Spotify Listen Link: Swedish House Mafia – Until Now
2013 Grammy Nomination for Best Dance Recording for "Don't You Worry Child" (feat. John Martin)
I remember always liking Swedish House Mafia. They seem like genuinely cool guys for some reason and not douchy-club guys like some other awful dance music makers. It's sort of refreshing. I mean, someone can correct me if I'm wrong, because I'm only going off of pictures. But anywhos, this is the album. I think we've done a single of two of SHM's before, but never a full album.
This is their second compilation album. Remember, sadly, that we live in an age where artists release singles, not albums. But lucky for me, they at least have the sense to group things and humor me by releasing them all in one package. Joy!
And someone correct Wiki immediately, please, because it says this was it before the breakup of the group to do individual projects. WHAT?? Why?? Sad. Yup, this intro is a roller coaster of emotions. Let's get down to the music.
"Greyhound" is first up. Right away, they set the mood with a thumping bass line and a digital melody that's going to get your heart racing. (Side note: why am I not writing press kits anymore? I used to and sort of still do kick ass at that.) Things only pick up from there with a very familiar sound, that is, familiar if you've ever stepped foot into a club like, ever. They do add a little extra something to get your hips moving, and don't allow the beat to take full control. It's really a nice way to go about this - almost like they're treating it like a real song! | |
"Calling (Lose My Mind)" has sent me over to YouTube because Spotify has that one track blocked. One of these days I'll suck it up and get Premium, but that'll be when I have steady income for a change. Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso are on board for this one, and it features Ryan Tedder. It's always nice to hear real lyrics to these kind of songs. I don't know why it comes as such a relief, but to hear words and not be lost in a void or wall of sound is just nice. Now, granted, this one comes across just about as obsessive as The Calling's "Wherever You Will Go," but the band was good now, and this combo is good now.
| Switching back over the Spotify, we move on to "Antidote," a hard-hitting little thing fit for a psycho scene in a hospital. Knife Party is also involved in this one, and luckily the pitchy-beats let up eventually, but man were those close to hurting quite a bit. It's still got that beat that infiltrates your soul a little bit. I adore that breakdown about 3 minutes in though, where the lyrics start, bringing in the next half of what's sure to be high-pressure dance music. Whew. |
"Miami 2 Ibiza - Extended Vocal Mix" shoots out of the speakers next. We have Tinie Tempah joining us this time. Now, unfortunately, this sounds like every other damn irritable pop dance song that's out there right now. Come on guys, you're better than this. | |
| "Don't You Worry Child (feat. John Martin)" Is by far one of the biggest songs to come from this collection - and with good reason. The vocals are catchy, and somewhat deep if you really get into them, but the dance rhythms are impeccable. They keep things going at a great pace, both revving up and cooling down at the right moments while you're on the floor. On all ends, it's a really well put-together song. Also, anyone else get a 90's dance song feel off of this at all? |
"One (Your Name) [feat. Pharrell]" comes at us with a motorcycle engine revving sound. Like, literally, I would have thought a bike was going right into the speaker. It was a little unnerving. Far too much of the beginning of the song just hoops on, until we finally get some vocals going on. From there one, it's really not bad. It's not my favorite thing I've heard on the album thus far, but I can be okay with it as long as words are going over this particular beat.
And for the final song, a really familiar track, "Save the World." I personally think I've said everything good I could possibly say about this track already (click on the link to the side to find it and check it out), so I'm just going to kick back and enjoy this one as we close out this review. | |
- "Antidote" (w/ Knife Party)
- "Don't You Worry Child" (feat. John Martin)
- "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (vs. Coldplay)
- "Save the World"
That was an absolute whirlwind. I very rarely these days get to sit down and listen to an entire album, front to back, without interruptions. I am always doing something else in the meantime, but I can't remember the last album I listened to without having to pause for work for the day or to get some sleep or go run some errand. This was mind-boggling in so many way, and it was a fantastic time. These guys make some freaking fantastic mixes.
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