The 2 Bears - Be Strong
Feb 23, 2012
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Ex Norwegian - Sketch
:: December 5, 2011 :: by Sam Berkhead
With angular, jangly guitar hooks and choruses that pack a punch, Ex Norwegian makes music that sounds like the lovechild of early ‘00s garage rock and the grunge and britpop sounds of the ‘90s. Despite having a decent enough command on the songs they write, it seems like the band’s members don’t have an idea of how to be original.
Sketch isn’t an awful album, but neither is it one that will keep the listener coming back for repeat listens. Each song plods through into the next, creating a cohesive yet unmemorable sound—yet the album picks up in its second half.
“Upper Hand,” a driving, upbeat song that combines the acoustic and the electric, is a highlight reminiscent of Beatles-esque pop and the grimy soundscapes characteristic of the grunge movement.
Listen to "Upper Hand" -