Mando Diao
Bring 'Em In

THE REVIEW

The music market dictates schizophrenic rules. Does something break out from the underground to impact the mainstream audience? That's when the music industry floods us with clones, imitators, and stepchildren.
But who's to say that something good can't come from it if there are excellent bands that have taken advantage of this now-celebrated genre and started playing it back when no one paid attention to them.

The revival of indie garage is the case. And Mando Diao are its prophets.
Try to look past the easy comparisons when seeing the photos on the CD (yes, these Swedish guys dress and cut their hair with Strokes posters in front of them as models) and dive into the music they are able to express.

The start with Sheepdog is quite a statement, and the first three songs show us how you can make simple rock 'n' roll without falling into clichés and even incorporating unexpected arrangements. The two guitars take center stage and whistle tunes reminiscent of "Stooges flirting with Hanoi Rocks," but there's an honorable place for the rickety keyboard that raises and lowers the volume of the rock marches, making it impossible to get the chorus of The Band (the first single) out of your head.

But don't get too carried away by the festive atmosphere, there's room for several slow and measured moments where Mando Diao prove they are not just children of the garage boom, highlighting their songwriting abilities (Mr. Moon, for example).

An album that flows easily, without being overly bright or shadowy, direct and original even though it's just a bit of old, healthy, and rambunctious rock 'n' roll.