Millencolin - Kingwood

Millencolin
Kingwood  Everyone has "their band" - you know, the band you say when someone asks you what kind of music you're into. Since 1997, mine has been Millencolin, everyone's favorite Swedish pop punks. When a band is that important to your own musical identity, it's scary when they stop putting out good music. Three years ago, I had a little panic attack when the band released its 5th album, Home from Home. While it wasn't a bad album, I didn't like the new "rock" direction I and started worrying that it was the beginning of the end. They're back with a new album and here's what they have to say about it: Kingwood is an album both looking forward and backwards; Forward in the sense that the band is continuing to develop the more rock-oriented side of the band, as heard on the latest album Home From Home…Backwards, as in hitting it harder, tougher and faster than in many years. I tore the shrink rap around Kingwood with trepidation, hoping that it wouldn't be a disappointment. Here's my thoughts: It is clear that the band is consciously trying to maintain a very punk rock intensity. The album starts off with the in-your-face "Farewell My Hell." The band even makes their first attempt at a gutter punk singalong "Cash or Clash" (Unfortunately, this is a not a good sound for them. It's too bad that they put this song so high on the tracklist.) Millencolin is at is best when combining fast, tough punk with big, undeniable harmonies. "Biftek Supernova" is a perfect example and by far the best Kingwood number. ("Biftek" and "Simple Twist of Hate" are the only really fast tracks on the album.) Their second-strongest move is the happy, poppy tune. "Ray" and "Mooseman's Jukebox" fill this niche nicely. The rest of the tracks fall into the slower, deliberate style that the band has been developing since Pennybridge Pioneers (think "Duckpond," "Penguins & Polar Bears). Though this isn't Millencolin's best record, it's solid. it's enough to make me feel that they can still rock and I can confidently keep them at top of the my "favorite bands" list.