Many fans of what perhaps is the greatest band Sweden ever produced, Beagle, were chagrined to learn of the band’s demise in 1993, and the question of whatever happened to singer/songwriter Magnus Börjeson was on several lips. Though it wasn’t known by many at the time, Börjeson immediately picked himself up by the bootstraps and formed Favorita, whose heretofore unreleased album from 1994 was finally released 13 years later. On Favorita, gone are most of the traditional (albeit spectacular) melodic trappings of the Beagle albums in favor of a more angular, hyper, and edgier sound with super-abrupt chord and tempo changes. At times Börjeson turns his vocal amperage up to 11 as well, with some histrionics not unlike Adrian Belew. Two of the songs, “I Can Change The World (Yeah)” and “Seven Comforts” had been released as singles in the ‘90s, and they were perfect choices as they’re catchy, rockin, and practically explode with passion. Börjeson proved he still knew his way around a ballad with the pretty “Innocence” and the ballsier “Well, It’s Only Pain.” Only “You’ve Got A Heavy Hand” and “Left Of Right” are truly reminiscent of Beagle, but even they are firmly grounded in the album’s general alt-rock vibe.
The album is appended with bonus tracks, which are comprised by b-sides, alternate takes, and tracks left off the album proper, the best of which are a mellower version of “I Can Change The World (Yeah)” (titled “We Can Change The World” here) and a more rockin version of “Well, It’s Only Pain” (recorded by a reformed permutation of Beagle, who played at the International Pop Overthrow festival in Los Angeles in 2001).
It’s doubtful that most listeners would have picked up on the fact that Favorita was recorded in 1994 had it not been advertised as such in the liners, as the album is as fresh and vital as anything recorded in 2007.
--David Bash
