Satisfiction

Melony: Peter Kvint (vocals, guitar); Gunnar Norden (bass); Mans Eriksson (drums, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Anders Lowstedt (trumpet); Andreas Nilsson (hand claps, background vocals).
Equal parts You Am I, David Bowie, T Rex, and Hard Days Night-era Beatles -- with a few '90s alternative rock twists -- Satisfaction is a fine pop debut from Stockholm's Melony. Vocalist/guitarist Peter Kvint, drummer and co-vocalist Mans Eriksson, and bassist Gunnar Norden alternate between sublime and fuzzed-out pop, tossing in some very lo-fi breaks both stark and moody that suggest Sonic Youth, among others. At times, Satisfaction comes off like a blissful dichotomy, both for and against the grunge aesthetic of the moment that was still powerful but subsiding at the time of the disc's 1996 release. The fact that Melony seems so acutely aware of fashion without sounding at all dated is no small feat. Most notable in this respect are the tracks "Barbra Streisand Nose" and "Stage Diver." The mellower material, like "2nd Man on the Moon," is deep and elegant in its expansive and gripping celebration of all things nostalgic and regret-filled. Stunning in its intelligence and musical accomplishment, Satisfaction is an ignored space pop '90s gem. ~ Vincent Jeffries