One of the things I love most about reviewing music is that you never know exactly what to expect. You can imagine my surprise when I started listening to the latest project Summerland (Torpa or Nothing) by Swedish Emo band I Love Your Lifestyle, only to discover the first four songs as sung solely in Swedish. The follow- up to their 2020 album No Driver, is out August 2nd on Counter-Intuitive. Now admittedly I wasn’t too familiar with their entire catalog, however I was aware that most of their songs are in English. That being said, the language barrier allowed me to focus on the music itself, which tends to take a back seat in the lyrically focused emo genre. The songs here are exactly what we’ve come to expect from I Love Your Lifestyle, sonically tight with top-notch production.

Summerland (Torpa or Nothing) starts with Torpa, a bright mid-tempo jam, that belongs on an old Drive-Thru Records compilation cd, sandwiched right between Something Corporate and The Starting Line. That’s the beautiful thing about this album, there’s something very nostalgic, yet unique and fresh, that you don’t always find with today’s emo/indie rock bands. Much of the current generation of pop-punk artists blend hip-hop, EDM and other genres to create their unique sound. I Love Your Lifestyle keeps it mostly traditional, albeit with their own spin on the music. Givet starts off with the sound of fireworks, which is perfect for this luminous, uptempo track.

Barnarpsgatan gives us gorgeous harmonies in an almost Dropkick Murphys-esque sing-along, before taking a somber tone, with its gentle strumming over the sound of school children playing to end the song. You don’t have to speak Swedish to get the understanding that this song might be the band reminiscing about the days of their youth. Dunkehalla, also feels like an homage to home, with its uplifting guitars and overall anthemic feel. 

The aforementioned sounds of school children come back to open the first of three songs in English, the self-deprecating Lucking Out. “I will never be a movie star/I think we forgot how easily offended we are/Why is it so damn hard/ to see through your charm?” Nice to know that 25 years later, insecurity and self-doubt are still very prevalent in the scene. Some things never change. 

Fickle Minds might be the most familiar sounding track on the album. Not that it blatantly borrows from any song specifically, it’s just so infectious that by halfway thru, my brain had already stored it away for future humming. A very well crafted indie-pop song, with it’s killer groove and catchy drums. Sure to be a favorite amongst longtime fans and newcomers alike. Closing out the album superbly is Plot Twist. A chaotic ball of energy, that is over way too soon. There really was no better option to end this 7 song album, than Plot Twist. It’s contagious, irresistible and radio-friendly. 

Overall, Summerland (Torpa or Nothing) is the perfect album to end your summer on a high-note. Although it’s a little short at only 7 songs, and some might be taken aback by the first four songs being in Swedish, don’t let that distract you from the great music here. With its nostalgic grooves, and tight rhythms, it’s evocative of the great emo records of the early 2000’s.

Rating: 7.8/10

Release Date: 8/2/24

Tracklist: 

1: Torpa

2: Givet

3: Barnarpsgatan

4: Dunkehalla

5: Lucking Out

6: Fickle Minds

7: Plot Twist

Reviewed by Jeremy Schmidt