One of the joys of reviewing the type of stuff that I do is receiving the albums that I do. It isn't all plain sailing. I listen to a lot of music and the majority of it doesn't appeal. But the benefits are the discovering of great new music that surprises you.
The Misties are not particularly that well known. However this album was released in Japan on Sony's Beatle DNA offshoot that has featured the likes of The Spongetones and Pugwash. The upshot is that this is a one man affair from Sweden's Johan Stentorp
Stentorp is known for his time in Time Gallery and as a songwriter for the likes of Joe Lynn Turner and Hardline. Although Time Gallery are known for AOR Stentorp has also written for Power Popsters, The Trampolines and that connection may help explain the splendid Pop Rock here.
As a debut album, Driftwood is a fine album, gentle and laidback, but beautifully played. There are hooks aplenty and though the pace may be slow, the choruses are big. Comparisons may be made with the Pop Rock Giants of the Seventies, but in truth, the album has far more in common with more recent Pop Rock albums that you see reviewed on similar Blogs to IDHAS.
There's also an Alan Parsons Project feel at times, particularly on the likes of Over And Over Again. I'm A Winner is very 80's American Soundtrack, you can imagine Kevin Bacon breezing through the scene. Blue Sky Thinking is a crackerjack of a song that stands up to anything released by the heavyweights of the genre.
There is so much to like here in songs like That Is Not What Friends Are For, How It Ends and especially Good Things. The album was originally 12 songs, but three extra were added for the Japanese release. The quality of those additions show that there could be more to come from The Misties. The album also underlines again how underrated Sweden is for providing great Guitar Pop albums.
You can listen to and buy the album at all the usual places. Driftwood is also available to listen to on You Tube here.
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