There once was a time when bands like The Black Keys or, well, The Black Keys itself, was a novelty concept. Nerdy white dudes making interesting rock music that was a little bit indie, a little bit soulful, and a little bit bluesy was a refreshing spin on an already appreciated art form. They weren’t necessarily creating something that had never been done before - they were just injecting a full-proof genre of music with a subtle dose of indie-nerd rock sound. Now there are bands from all over the world that have adopted a similar formula for making gritty rock music with a twist. Swedish indie rock band Spoonfork hasn’t been around very long. The initial concept for the band was a one-man act20that would strip itself bare of artificial overproduction and make music that was unplanned and organic. The original idea proved to be bigger and more demanding than its creator and Spoonfork eventually became a duo. Although the band hasn’t been making music very long, they have been able to transform a once singular project into a debut album that is full of grimy guitar riffs, soulful singing and the kind of lo-fi spontaneity that sets Spoonfork apart from all the rest. “From the F” and “Bustin’ Heads for Dr. Death” gnash with strong bluesy-rock undertones that compliment the simple but sturdy lyrical melodies. All is Well is an impressive first time offering from a Swedish duo that obviously knows a little something about making rock music with integrity.
-- Brigitte B. Zabak [September 10, 2008]
