Pure pop can be wickedly seductive, as Sweden's Kristoffer Ragnstam well knows. On his fascinating third album, the intricate soundscapes promise relief from the mundane world, with fuzzy guitars, itchy rhythms, layered voices and juicy melodies converging for a familiar yet surprisingly fresh experience. Reflecting Ragnstam's roots as a drummer, the peppy title track sports a hot, sample-worthy percussion break, while "May I Admire Her" erupts into a rousing chorus with arena potential. But mere escape isn   [ read more ]

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Fans of Kristoffer Ragnstam will be happy to find that he hasn't lost his wry wit or self-effacing songwriting on his second full album, but there's even more power and drive to his songs circa 2008 compared to his debut. The opener, "Stop on Top," definitely pulls out all the stops; it's heavily guitar-oriented and distorted, displaying the chops of drummer Per Eklund. The instrumentation and sound don't vary widely from the debut, although this is a smaller group, basically just Ragnstam with    [ read more ]

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A Swedish artist who's given to the same match of irresistible songwriting and immaculate indie pop production as acts ranging from the Cardigans to Peter Bjorn and John, Kristoffer Ragnstam deserves to be in the same company. Sweet Bills, his debut album after a breakthrough EP, doesn't lack for great songs, all of them informed by Ragnstam's self-abasing wit, best heard on "Man Overboard" ("There is a man overboard, I think it's me"). Most of his songs are overlaid with a driving rhythm    [ read more ]

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