release date: Nov. 16, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Niklas Hellberg
label: Sonet / Universal - nationality: Sweden
Track highlights: 1. "Brev till 10:e våningen" - 2. "Söndagmåndagsång" - 3. "Ingen sjunger blues som Jeffrey Lee Pierce" - 4. "Fanfanfan" - 7. "Sönder Boulevard" - 9. "Stjärna som är din" - 11. "Om Black Jim"
5th solo studio album by Thåström released at a point where he is also engaged in recording sessions with the band Sällskapet together with producer Niklas Hellberg and additional musician Pelle Ossler, who contributes here on guitar and banjo.
Musically, this may likely represent the biggest change of style when comparing the long list of albums featuring Thåström - be it with Ebba Grön, Imperiet, Peace, Love & Pitbulls or Sällskapet. This is a collection of singer / songwriter compositions all held in stripped-down arrangements with piano, light percussion and gentle guitar, and where the vocal performance of Thåström is at the centre of his narratives.
Without further comparison it's almost like Springsteen's Nebraska or Leaving Songs by Stuart A. Staples. It's folk rock with elements of jazz and a touch of americana blended with soft and mellow alt. rock / alt. folk, which may be inspired by great story-tellers like Tom Waits, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Van Morrison or Nick Cave. The songs are said to have autobiographical content dwelling at various periods of his youth and at places where he used to live. Like the album title, which refers to his childhood address outside Stockholm, "Sönder Boulevard" is where he used come when living in Copenhagen, and the song "The Haters", well that's with reference to the band that should eventually become Ebba Grön.
The album was both a critical success as well as a commercial hit in Sweden but it also fared well in neighbouring Scandinavian countries. The album was his second #1 solo album in Sweden and the single "Fanfanfan" was his first No. 1 single hit. Also the second and third single releases from the album, "Om Black Jim" and "Sönder Boulevard" peaked at #2 and #12 on the singles chart list respectively. The album secured Thåström a Grammis as "Årets Rockalbum" ('Album of the Year') at the Swedish Grammy Awards.
Knowing about his musical progression over the years moving from post punk via blues rock and synth rock to his most recent engagement in industrial metal and industrial rock this album truly reveals a new side to his many-faceted talent - at least as a complete album release 'cause 'fact is, he has always demonstrated the ability to compose and perform sincere soft ballads - be it with Ebba Grön, with Imperiet or as a solo artist, but never to this extent.
With Skebokvarnsv. 209 Thåström puts himself at the top of the Scandinavian music scene and he also underlines that he possesses what seems to be an eternal creative source that will provide his audience with many great things to come.
A highly welcomed and recommendable listen that puts Thåström on my top-10 list in a year with so many great releases.
