The Post-Rockist

I’m From Barcelona
Let Me Introduce My Friends
[Dolores; 2006]

The release of I’m From Barcelona’s LP Let Me Introduce My Friends couldn’t have come at a better time.  This is the kind of music that brings people together – and what better time to bring people together than at the beginning of the school year.

I had the fortune to stumble upon I’m From Barcelona quite by accident.  With the help of last.fm and Jens Lekman I was steered toward the band with the unusual name (who are, in fact, not from Spain, but rather, Sweden).

If you’re like me, hearing the phrase “Swedish Pop” will conjure up images of Ace of Base being played at your middle school sock hop or perhaps drunken renditions of ABBA’s Waterloo on Karaoke Thursday.  Don’t worry, I’m from Barcelona won’t do much to alter your image of Swedish pop music.  Just replace the sequin unitards of 1970’s ABBA with the indie geek chic look of the mid-00’s.  The band is arguably cheesy but undeniably infectious.  (What can I say, I’m a sucker for hand claps.)  With 29 members, I’m From Barcelona is quite possibly the most inclusive band of all time.  I’m From Barcelona has created music videos for their songs “We’re From Barcelona” and “Collection of Stamps,” which are currently circling the internet and helping to build an international fan base.  The first time I saw the video for “We’re From Barcelona” I squealed with delight at lead singer Emmanuel Lundgren’s red moustache.  It’s hard to tell exactly who plays which instrument; however, the chorus consists of approximately 20 people, all with appropriately Swedish-sounding names.  My personal favorite band members are Martin Alfredsson and the charming Mattias Johansson.  I feel like I could call up Frida Öhnell on the phone and chat for hours.  Watching the music videos, you can feel the camaraderie between the band members.  They give each other bunny ears and stifle back giggles.  As the audience, you feel included in the fun.  It isn’t a coincidence that the album is called Let Me Introduce My Friends.  This is just a group of friends and they aren’t in the band to make money; they are making music because it’s a fun thing to do.

Each song gives listeners a new surprise.  I find myself identifying new instruments each time I listen: tambourine, maracas, banjo, tuba, clarinet, trombone, kazoos, and even an accordion and perhaps a xylophone.  Not just any band could get away with a song about stamp collecting.  Personally, I never would have thought to rhyme “Sudan” with “Uzbekistan.”  I’m From Barcelona’s song “Collection of Stamps” manages to make my own postcard collecting hobby seem a little bit cooler. 

The song “This Boy” shows off the sensitive side of Lundgren.  He laments over the struggles and pressure of growing up.  “All the voices in my head and all the people I meet, they’re all trying so hard to make a man out of me.  But there’s always gonna be this little boy inside of me.”  Who can’t identify with the feeling that they aren’t ready to grow up quite yet?  The music on Let Me Introduce My Friends is for the little boys and girls inside all of us.  For everybody who isn’t quite ready to let go of the happy, innocent feelings of childhood friendships.

I find myself listening to this album on my walk to work in the morning.  It puts an extra bounce in my step.  It’s hard to feel angry while listening to Let Me Introduce My Friends; I’m thinking of buying a copy for every angsty teenager I know.  I tried to convince my 13-year-old sister to start a music revolution at her middle school but so far she’s not convinced.

But that’s the appeal – it’s music for everybody.  Pre-schoolers could listen to the sugary upbeat music without any risk of the usual sex and drugs corruption associated with rock music.  This could be the one album that both teenagers and their parents can agree upon!  I’ve already decided that I’ll play “We’re From Barcelona” at my spring wedding I look forward to seeing my great aunt Lucille bust a move next to my college friends.  It’s hard to imagine anybody not liking I’m From Barcelona.  It’s akin to not liking freedom…it just seems so un-American.

Who knows, maybe we can start an inclusive music revolution.  Look for it starting soon at a middle school near you.  

MP3: I’m From Barcelona (ft. Loney, Dear) - “This Boy” (from Let Me Introduce My Friends)

-Posted by Kim