Sondre Lerche, 'Phantom Punch' (Astralwerks)
Norwegian pop waif decides to crank up his guitar.
By Douglas Waterman 02.17.07 4:00 AM
On the heels of last year's The Duper Sessions -- his total immersion in neo-Tin Pan Alley craftiness -- Lerche obviously wanted to loosen up and rock a little. As evidence, skip to the title track, a wry Britpop jaunt with insistent guitar slashes, and the furious Green Day--by-way-of--Elvis Costello churner "Face the Blood" ("Didn’' ever think I'd be sleeping with the sharks," he opines). Though the hooks and melodies are spread a little thin elsewhere, Lerche still has a convincing charm in his lighter, acoustic moments, as on the wistful, wounded "After All."
Now Hear This:
Sondre Lerche - "Phantom Punch" WINDOWS MEDIA | REAL
