Get on Board The Blue Van

What is it about Scandanavians that kick butt? I discovered another band from that region of the world that you absoluetly need to purchase. The Blue Van is this Sweedish quartet that, unlike countrymen like The Hives, reach into the depths of 60's garage rock and don't filter it through the punk era. These guys play like a hidden track on the famous "Nuggets" compilation, full of raucous yet melodic energy that seems directly channeled from mid-60s Who, The Yardbirds, and the Kinks. The stuff is pure danceable rock 'n' roll, with a instrumental twist that seems completely foreign these days: They rock the Hammond. That's right. The dust off the ol' Hammond organ and they unleash its full power all over these songs. Plus, their drummer does the best Keith Moon impersonation I've heard in years. You all know how much I like Mooney on the kit, so that's no lighthearted praise. The guy is seriously good. The vocals are best described as sultry in the classic '60's sense, adding the occasional dashes of Eric Burdon, Mick Jagger, and the softer side of Robert Plant. If these guys make it big, this guy will have American girls throwing all kinds of undergarments at him, I'm telling you. But don't let that discourage you from buying the album. Get it today!