Mando Diao - Hurricane Bar (2004)

Danceable rock music had suddenly become a thing in the early years of the millennium with the success of bands like Scottish quartet Franz Ferdinand. This popularity also helped Swedish quartet Mando Diao whose second album Hurricane Bar was released in its home country in autumn only to be published elsewhere in winter and spring of the following year. The band is often described as garage rock but that doesn't do the passionate melodies, additional instrumental efforts in form of keyboards and organs or at times creative song writing qualities justice. Just like Australian band Jet, Mando Diao combines retro stylistics with modern sounds, relentless energy with more sensitive moments and loud outbursts with quieter contrasts. This heterogeneous mixture works splendidly throughout fourteen songs and a running time of fifty-one minutes.

The appropriately titled Hurricane Bar that makes people storm the dancefloor and let themselves go crazy starts with a bang in form of ''Cut the Rope'', situated somewhere between alternative rock production and punk rock spirit. The opener hits the nail on the head in less than two minutes and immediately inspires to push the repeat button. The band follows this explosive opener up with the more melodic and melancholic ''God Knows'' that doesn't sound too smooth however and convinces with an equally catchy and danceable chorus that makes for a perfect single choice. Hit single ''Down in the Past'' convinces with similar ingredients as it comes around with smoother verses contrasted by an explosive chorus you won't get out of your head. The band proves it can sound more complex and at times quieter with the wonderful ''You Can't Steal My Love'' that could have come from some of the greatest rock albums of the late sixties or early seventies with references to giants such as The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. ''Annie's Angle'' on the other side is equally diversified yet compact in three gripping minutes that make this track an overlooked gem and hidden highlight on this outstanding album.

This record might overstay its welcome slightly towards the end with a whopping fourteen tracks but that little detail couldn't prevent this album from striking a chord with audiences back then. It even has stood the test of time because the album sounds absolutely timeless nowadays. Hurricane Bar equally appeals to rebellious punks as to more sensitive fans of dance and pop music. Alternative rock aficionados appreciate this release as much as retro rock fans who are happy to see albums like this one released after a draught of traditional rock records throughout the nineties. Mando Diao's Hurricane Bar is a perfect compromise for the play list of any party as even gangster rappers or heavy metal fans can at least appreciate its rough energy. The band has released other interesting records but none has been as much on the pulse of time with the comeback of danceable rock music as the great Hurricane Bar.