Record Label: Dippy Records
Genre: Indie Pop
Band Link: www.myspace.com/exnorwegian
Buy on Amazon.com

Ex Norwegian’s last album “Standby” mixed Flaming Lips’ full-sounding cerebral sound with jangly pop sensibility. It wasn’t anything too revolutionary, but it was charmingly indie.

On Ex Norwegian’s new one, their sound is poppier and tighter in its song construction, but it does lack that quirky headiness that made “Standby” interesting. “Sketch” is essentially straight-up pop rock with a tad of indie flavor. Think Fountains of Wayne.

Ex Norwegian have become great songwriters and here penned a set of catchy, jangly tunes. I’m slightly taken aback, though, by this summery, Sunday-car-drive style. Cowbell and tambourine sometimes make appearances, to give you an idea.

This album is by no means bad – it’s actually a great, cheery indie pop album (I mean, how can you hate a hand-clapper like “Turn Left”?). My disappointment is just in their sunnier, more harmless direction. I feel like they lost a bit of themselves. Still, a couple of tunes contain their old, moodier signature. “You’re Elastic Over Me,” featuring their female bassist on vocals, is awesome and just weird enough. (I wish she sang on more tunes.) “Upper Hand” is a great downtempo gem. “Acting on an Island” isn’t their best, but it does harken back to moodier times.

As they say, fans are the toughest critics. I like Ex Norwegian, which is why I’m hard on them. This is a good album; I just don’t want them to become Ex-Ex Norwegian.

Bottom Line: A little too 90s alternative-pop for me.
Notable Tracks: Sky Diving, You’re Elastic Over Me, Seconds, Upper Hand
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