Oband - It's the Tension [Demo]
 

Imagine the Rolling Stones writing a new classic after all these years. It’s not that hard, because someone else already did it for them; Oband. The band are a little bit more brassy and a little bit more Swedish than the real Stones. They demonstrate on their 2009 demo ´It’s the Tension´ that rhythm, blues and the unique whining voice copyrighted by Mick Jagger still has a reason to live.

You can’t be too sure about the latter as Oband itself moves in slightly mysterious ways - last year they were on a break because of too many members emigrating, this year there’s suddenly a UK tour and a new demo which doesn't sound like their first (demo) album at all. So who they are and where they are isn’t completely clear at the moment, but what they do is make great, original, old-fashioned, hand-crafted music.

You could describe ´It’s the Tension´, the first song of the demo, as the sound of ´Satisfaction´ blended with the rhythm of ´Miss You´, but that wouldn’t be fair. Oband - not even claiming the Stones did influence them - is in fact an original band. But it’s the feeling of the Stones they generate, the vibe and the attitude. When listening to ´It’s the Tension´ you can see Jagger frolicking on stage and Richards bonding with his guitar and cigarette. It’s not about a hook, the lyrics or technical guitar playing, it’s the combination of the fuzzy guitar, the slow, steady rhythm, the heavy bass, the sharp, almost reciting vocalist and the subtle background vocals that makes this song swing.

Preceded by the banjo/ brass driven Americana-like ´Under the Lantern´, the other highlight on the demo is ‘Bedside Blues’, another example of the band taking a simple idea, the classic blues melody, and simply making it swing and cry.

´It’s the Tension’ and ’Bedside Blues’ make this album, despite being a demo and made by a band who’s whereabouts are as clean as troubled water in a blinded bottle with a blindfold on, this is the last great Stones record.

Re: Oband - It's the Tension [Demo]
 

I´m not sure what went wrong, but I see three spelling mistakes I didn´t put in in the first place.

It should´ve been "The band, a little bit more brassy and a little bit more Swedish than the real Stones, show..."

"but what they do is; making great, original, old-fashioned, handcrafted music. "

and the last sentence should´ve been "make this album...the last great stones record"

Any way this could be changed?

Re: Oband - It's the Tension [Demo]
 

There is no spelling mistakes it is just language change. They both mean the same thing, my edit just reads better and makes more sense to be honest.

Re: Oband - It's the Tension [Demo]
 

I kindly disagree, but worse things happen...

btw, did you already sent those ten cd´s to me? you mentioned on friday or saturday it was on my way but I haven´t received anything so far.

Re: Oband - It's the Tension [Demo]
 

Received it this morning, thank you.

Re: Oband - It's the Tension [Demo]
 

Well although a lot of your work does not suffer from the second language thing there are instances that do and I change those where an appropriate so that it makes sense more to someone who has English as their first language. I can't think of any examples off the top of my head but I am sure you know what I mean. It's just a preference I have and I always go through and edit reviews and change them as I see fit. It's not that your work is bad, far from it there are just some minor language things that sometimes need addressing - if you go back and look at all your interviews I do it a lot in those too, it's just to make it all read and sound better. Editorial standard is a huge thing for me.

Re: Oband - It's the Tension [Demo]
 

I don´t mind you changing things if you think it sounds better.
I only disagree with ´the band are... ´ because I´m pretty sure that´s just wrong. The ´band´ is singular, hence you use ´is´, he is, she is etc...

same with the last part

It’s the Tension’ and ’Bedside Blues’ make this album, despite being a demo and made by a band who’s whereabouts are as clean as troubled water in a blinded bottle with a blindfold on, this is the last great Stones record.

there´re two sentences here: ´these songs make this album....the last great record´ and despite being a demo....blindfold on´
if the sentence would´ve been ´despite being.... you were right. ´despite being a demo...this is the last great record´ makes sense.

but it starts with ´make this album´...
´this make this album...this is the last great record´ just doesn´t make sense.

hence my disagreement.

Re: Oband - It's the Tension [Demo]
 

Band is singular as in one band, but the term band in itself represents a plural, as in you can't be in a band on your own. Again differing opinions but honestly I prefer the way mine reads.