Anyone who’s heard the Garden State soundtrack knows that Zach Braff has an awesome taste in music. It’s pretty much a given that if he likes a band, they’re going to be half decent.
While my taste in music leaves a lot to be desired, here’s a band I reckon he would like: Elias and the Wizzkids.
From Stockholm, Elias Akesson leads his four-piece band with witty, perky tunes that describe his daily goings-on with melodic realism. Because English isn’t his first language (and this is a quirky, but loveable, trend I’ve noticed with most European bands) the lyrics are a little too literal, and less crytpic than your average singers, but that just makes me love them even more.
Nearly all the songs on “A Little Mess” have become my theme-tunes during the last six months; when I was abit despressed just before Christmas, “The Dance” became my song. The lyrics were all very relevant and familiar, as Elias wrestles with an unknown feeling of gloom. He tries going to the cinema, he tries chocolate, but he can’t get rid of it. Then, one night, he spontaniously breaks into dance in his flat – “But at that moment when I closed the door, my little flat turned into a dance floor”.
As it turns out all his worries disappear after a litle boogie. I haven’t tried it yet, I’m waiting for the disco light to appear from my ceiling.
The song “24″ is about anxiety at getting old, and was all I couldn listen too just before my 24th birthday. For Elias it’s about reluctantly growing up. For me, it was the fear of getting old without being able to grow up.
“The Job” is a great parody of a man in an interview – “You think you are so smart, just tell me when to start, will you sir”.
In short, all the songs are memorable, melodic and very whistle-able. They are very real songs, sung with heart and sarcasm – what a great combination.
