### Imperial State Electric: Imperial state electric

#### 22/07/10 || Trauma

After the Hellacopters disbanded, I was bummed. I had only recently gotten into them in a big way and then shortly afterward the news broke that “Head off” would be their final recording. Later on I read somewhere that Nicke was going to be releasing a solo album. I had no idea what it was going to be, and as wrong as I was I secretly hoped for a solo classic death metal album.

Yeah, wrong as wrong can be, but what I wouldn’t give to hear him play the shit out of the drums again like he did on “Clandestine” and “Wolverine blues”. I just realized that I am being like every other reviewer on the planet and bringing up the past. Couldn’t help myself, it shall not happen again.

Imperial State Electric is Nicke solo. It also sounds as if it could have been a Hellacopters album. It is rock and roll through and through while at the same time having that pop feeling. The very same feeling that would make anyone sporting a Bolt Thrower t-shirt to turn up their noses, spit out their tea and say, “Oy, fuck off, ye wanker!” Not me, I’m quite in touch with myself (when not actually touching myself) and trust me when I say that this pop feeling is not the same you get from poseurs such as Jack White. This music sounds far more authentic. Plus, Nicke has a fantastic voice and the musical chops to make the whole record sound enjoyable. The tracks aren’t terribly long, being based around the standards of rock and roll (hint: blues). I really do feel that the album is over too soon. The songs seemed to just flow from one to the next so smoothly and by the time it was all over it felt way too short. I blame Opeth and The Project Hate for making me like an hour long opus. Usually a good sign, though, isn’t it… wishing an album was longer?

This is not without its standout tracks. Opener “A holiday from my vacation” is one of the better tunes on the record with a memorable hook (or more). The pre-chorus and chorus are a nice example. “Resign” has got a definite Beatles feeling going on, “Throwing stones” hooks you pretty much right off the bat, and “Deja vu”, musically like something right off “High visibility” and vocally something different, capping off the stand-outs. I’m also pretty damn partial to the opening riff of “Together in darkness”. The chorus doesn’t work as well as I’d hoped, but at least there’s the main riff. This record is top-heavy, with most of the best (read: memorable) songs lumped right in the first half.

Nicke can’t fail with rock and roll, and there aren’t really any crappy songs of which to speak. Some are more boring than others, but nothing I’d turn off. Let me put it to you this way: If you’re into rock and roll, “powerpop”, or the likes, you’ll really dig this album. You’ll hear all sorts of the classic artists in each of the tracks and it’s an easy ablum of which to listen. I don’t think you’ll be displeased.

- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Psychout Records
- Website: Imperial State Electric MySpace
- Band
- Nicke Andersson: vocals, guitar, drums
- Guests: Tobias Egge, Dolf De Borst, Tomas Eriksson, Anders Lindström, Conny Wall, Dregen Fage, Anders Härnestam, Robert Pehrsson

- Tracklist 01. A holiday from my vacation 02. Lord knows I know that it ain’t right 03. Resign 04. Throwing stones 05. I’ll let you down 06. I got all day long 07. Lee anne 08. Deja vu 09. Together in the darkness 10. Alive 11. Diseased pieces of my heart 12. Redemption’s gone