The Merrymakers

Bubblegun (Big Deal)
by Tim Den

With the arrival of Bubblegun, the theory is no longer just a theory: it has been proven. Sweden, the country of snow and funny accents, is now the official musical capitol of the world. Entombed, The Cardigans, Refused, At The Gates, Fireside, The Hellacopters, Starmarket… do I have to keep going? Just the fact that a country no bigger than the state of Michigan is home to all the aforementioned bands should be evidence enough. And not only is Sweden exporting so many bands, but all of the bands are good! I only wish the same could be said of the US. Well, consistent with their perfect track record, the little freezing country has given us yet another flawless creature: The Merrymakers. With their second album, they’ve not only delivered the best pop album this year (along with Jason Falkner), but possibly the best Swedish record this decade. Sure, that’s saying a lot in itself, but the reality is that these guys deserve every praise possible. Huge, vertigo-inducing verses and choruses that reek of sunshine, fantastic use of layered instrumentation, and unmatched potency in writing good songs (not one song is even mediocre out of twelve), all mean one thing: sweet fucking album. From the blue-sky sing-alongs of “Saltwater Drinks” to the crimson-sunset moods of “Sad,” The Merrymakers make you feel like you’re rolling in the credits of your favorite ’80s movie: sentimental, bitter-sweet, and on top of one helluva rush. Not since Jellyfish has a band come so close to songwriting perfection. Having Andy Sturmer (drummer, vocalist, songwriter of Jellyfish) produce and co-write some of the tunes doesn’t hurt either. So Americans pull out a giant rocker like “A Fine Line” or “Superstar,” we’ll have to live with second place. With Bubblegun, Sweden has not only defended its title once again, it has shown the world it will never lose its throne.
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