Where to begin when presenting Joakim Thåström? If there are any Swedish readers out there, you already know all of this. For the rest of the world, let's start at the beginning:
Born in the suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden in 1957. Singer and guitarist in legendary punk band Ebba Grön in the late 70's and early 80's. He then fronted the highly successful political punk/pop/rock band Imperiet until they disbanded in 1988. His first solo album, simply titled Thåström was released in 1989, which was a smash hit.
Now here's where it gets interesting. By now Thåström had become a celebrity and a national icon, and he couldn't have hated it more. As a way of alienating himself from he made Xplodera Mig 2000 in 1991, a noisy industrial rock album that still remains one of my all time favorite albums. The album sold quite well despite its abrasive nature, but it was nothing compared to what was coming next.
Thåström relocated to Amsterdam and got nerdy with a sampler. His new project, which he had named Peace, Love & Pitbulls, released their first album in 1992. Basically it was Xplodera Mig 2000 taken one step further. Heavy, angry, experimental industrial rock/metal in English that left everyone confused. This marked the beginning of the low point in Thåström's carrier critically. Mainly because the critics didn't understand what the hell he was doing or why he was doing it. They wanted him to be the same old guy making the same old kind of music they grew up with in the 70's and 80's.
With PLP's second album Red Sonic Underwear in 1994 (Thåström's ultimate masterpiece, by the way) he scared away most of the last few fans, and Red Sonic Underwear remains one of the true unsung masterpieces of the 90's. PLP released their third and last album (imaginatively titled 3) in 1997, and it was considered by the critics and know-it-alls to be Thåström's return to form, since it was less industrial, a little more accessible and he sang for the first time in years, as opposed to screaming his balls off like he did on the last two albums. 3 is by far PLP's worst album, but still far ahead of anything most bands will ever record.
In 1999 he released his first solo album in eight years, Det Är Ni Som E Dom Konstiga, Det Är Jag Som E Normal. It was a slight return to his rock 'n' roll roots, and with more accessible songs and once again singing in Swedish, the album was a solid hit with everyone. Rightfully so, it's a very good album.
But the follow up, Mannen Som Blev En Gris from 2002, is where it's at. Much darker and dirtier than its predecessor, and some of the industrial elements were back. Roughly half of the album's ten songs are heavy, throbbing rock songs (sometimes pure old school punk), the other half is more sombre and weird, more industrial and experimental. Höghus-sång being an example of the former and Kaospassageraren and Sån examples of the latter.
(mp3) Thåström - Höghus-sång
(mp3) Thåström - Kaospassageraren (highly recommended!)
(mp3) Thåström - Sån
The video for Höghus-sång:
Buy Mannen Som Blev En Gris @ Amazon.com.
