The Sounds – The First Listen

It’s 2002. I had driven my friends to the mall on one of my first solo outings as a newly licensed driver in my parents new Kia. We were browsing through the record store when I noticed an album by the register labelled as the “$9 Pick of the Month”. The cover was a woman wearing a leather jacket with the faces and logo of the band on it. It was very reminiscent of Blondie with a hint of a punk twist, and I was hooked.

The back had a photo of a woman who looked so confident and sure of herself. Honestly, she looked pretty badass, and made me want to go out to buy a leather jacket and blue boots. I never went through with that purchase as I would never have that amount of confidence to pull it off. For a moment though, she made me believe that I could.

The band was pictured against a beautiful backdrop at a studio or backstage at a show. The image reminded me of the gorgeous, post Victorian era theatre in my hometown and gave me that nostalgic feeling of seeing Weird Al in concert at the fanciest venue in town. I instantly connected with the album and inexplicably needed to listen to them, in the words of Mr. Darcy, “most ardently”.

Living in America hits hard out of the gate and every song is a jam. Every. Single. One. It’s a blast from start to finish and I can’t recommend them enough. Maja’s vocals have a bit of rasp, a ton of self confidence with a touch of her Scandinavian accent peaking through. To me, she is the Queen of Indie Rock.

I grew up listening to ABBA, The Police, Genesis and Eurythmics from my mom and Oak Ridge Boys, Jim Croce, Dolly Parton and Cher from my dad. My friends and I danced around to all the 90’s pop bands (5ive and the Spice Girls get a special shout out). From one best friend I was introduced to Queen and from the other Oasis. I loved all these artists; they shaped my childhood. The Sounds were the start of my own adulthood.

They were the first band I discovered for myself, by myself. I have since gone through a lot of indie, punk, pop and rock bands. I have a good sense of myself from a musical standpoint. I know what I like, and it doesn’t seem to matter the genre.

Since my mother passed away, I have been thinking more and more about the music she loved and left behind. I knew we both had affinities for British bands, but it is very comforting to know we also share a love for Swedish Rock and pop music as well.