HEAR TODAY SWEDEN'S KNIFE HAS A NOSE FOR THE QUIRKY.Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer Sweden gave the world ABBA, Ingmar Bergman, Greta Garbo and Pippi Longstocking. The politically mild country was a leader of the sexual revolution and, perhaps not coincidentally, its citizens enjoy one of the world's highest average life expectancies. Their meatballs are nice, and so is their vodka. So, why does the Knife -- Stockholm's moody electronica duo of Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson Karin Dreijer Andersson (born 1975) is the lead vocalist of electronica duo The Knife, formed with her brother Olof Dreijer. Andersson was previously the vocalist and guitarist of the group Honey Is Cool. -- insist on being photographed wearing long black coats, long black wigs and masks that make them look like crows? ``To show what our music looks like,'' they chirp. It makes a Nordic kind of sense. The sound of this brother-sister team is dark, atmospheric, chilly, alien, inviting, amusing and very, very precise. It doesn't have a lot to do with the migratory black bird or a certain pop singer whose first name is Sheryl, though. And as for homegirl-- the Knife makes Bjork sound like Tim McGraw. Back in the kingdom, the Knife passes for a pop group, vying with soccer and ice hockey for the leisure krona kro·na 1 n. pl. kro·nur See Table at currency. [Icelandic króna, from Old Norse kr . They've already won Sweden's version of a Grammy, and their just-released third album, ``Silent Shout'' (Mute; $15.99), debuted at No. 1 over there. In the States, Dreijer and Dreijer are on the autobahn to the mainstream, collecting raves from glossies like Entertainment Weekly and Urb. We reached Olof by phone, discovering immediately that sarcasm is not best appreciated over trans-Atlantic cable by a Berlin-based Swedish electronica musician dressed as a crow. Q: Your music is eerie, weird, sad, cold and confusing. Ever thought of doing a car commercial? A: (In Swedish) Say what? Q: Well, you wrote that song ``Heartbeats,'' which was covered by your countryman Jose Gonzales in an ad for the Sony Bravia. A: That was the first and only time. We said OK because it wasn't us doing it -- it was Jose singing it. We don't believe in selling our music for commercials, but it gives us money, you know? Q: I know, I know. One of your songs, ``We Share Our Mother's Health,'' has an especially strange title. What's it all about, Olof? A: My sister writes the lyrics. I have no idea what she's on about. It's a very hysterical and panicked kind of song -- that much I'm sure of. I can only relate to the harmonics. But the sounds are ... like a new rubber material. Here is a sample of other new releases in stores this week: Summer officially starts for three generations of continuation-school students with Slayer's ``Christ Illusion'' (Warners; $18.98). The remastered two-disc ``Best of the Doors'' (Rhino; $18.98) collects everything you could possibly need from the L.A. band. Poetry 'n' politics fuel ``Reprieve'' by Ani DiFranco (Righteous Babe; $16.98). Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann and Rufus Wainwright show up for the soundtrack to ``The Last Kiss'' (Lakeshore; $18.98). ``Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!'' by Hellogoodbye -- whoever they are -- is one great title (Drive-Thru; $12.98). Lexus drivers can relax in traffic -- smooth jazz supergroup Fourplay is back with ``X'' (RCA See RCA connector and video/TV history. ; $18.98). ALSO IN STORES ``Phobia phobia: see neurosis. phobia Extreme and irrational fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation. A phobia is classified as a type of anxiety disorder (a neurosis), since anxiety is its chief symptom. ,'' Breaking Benjamin (Hollywood; $18.98) ``Stupid Dream,'' Porcupine porcupine, in zoology porcupine, member of either of two rodent families, characterized by having some of its hairs modified as bristles, spines, or quills. Tree (Snapper snapper, name for members of the Lutianidae, a family of spiny-finned food and game fishes found chiefly in tropical coastal waters. Snappers are carnivorous, active, and voracious, with large mouths and sharp teeth. Most species travel in dense schools. ; $17.98) ``The Devil You Know,'' Todd Snider (New Door; $13.98) ``Bleeding Heart bleeding heart: see fumitory. bleeding heart Any of several species of Dicentra, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants of the fumitory family (Fumariaceae). The old garden favourite is the Japanese D. Graffiti,'' Nina Gordon (Warners; $13.98) ``Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album,'' Selah Selah (sē`lə), obscure Hebrew word occurring many times in Psalms and in Habakkuk. Its derivation is unknown. It may be a musical notation signifying a pause or the end of a phrase. (Curb; $18.98) ``Major Lodge Victory,'' Gin Blossoms (Hybrid; $14.98) ``Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album,'' Reel Big Fish Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out." The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska. Since the band's founding in 1992 and their demo In the Good Old Days... (CD Baby; $19.98) ``Year of the Dog ... Again,'' DMX See DMX512. (Sony; $18.98) ``Kidz Bop 10,'' Kidz Bop Kids (Razor & Tie; $18.98) ``Industrial Zen,'' John McLaughlin (Verve; $16.98) ``21 #1 Hits: The Ultimate Collection,'' Buck Owens (Rhino; $18.98) ``Sneakin' Up Behind You: The Very Best of the Brecker Brothers'' (Arista arista (ä·riˑ·st ; $11.98) ``The Definitive Collection,'' Steely Dan (Geffen; $13.98) CAPTION(S): photo Photo: no caption (Knife) |
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