Rocket Scientist (feat. Eve)

Song: Rocket Scientist (feat. Eve)

Artist: Teddybears

Album: Devil's Music

Speaking of Swedish artists... it was a pleasant surprise to find out that the Teddybears (who wrote Robyn's single "Cobrastyle") have a new album coming out this summer. Their last, "Soft Machine" from 2006 (which incidentally had their version of "Cobrastyle") was a great pop record, and brimmed with catchy electro-rock influenced tracks. "Devil's Music" is more of the same, and I have already connected with a handful of the songs.

Lead track and first single "Rocket Scientist" featuring Eve gets things off to a rocking start and builds to a great groovy chorus. Hand-claps, grooving guitar, and Eve's attitude-laced rapping... it's a corker. As is "Cardiac Arrest," which adds more electronics, and a girlish vocal from Maipei. If "Get Fresh With You" reminds you a bit of the Ceasers "Jerk it Out," (from an old iPod ad) that would be because Teddybear band member Joakim Ahlund is also lead guitarist and songwriter for that band, which I didn't know.

"Cho Cha" featuring Gnarls Barkley's Cee Lo and the B-52's sounds just as you think that might, with Cee Lo's crooning and Fred Schneider's... well, Fred Schneider-ness. A real stand out though, is the Flaming Lips assisted "Crystal Meth Christian," a psychedelic-pop take on criticising the American religious right. They've never been that political ("You think that you're superior") and I love it.

I remember thinking it odd that the tracks from "Soft Machine," seemed to pop up everywhere, in advertising, video games, movies, you name it. But it turns out that they have a global music publishing deal with BMG Music Publishing. Which got me thinking that... they're sort of like the Swedish Black Eyed Peas. You can take that for what it is, but I have no doubt that we'll be hearing the tracks from "Devil's Music" just about everywhere in the next couple years. And despite that crass commercialism... I really like their music. So give it a chance.

I must mention though that I was introduced to the band by my friend Lizzy who told me about the track "Yours to Keep" from 2000. They originally released the song on their album "Rock & Roll High School" with vocalist Paola, and then redid the song for "Soft Machine" with Neneh Cherry. As much as I love me some Neneh, the original is SO ace, and an amazing summer song. If you don't have it, get it now.

Enjoy.

Rocket Scientist (Live)


Get Mama a House


Yours to Keep (couldn't find the original, just this remix which I didn't know about... it's pretty good though.)