Sounds Go Indie, Get Happy

Swedish synth-rock stars The Sounds had everything going for them with the release of 2006's Dying To Say This To You: They had an acclaimed sophomore record, the rumoured (and now mostly confirmed) sexuality of foxy lead singer Maja Ivarsson (she's bisexual) and they even had a song on the Snakes On A Plane soundtrack.

But then something changed. After an extensive world tour, the band dropped all their producers and left their label. They recorded their latest, Crossing The Rubicon, with their own funds and on their very own label, Arnioki Records.

The album received lukewarm reviews, which claimed the band had turned soft and were left without any new direction. But the Swedish quintet managed to get a slot opening for No Doubt this past summer and continue their own tour across the globe to adoring crowds. The Sounds in a state of flux? You could say that...

"Having our own label... it's one less headache," keyboardist/pianist/guitarist Jesper Anderberg says. "The worst thing that would happen [with a major label] is that our record would get delayed and some stupid label couldn't put it out.

"That's what happened with our last record and everyone was just so miserable about it. We never want that to happen again. The frustration of having a label that doesn't work and then refuses to let you go is the worst.

"The problem with major labels is that they are constantly worrying about downloads. I understand, but when someone puts pressure on the artist because they're album isn't selling well, that's not right."

OK, so the label issue seems to have been put to rest, but what about the new album's vibe? Have they given up with the aggressive tendencies that made many fans fall in love with them in the first place?

"I think I'm happier, I think we're all happier," Anderberg explains.

"But I think that's the fun thing about The Sounds is that we usually sound happy, but in the end, it can be a very sad song. We can be happy, but there's always something to worry about. I guess that's very Swedish; always being cautious.

"We are definitely not as angry today; maybe frustrated. But we didn't set out to make a happy album. What comes out, comes out. We were angry on the last album. Maybe we'll be angrier on the next one."

Anderberg, who likes to take a jog in every city the band plays, wouldn't elaborate on why the band might have been angrier in the past. He only alluded to issues by saying, "We were younger, the band vibe wasn't as good and we didn't get along very well."

Maybe it's a newfound confidence, maybe it's comfort in a homegrown label. Whatever it is, Crossing The Rubicon is an optimistic bridge to an interesting band story worth keep an eye on.

Here are The Sounds' upcoming tour dates:

Oct. 1 Miami Beach, FL @ Rokbar
Oct. 2 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
Oct. 5 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
Oct. 7 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
Oct. 9 Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa
Oct. 10 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Oct. 11 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Oct. 12 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
Oct. 14 El Paso, TX @ Club 101
Oct. 15 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre
Oct. 16 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
Oct. 17 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blue
Oct. 19 Santa Barbara, CA @ The Hub (University of California)
Oct. 21 Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
Oct. 23 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
Oct. 24 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
Oct. 26 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Oct. 27 Seattle, WA @ Showbox
Oct. 28 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Oct. 30 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Oct. 31 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater
Nov. 2 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
Nov. 3 Cincinnati, OH @ Madison Theater
Nov. 5 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Nov. 6 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
Nov. 7 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
Nov. 17 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melweg
Nov. 18 Munster, Germany @ Sputnikhalle
Nov. 19 Gronningen, Netherlands @ Vera
Nov. 20 Brussels, Belgium @ VK
Nov. 21 Birmingham, England @ Ac 2
Nov. 22 Glasgow, Scotland @ Oron Mor
Nov. 23 Manchester, England @ AC 2
Nov. 24 London, England @ Electric Ballroom
Nov. 27 Madrid, Spain @ Joy Eslava
Nov. 28 Barcelona, Spain @ Apolo
Nov. 30 Zurich, Switzerland @ Alte Bors
Dec. 1 Lausanne, Switzerland @ Les Docks
Dec. 2 Salzburg, Austria @ Rockhouse
Dec. 3 Wein, Austria @ Arena
Dec. 4 Munich, Germany @ Backstage
Dec. 5 Cologne, Germany @ Live Music Hall
Dec. 6 Dresden, Germany @ Reithalle
Dec. 8 Warsaw, Poland @ Stodola
Dec. 9 Poznan, Poland @ Eskulap
Dec. 10 Berlin, Germany @ Postbahnhof
Dec. 11 Hamburg, Germany @ Uebel & Gefearlich
Dec. 12 Malmo, Sweden @ KB
Dec. 13 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Vega
Dec. 15 Turku, Finland @ Klubi
Dec. 16 Tampere, Finland @ Pakkahoune
Dec. 17 Oulu, Finland @ Teatria
Dec. 18 Seinajoki, Finland @ Rytmikorjaamo
Dec. 19 Helsinki, Finland @ Cable Factory