Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Sondre LercheBrand: Phantom
Edition: Music CD
Format: Enhanced
CD Release Date: 2007-02-06
Music Label: Astralwerks
Soundtracks:
- Airport Taxi Reception
- The Tape
- Say It All
- Phantom Punch
- Tragic Mirror
- Face the Blood
- John, Let Me Go
- Well Well Well
- After All
- She's Fantastic
- Happy Birthday Girl
Free Music Notes for Phantom Punch
Free Music Review: First Impressions
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought this album yesterday, so it hasn't had a chance to grow on me, but I can offer a few impressions.
First of all, longtime fans should be warned that this is the least melodic thing Sondre Lerche has ever done. The music is angular and energetic, at times downright raucous, and the wistful pop hooks of Two-Way Monologue are nowhere to be found. Instead, we have rapid, unpredictable melodies that twist and turn through a variety of blue notes and key changes. Some bits are catchy, while others (on first listen at least) are just hard to follow. These songs are clearly the product of an agile and highly trained musical mind, and I find them fascinating on an intellectual level. Emotionally, however, they seem somewhat barren: too much logic, not enough feeling. Again, I have not given the songs a chance to grow on me, so it's entirely possible that the emotion is there and I'm missing it. And to be fair, there are a few numbers here that immediately struck me as pretty, specifically Tragic Mirror, John Let Me Go, and Happy Birthday Girl. Hence, I'm giving this album the benefit of the doubt and not four but five stars - really four and a half, but I decided to round up because of my general esteem for the artist and because I'm the only reviewer so far. Plus, I have a feeling I will start to like it better. Most of my favorite albums struck me this way at first.
I recommend Phantom Punch highly if you are a musician or songwriter, or if you just really love Sondre Lerche. His voice and lyrical personality are as quirky and likeable on this album as they have ever been. However, there is no doubt that this is less accessible than his previous work; even the jazz of Duper Sessions, I think, does more to draw in the casual listener. You should only buy this album if you have a certain amount of patience; that said, I hope you do have the patience, because I think you'll find it's worth it.
Phantom Punch Poster
Norwegian songster Sondre Lerche returns with his most vital record yet. Action-packed with exuberantly concise pop songs, Phantom Punch was produced by the esteemed Tony Hoffer (Beck, Belle & Sebastian, Phoenix, Supergrass, arianne Faithfull) and brims over with unrestrained youthful energy. Still in his early twenties and already recognized as one of today's most gifted singer-songwriters, Lerche has released four acclaimed albums, appeared on the Conan O'Brien and Carson Daly shows, and toured with Elvis Costello, Jason Mraz, Nada Surf, Liz Phair and Ed Harcourt. Lerche's beguiling music and boyish charm has won fans in both the adult alternative and indie rock realms all over the world. His most dynamic, accessible record yet, Phantom Punch is poised to elevate Lerche to new heights of popularity.As with jazz-oriented departure Duper Sessions, Phantom Punch is a group effort. Sure, Norway's favorite son is still at the center of the action, but his fourth is billed as Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down. In other words, this isn't a singer/songwriter affair, but rather Lerche (vocals, guitar), Ole Ludvig Krüger (drums), Morten Skage (bass, percussion), and Kato Ådland (guitar, keyboards) on power-pop pills. (Inara George from the Bird and the Bee contributes backing vocals.) While the album isn't a complete change of pace, it does represent a shift into slightly harder-edged territory. Like shoes that haven't been broken in yet, the results are mostly successful (they look sharp, but pinch a bit). Lerche has never denied a debt to tour mate Elvis Costello, but now he?s sounding a little like Costello's pals in Squeeze, surely one of the most tuneful acts to emerge from the new wave era. If Phantom Punch has a flaw, it's that Lerche's hooks aren't as pointed as they could be, a problem with his work since auspicious debut Faces Down. Granted, it isn't a major matter, and beautifully sung numbers like "Say It All" and "John, Let Me Go" are among his best. But he hasn't yet drafted a ditty as memorable as, say, "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)," and there's no doubt he's got the talent to do it. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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