THIRTEEN EIGHT

Debut album from Swedish artist Fredrik Larsson, who goes by alias FreddeGredde, is a sweet little collection of prog power pop songs, if you can describe his style this way, that, for all their pleasantness, are deceptively complex and pack quite a few melodic changes in their not-too-long format. Feelings conveyed by this album are pure pop in nature - melancholic, romantic or boisterous. He uses a lot of acoustics and piano to set the mood. Diversity is rounded out by a folksy Wayfarer, a children's song, and even a whiff of vaguely black metalish vocals in the background on Euphoria. Among the shorter songs, there are 2 epics here, which show Larsson's love for Dream Theater, but, while being pretty impressive for a one-man show, somehow don't hook me. The epicness side to Larsson is better realized on the follow-up, Brighter skies, which amps up the bombast, all the while still retaining the characteristic sweetness.