Heaven Yes!---Happydeadmen----Classics-a Decade in Pop

The Happydeadmen cd I am listening to right was a very pleasant surprise. I feel now as though I am crawling out from under a rock when I first heard this band about three weeks ago, as they were an influential and popular band in Sweden, being in existence from 1988-1998. But a brand new band to me. I don't know very much about them, but they apparently were trailblazers in the Swedish indie pop movement. Before the rest of the world was cued in, pre-Cardigans.

That being said, it would not be unjust to say that Happydeadmen are stylistically in resemblance to The Smiths. There really is no way to get around this. Though I might add that there is a bounce to some of the songs reminiscent of The Housemartins.

Having said that, Classics-a Decade in Pop is an impeccable collection of sopisticated romantic guitar pop. Every song included on this compilation is a little gem. Jangly jangly melodies, with maudlin lyrics. There are songs from throughout the bands 10 year existence, and includes b-sides, and rare tracks. Though I would have liked lyrics included in the liner notes, the pithy descriptions of each song that are listed are informative.

Jan Hedin - Vocals and acoustic guitar
Magnus Karlsson - Electric guitar
Roger Kjellgren - Bass
Thomas Kristoffersson - Drums
Patrik Jonsfjord - Electric guitar




The album is loaded with highlights, like the smart pop of Science Fiction, the upbeat catchy music of The Age of Chivalry. An obvious classic Heaven No!, a song sounding very much like a call from  the Morrissey/Marr playbook. Another number I am partial to is the early song that the album leads with, Silent Sigh City.




All in all a collection that most pop bands would envy. Though sounding like the Smiths, the overall quality of the material overrides any negatives, making Classics-A Decade in Pop album a very worthwhile acquisition.