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I Was a King [fuzzed out power pop from Scandinavia]

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"[I Was a King]'s self-titled album confidently weaves together shoe gaze, indie rock, and pop to create a product that can appeal to both the cynical and the cheerful." - NPR

Buy I Was a King from Amazon


Sounds Like: Elefant 6


RIYL: Sonic Youth, Apples in Stereo, The Thrills, The Clientele, My Bloody Valentine (circa Strawberry Wine)


A Few Words: Noregian fuzz pop quintet I Was a King marries Byrds-era flower power melodies (so readily employed by The Clientele) with the distortion that set apart bands like Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine. The result isn't earth-shattering, but it has something that Apples in Stereo always lacked: subtlety.


The album, which features collaborations from Sufjan Stevens, Danielson, Ladybug Transistor and Serena Maneesh, clocks in at just over 30 minutes. Yet the robust composition, layering, and instrumentation makes it feel more like 35--maybe even 40. The tracks tend to be void of guilt or angst, musing instead on the decadence of enjoying what you have while you have it.


I Was a King has toured Europe several times, performing with bands such as Magnolia Electric Co, Ladybug Transistor, Herman Dune, and Why? And if you catch them soon, you can see them with Crystal Antlers and Constantines.


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