Disco de I'm from Barcelona: “Let Me Introduce My Friends”

Fawlty Towers fans are going to recognize the name of I'm From Barcelona -- that's what the waiter Manuel always says to explain odd stuff: "I am from Barcelona!"

But their debut album "Let Me Introduce My Friends" is nothing like Spanish music. Instead, this lovable, enormous Swedish band sounds sort of like a cross between Architecture in Helsinki and the Polyphonic Spree -- sunny, twinkly, shimmery pop music.

It opens with Emanuel Lundgren drawling, "Daaaaaaamn!/Oversleeping again/Daaaaaaaaamn!/I can't believe I did it once again." He then describes what he'll have to do to "make it on time." It's a mundane topic for a pop song, but it's framed with a sparkling pop tune full of catchy guitar, twinkly xylophone and the occasional bell chime.

The songs that follow are in the same mold -- the lyrics are about confusion, chicken pox, broken hearts, stamp collecting, and finding a spot for the perfect treehouse. And the songs wrapped in them are just as charming: folky pop, driving guitars, twee little sugarpuffs, shimmery bell-augmented pop, and the sprawling orchestral sound of "Olakola."

"Let Me Introduce My Friends" is basically pop for people who like bands with a slightly sugary sound, but a pleasant melody as well. "Let Me Introduce My Friends" is basically all sunshine, spring grass and childlike fun -- very charming.

You can't really single out any band members, since there are almost thirty of them, but the instrumentation is nicely polished and solidly played. The songs are wrapped in unstoppable swirling riffs, banjo, solid percussion, sweeps of wobbly and/or sputtering synth, rattling bells and what sounds like a xylophone.

Lundgren has a nice smooth voice, although at times he sounds a bit like he's singing a nursery rhyme. The lyrics are a bit short and simplistic, but they do admittedly sum up the childlike enthusiasm of the music ("You know I can't believe I'm telling everyone that I know/That every stamp in my collection is a place we could go!").

"Let Me Introduce My Friends" has rather simple songwriting, but deliciously twee pop and some solid, catchy tunes. Nice, unpretentious fun.

My husband and I have been listening to I'm from Barcelona for awhile now. We love them... they have a sound unlike any other. The closest comparision I might make would be either Belle and Sebastian or The Boy Least Likely To - but that wouldn't be quite right. I'm from Barcelona is in a category of its own.

Recently, we saw them perform live. I didn't think I could like their music any more than I already did. I was wrong. Seeing I'm from Barcelona was the most exhilarating experience. This is band that you can expect amazing things from. And a band well worth the support.

My Kids (2 and 5) and I (40)love this album!!!

There is not one bad song on the album. The 29 piece band really uses great hooks, intelligent lyrics and pure pop sensibility to create a fantastic Album.

If you ever find yourself in a bad mood put this Album on and within 2 minutes you will be smiling and tapping your toes.

Make sure you listen to the last song (Saddest Lullaby) in it's entirety. The song finishes and there is about a 2 minute period of silence. After the silence is a special secret song which I believe is sung in Swedish. The song absolutely ROCKS!

I am playing this Album for all my friends and colleagues. Its definitely my favorite album of the year!

It's something that's a little different, but not mind blowing. Solid choice for simply expanding your musical selections.

This Swedish ensemble (yes, they comprise of 29 members in all but the songs are written by Emanuel Lundgren, who started the band) came out of nowhere in 2006 with a very well received debut single "We're from Barcelona", an irresitable sunny sing-along, and later in the year the debut album came out. This is now finally released in the US.

"Let Me Introduce My Friends" (11 tracks, plus 2 bonus tracks; 40 min.) starts with "Oversleeping", which despite its title, brings the general mood of the album: uplifting, mostly uptempo songs, which remind me of the uncomplicated pop music of the mid-1960s. The afore-mentioned "We're From Barcelona" is one of the highlights of the album; "Treehouse" is a simple little song, but it works really well with a great chorus that goes "I have built a treehouse/Nobody can see us/It's a you and me house", it's impossible not to hum along or not to remember it after you hear it. "Chicken Pox" is about as "downbeat" as it gets on here. "Rec & Play" is another highlight. The US version released in Spring of 2007 comes with 2 bonus tracks: "The Painter" and "Glasses", and they fit in well with the rest of the album.

What is it with Swedish bands and their seemingly obsession of the 1960s? Besides I'm From Barcelona, there is Peter, Bjorn & John and also Dungen, all of which explore and reinvent various aspects of the 60s scene, whether intended or not. Also, I hope that I'm from Barcelona is not going to get viewed/dismissed as a novetly act of some sort, simply because it is such a large ensemble, the fact is that "Let Me Introduce My Friends" is a terrific album. Finally, if you wonder where I heard about these guys, this album gets airply on the internet-only station WOXY, "The Future of Rock and Roll". Bam!!!