Deportees
All prayed up
Dolores/Virgin
Indierock heavily influenced by Prince – a match made in heaven, some might say, but although a band like Phoenix has demonstrated that the result of such a mix can be quite good, the Deportees (hailing from Umeå, Sweden) gives us all a warning example of how disastrous this alluring blend can turn out. They almost had me fooled though, with their first fine single "Arrest me 'til it hurts", but compared to the other songs on this debut album, it sticks out like a flower growing in the middle of the highway. It's a real shame that "Arrest me 'til it hurts" has to be accompanied by such an insipid bunch of soulless tracks that "All prayed up" consists of. In fact, this album is so slick, bland, and unsexy that it often comes across as something by a second rate boyband. A bit harsh you think? Yes, perhaps, but even harsher for the poor souls who buy this album, lured by "Arrest me 'til it hurts" (hopefully the awful record cover will have a repelling effect).
- Simon Tagestam