Snob's Music: A Camp: "Colonia" album review

Saturday, April 11, 2009

A Camp: "Colonia" album review

It's been well over a decade now since Nina Persson first charmed us as the impish lead singer of Swedish popsters The Cardigans.

Persson is back, this time teamed with fellow Swede Niclas Frisk and Shudder To Think guitarist Nathan Larson as A Camp. The trio's debut album, Colonia, is set for an April 28th release.

Dropping in to lend a hand are members of Beirut, The Arcade Fire, Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha, and Joan Wasser aka Joan As Police Woman.

Gone is much of The Cardigans' cutesiness, replaced with a more mature sound. Both lyrically and musically A Camp is lightyears ahead of The Cardigans.

The tracks do miss some of the quirky charm of songs like "Lovefool" or "Carnival", but the increased complexity of the arrangements more than make up for it. String arrangements are prominent throughout the record. And they are added without sacrificing hooks, as the poppy "My America" attests. It's also obvious with the immediately gripping ebb and flow of the first single "Stronger Than Jesus".

Persson and company demonstrate a flair for the dramatic as well. The tremendous "Golden Teeth and Silver Medals" would fit nicely as the score for the love scene of a Hollywood musical. "Here Are Many Wild Animals" unfolds like a Broadway musical (and includes an homage to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", or is it "Tarzan Boy", in the bridge).

Colonia does have its darker moments. "It's Not Easy To Be Human" and "The Weed Had Got There First" are definitely not bubblegum pop.

The album does drag a little in the second half. Songs like "Chinatown" and "I Signed the Line" leave little lasting impression. Overall though, it's good to see Persson back on top with a band that sounds like it's going places.

A Camp play the Mod Club in Toronto on June 1st.

Best tracks: "Stronger Than Jesus", "Golden Teeth and Silver Medals"

Track listing for Colonia: