Take one part The Who. Mix it with The Beatles melodic sensibilities. Toss in a couple of grams of Oasis and all their influences, then insert just a smidgeon of REM. Bake for exactly one half hour. What comes out should look, sound, and probably even taste a whole lot like The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. Though their influences are not overly apparent on this album, you can still tell that classic rock is what inspired The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. From the blazing “Transcendental Suicide” to the timid “Song For The Others,” The Soundtrack Of Our Lives proudly display that rock is still alive and kicking, albeit in an underground scene as opposed to mainstream radio.
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives – Origin, Vol. 1
Sweden holds many bands within its borders that could pass as bands from the 60’s or 70’s, but The Soundtrack Of Our Lives are one of the most notable. Almost every song on Origin has the qualities of a classic rock anthem, but one track really takes that title and runs with it. “Transcendental Suicide” starts off quietly with a backwards harp and guitar duet, then slowly builds into an amazing song, with a couple of high notes from the lead singer and even a few guitar solos. The song doesn’t let up for half a second after the intro, and is a constant assault of brutal guitar-based rock.
Speaking of guitars, many of the songs on Origin will sound just okay for the most part, but then the guitarist will bust out a solo that takes the song to another level entirely, leaving the listener awestruck at how a simple solo can make the song a much higher quality. This is epitomized on “Age Of No Reply,” a high-energy track that really picks up at the amazing solo. The drummer rips away at his set, bashing in an almost Keith Moon-like style on one song and doing a slow jazz rhythm the next. Though the bass player is, for the most part, not noticeable, he still keeps the beat well with the wild drummer.
Though “Transcendental Suicide” is the standout track, songs like “Mother One Track Mind” bring the perfect amount of punk influence into the Soundtrack Sound and provide for an excellent listen. “Bigtime” brings in the vocals that shift from one side of your headphones to the other, and has a memorable chorus that will be stuck in your head for days. “Song For The Others” is a beautiful piano-drive ballad that brings the end of the normal album to a close wonderfully.
The United States version of Origin has two extra bonus tracks that are entirely unnecessary. The first, “To Somewhere Else,” is a depressing and slow song that isn’t even worth listening to once, and I’ve only listened to it in full twice. If you skip that song, you are rewarded with another dull track entitled “World Bank.” Starting off with corny vocals that remind one of a circus for on reason or another, the song never picks up speed or adds any real melody. Both bonus tracks should just be ignored. Pretend they’re not there. You’ll be glad you did.
Every instrument is clear in the mix of the album, but the bass is sometimes a little hard to hear over the distorted guitars and drum bashing. The production has a gritty quality that enhances the songs instead of taking away from them, which it might do with any other band. The only reason the aggressive sound works is due to the fact that the songs sound gritty and raw.
Drawing heavily from their influences but also adding a few original ideas, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives succeed with Origin, Vol. 1. There’s a reason the bonus tracks aren’t on the real album, and it’s because they’re bad. So, with the exception of two songs, Origin is a superb album that fans of heavier classic rock will enjoy greatly.
The Dylanettes Official Rating : 3.5/5
