Weeping Willows
Broken Promised Land
Grand Recordings

In Sweden, the word "pretentious" has come to mean something like "taking oneself too seriously". It's often used when someone aims a little too high. When they try to be someone or something they're not. It's a negative word. Something you should avoid to be.

The Weeping Willows tries to be a heartbreaking band of the sixties, playing for the big emotions. A band that sounds like The Walker Brothers, Roy Orbison or even Elvis himself. The music is grandiose and certainly aiming high. So, do they make it? Well, compared to a band like Tindersticks they fall flat as a school orchestra trying to be The Royal Orchestra. (On the other hand, name one band that doesn't.) But I saw them live half a year ago in darkest December with a belly full of beer and in a smoky, dimly lit room, and I must say it was a great experience. The beer had opened up my heart, and right then I didn't care if they were a mere carbon copy of "something better", or not. I was there, they were there, and they played absolutely great music. The singer Magnus Carlsson (who, by the way, has a great voice) tore his shirt up, got down on his knees and sung as if his life depended on it. Then he took another zip of his wine, lit a cigarette and did the same thing again in the next song, and in the next, and in the next... Great!

So, are they pretentious? Do they take themselves too seriously? Yes they are, and yes they do - and that's really the great thing about it, isn't it!

Copyright © 1998 Erik Starck