What Kristofer Rönström wrote 2008-08-03
The Bosse Sound – ” Swedish Punk, Hardcore and New Wave 1979-1986”, Bacchus Archives, 2002
Already when I was two years old I showed my interest of music. Yeah, it is rally true ... At visit to grandma and granddad (who were for a while professional musicians in various jazz bands) in the province Ruda, Småland, I paid attention to their large arsenal of saucepans and household goods to create my own symphony. What music is generally believed to be is really individual. Obviously my banging was far too intensely and destructive for the oldies. They procured drums located in a soundproof and distantly room. Excellent for them!
The interest of loud and intense sound and tones continued for many years. At age of 10-11 my record buying mania begun. In the beginning only hip-hop was counted. After I heard everyone’s ”whigga” Vanilla ”Sherbert” Ice rap about ”ice” I directly fell. I found out everything about hip-hop and rap culture. That got me soon to laugh on the plucky attempts by Vanilla to be black. I did everything to collect the latest releases - vacuum-cleaning, grass cutting and errand (messenger, delivery) boy were the usual work. Later I went to Lund or Malmö to botanize. Back home I always carried the rawest and the most violent records. It should be on weapons and ugly language. Otherwise it was no fun. Unfortunately the music on the records got in the second place.
Today I know some records were classic – Geto Boys, Ice Cube etc… But when I started to play in real bands and the interest of real instruments was more in focus my influences became something other. In the beginning it was only Zeppelin with the drum guru Bonham in the center. Later the pop came but it should of course be power-pop, no namby-pamby here. Next I had a heavy country period – naturally then “outlaw country” with Merle, Jones and Buck at the mikes. This was some time at high school. Damn, I think it went to wearing suede jacket with Indian seam, Crocodile Dundee hat and a suiting buckle belt in school time – shit!.
But so, after high school everything changed. A neighbor introduced a band named Fugazi. Yes, hell, this was what I had searched for. Dynamic rock, no rules, varying voice – shout sometimes, half talk sometimes – everything with the rhythm in focus – simply in your face. Because I am always interested in the history of everything I get (I am educated history teacher) I figured out that Fugazi was a part of the new wave of American punk and underground rock created in the late 80s. The band leaders are two pioneers in the American hardcore that begun in the end of the 70’s. My eyes were now opened for American hardcore – with bands as Black Flag, Minutemen, Rites of Spring, Minor Threat, Fear etc. Finally I had found the way to punk and hardcore music, which still is my great passion, especially the American.
The domestic punk is a relative new find for me, perhaps just a year old. Recently I bought the book ”The Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk 1977-1987” by Peter Jandreus. This is a cruel book for the newly-inaugurated who seeks cool releases but doesn’t know were to start. Here I got among other things tip on the collection ”the Bosse Sound” which for me appeared extremely interesting. After obtaining the CD I have now decided to give a personal little review, song for song, by this punk collection:
1.Socialgrupp 3 – ”9-5”
This is a real hit. Basic and classically hit. Some influence of Priest in the riff after the refrain.
2. Andra Sidan – ”Röda Rosor”
This is my style. Tight play with ”The Cars” synthesizers in center. It is Power-pop with light dark wave tendencies.
3-4. Järntvätt – ”Ålderskramp” and ”Hjärndöd”
Also this band has synthesizers (Ålderskramp). But it has more garage sound. It is little more to the The Sonic and Seeds than The Cars. Delicious muddy with over mixed lead guitar.
5-6. Anti-hund Mina - ”Hon är med barn” and ”Mammas Gosse"
Hard and half fast with rasping voice and hockey choirs. Classical hardcore. Lovely loops on guitar. Dare to use acoustic guitar in ”Mammas Gosse” – innovative. Little D.O.A influences.
7. Total Muzak – ”Salt i såret”
Delightfully sneaking and mysterious introduction with chewing-guitar. Nice guitar sound. Girl voice quite OK but perhaps not my favorite. I like the mix with the palace bass.
8. Spy Ja’ måste gå
Recorded live. Rather mediocre. Little booty in the feeling.
9. Helga Belta – ”Jag vill inte se våra barn dö”
Now we are talking! Garage in the spirit of Sonic. Cruel refrain. A stable lead guitar which all the time supports the song. Snow into little jazzy chord to the end – king!
10-11. Pöbel Möbel – ”Dream World” and “Honeymoon with Satan”
Oi-punk. Straight and simple - dead good production and punchy voice.
12-13. Mackt – ”Mat av plast” and ”Hasse Mattsson”
Nope, not my favorite. Little too simple-minded for me.
14-16. Zeb & the Fast Ones – ”Akutvård”, ”Första klass”, ”2000 år”.
This I like. Closely united (knit) band with the songs in focus. Cool voice and ruthless prodcution. One of my favorites!! These boys have been with before ....
17-18. Baader-Meinhof – ”Belsen” and ”Berlin”.
Avant-gardes with clear World War II theme. Fabulous quirky and well done arrangement. Completely in my taste. Well-greased. Get into some acoustic guitars in “Berlin” which with surf and flamenco influences give you a mood of the South.
19. AMÖ – ”Att mörda en överordnad”
Great quite informally. Good sound with efficient refrain.
20. DTR – ”Juicy fruit”
Cool introduction with guitar a little out of tune. Later it is full set of speed. One of the fastest tracks of the disc. The boys scantily don’t reach themselves but it gives the song charm.
21. Bad Bones – ”The Dynamiter”
I like the title of the song. Simple and peeled tune. Good voice melody with great singer.
22-24. Kurt i kuvös – ”Massmedia”, ”Dagens rätt”, ”Valet”
Very energetically half speed punk. Nice the whole band participate in the singing. ”Dagens rätt” is a fierce song. Nice drummer.
25-26. Meat Eaters ”No mercy” and ”No way”
Booty hardcore. I like the singer and the guitar player. Great overall sound with little American touch.
27-28. RTS – ”Straff” and ”Allting försvinner”
This is super. Really fast. Listen to ”Straff” – a classic! Arne H ... Throw yourself at the wall!
29-30. Zpamhead – ”Gå till ...” and ”Repa inte Lacken”
Nope, live, rhythm section not really with, but quite cool guitarist
