Never let it be said that Sweden isn't highly diverse when it comes to music. The Nordic country is famous for the bubblegum Europop of
ABBA and
Ace of Base, but Sweden is also known for its abundance of avant-garde jazz and its seemingly endless supply of underground death metal and black metal bands. Talk about extremes! But
Last AmAndA is a Swedish band that doesn't fall into any of those categories; they aren't
ABBA any more than they're
Dark Funeral or
In Aeternum. Instead, this self-titled debut album favors a polished, tuneful style of alternative rock that draws on influences ranging from
U2 and
R.E.M. to
Live. The
U2 comparison doesn't come about because lead vocalist Marten Lårsson sounds like Bono. Actually, Lårsson's vocal style is best described as a combination of
R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe,
Live's
Ed Kowalczyk, and post-grunge; Lårsson would fit right in if he were asked to make a guest appearance on an album by
Creed,
Default, Portable, or
Incubus. Nonetheless,
U2 has definitely affected
Last AmAndA's songwriting, and the lead guitar playing shows a strong awareness of
the Edge. Despite the presence of those
U2,
R.E.M., and
Live elements,
Last AmAndA projects an identity of its own on this CD (which the band co-produced in Los Angeles with Dave Holdredge, a skillful studio wizard known for his work with
Hoobastank,
Limp Bizkit,
Incubus, and
Saliva, among others).
Last AmAndA's work isn't innovative or groundbreaking, but it's enjoyably solid -- and the Swedes bring a strong sense of craftsmanship to melodic yet rockin' items like "Unforgettable" (not to be confused with the
Nat King Cole favorite) and "Can't Stand Myself."
Last AmAndA's first album falls short of superb, but it's a sincere, likable effort that's worth hearing if one likes his or her alt-rock on the melodic side. ~ Alex Henderson