The Subpopstar Project

Oh, how you swept me away Northern Portrait! I was willing to write you off as faithful followers of the Smiths and a band who successfully mimicked their style, but you are apparently so much more. With Criminal Art Lovers you have presented yourselves as a group coming into their own. Sure, you reflect previous musical trends, but you use them as a guide, not a crutch.

I must admit I was a huge fan of the Smiths back in the '80s. I am probably in the minority when I say my favorite Smiths album is still Strangeways, Here We Come. I played the heck out of the cassette and memorized every chord. Somewhere I still have the autographed book Morrissey put together discussing the cover art for every Smiths single and album sent to me by the great Jerry Rubino in my radio days. The point is I really liked the Smiths, especially musically. Though many have tried, I haven't heard a band so successfully absorb the essence of them in the 23 years since they disbanded. Northern Portrait seems to have it covered.

I first discovered this five-piece band from Denmark in early July 2008 when I found 'Crazy' from The Fallen Aristocracy EP. From the Smiths-like EP cover to the acoustic guitar plucking to the tambourine this was very good, but not necessarily anything amazing. Then I heard songwriter/vocalist Stefan Larsen sing. If anyone could channel Morrissey apparently it was Larsen. From his phrasing to the subject matter, this was stunningly similar to something the Smiths singer would have released. Considering the band only formed in the summer 2007 and actually released the EP in March 2008 on Matinée Records, the results were even more impressive. Many bands try but never produce work as accomplished as 'Crazy.' It was near the top of my 2008 best-of list.

Fast forward to this year. The debut full-length, Criminal Art Lovers, was released last month on Matinée. It contains the sound of a band maturing, but still retains the signature sound of what made them interesting. One listen to 'New Favourite Moment' might have you checking the calendar as it sounds fresh yet can transport one back to 1987. The title track reminds me a bit musically of something the Church might have done back in The Blurred Crusade era, never a bad thing. The polished results are all the more impressive considering the album was recorded and produced entirely by the band in a bedroom. Criminal Art Lovers proves massive budgets aren't required (as nice as they may be) to achieve stunning results.

Stefan Larsen had an interview with the SlowdiveMusic Blog where he lists his musical influences as The Beatles, Pulp, early Suede, Roy Orbison, The Smiths, The Housemartins, and The Lightning Seeds. He and the band clearly have an affinity for pure pop, and are well on their way to adding their names to the list of today's important bands. More releases like Criminal Art Lovers will only engrave Northern Portrait's name in stone.

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From the 2008 The Fallen Aristocracy EP, 'Crazy' is the song that initially captured my attention.

(download)