Producer Björn Yttling fills the songs with wonderfully idiosyncratic touches, like the shushing vocal percussion of "The Chills," the spooky synth landscapes of "Up Against the Wall," and the soothing oceanic waves of "Let's Call It Off." Meanwhile, all three songwriters sing, offering bittersweet ruminations in deadpan whispers, as when Peter Morén proclaims, "I laugh more often now/ I cry more often now/ I am more me" on "Objects of My Affection." Such pretty compositions and navel-gazing lyrics could come off precious live. If a recent KCRW broadcast is any indication, though, the band embraces righteous feedback and martial beats of predecessors like Spacemen 3 and the Velvet Underground, offering tunes that folks young and old can enjoy.
