Stenaldern Kan Borja

It might be hard to imagine, but Sweden is a country where music is nearly always highly produced and polished. So it's very nice to see that there still are some Swedish bands whose members want to retain a punkish sound and not sell their souls to the music industry. Bob Hund, which continues to record for the indie Silence label, should be included among such bands, comprised of musicians who make the kind of music that sounds like they want to make. Even though Stenaldern Kan Borja might have become the group's most popular album outside the Swedish underground, the plot is pretty much the same as in the last two studio albums: melodic rock with a colorful soundscape and thoughtful lyrics. The opening "Dansa Efter Min Pipa" and the following "Sista Bestalliningen" reflect the raving live power of Bob Hund, and even though the slower "Papperstrumpeten" might bring the intensity down for a while, the energetic "F.o. Stal Hon Mitt Hjarta" once again presents Bob Hund at its peak. Singer Thomas Oberg keeps up the pace with an extremely enthusiastic voice, and even though Bob Hund didn't set out to create a clean sound, the band's playing is so smooth that you really can't complain. There are many innovative elements in the arrangements, and now and then it seems that smaller tricks in the playing kick in. So even though Bob Hund doesn't seem to rely on extreme production techniques, the effect is complete and there really aren't any gaps at all. Stenaldern Kan Borja might be the best album by Bob Hund so far. However, as the success of the band may suggest, Bob Hund has intentionally moved more toward straightforward pop. Older fans may find Stenaldern a bit disappointing, yet it is a vital part of Bob Hund's discography. ~ Antti J. Ravelin