What's their sound?
These sexy Swedes trade in new-wave-saturated proto-rock rife with attitude courtesy of lead singer Maja Ivarsson. They combine the punk swagger of Blondie and the ice-queen dramatics of Garbage to create dance-rock with a pop edge.
What the hell does that mean?
Catchy, singalong choruses propel kicky upbeat jams like “Tony The Beat” and “Song With a Mission,” both from the Sounds’ 2006 breakout album, "Dying to Say this to You." But it’s the grinding, funk-inflected groove of “Hurt You” that stands out as the band’s crowning achievement to date.
Is their game tight?
The Sounds amassed their die-hard American fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of touring. They played on both the 2004 and 2006 Warped tours and logged over 200 shows in 2006 alone. They’re currently enjoying a boost thanks to “Hurt You” being featured in a Geico TV commercial, which has only heightened anticipation for their upcoming third full-length, due next year.
X-factor
Ivarsson is a firebrand whose Nordic good looks have already hit the pinup circuit: She landed on Blender magazine’s “Hottest Women of Rock” list in 2006.
