Dear achieves musical depth and complexity in Dear John while losing nothing in terms of vocals and lyrics, and since listening to it the whole way through once, I haven't turned it off.
Video: Here is the video for the first single from Dear John, "Airport Surroundings"
MP3: Loney Dear - Airport Surroundings
Links: For more information, tour dates, or to purchase this and other Loney Dear cds, visit Loney Dear's website and myspace.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
02.04.09 @ The Variety Playhouse (w/ Andrew Bird) Atlanta, Georgia
02.06.09 @ The Plaza Theater (w/ Andrew Bird) Orlando, Florida
02.07.09 @ The House of Blues (w/ Andrew Bird) New Orleans, Louisiana
02.09.09 @ Spanish Moon (Headline show) Baton Rouge, Louisiana
02.10.09 @ Rudyards Brittish Pub (Headline show) Houston, Texas
02.11.09 @ Hailey’s (Headline show) Denton, Texas
02.12.09 @ The Paramount Theater (w/ Andrew Bird) Austin, Texas
02.13.09 @ The El Rey Theater (w/ Andrew B) Albuquerque, New Mexico
02.14.09 @ The Rialto Theater (w/ Andrew Bird) Tuscon, Arizona
02.15.09 @ Soma San Diego (w/ Andrew Bird) San Diego, California
02.17.09 @ The Cellar Door (Headline show) Visalia, California
02.18.09 @ The Orpheum THEATRE (w/Andrew Bird) Los Angeles, California
02.19.09 @ The Fillmore (w/ Andrew B) San Francisco, California
02.20.09 @ The Fillmore (w/ Andrew B) San Francisco, California
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