“We’re from Barcelona”
from the album Let Me Introduce My Friends
2007
iTunes
MP3 – “We’re from Barcelona” [right-click/save-as]
Actually, they’re Swedish. On its debut, this big-ass band — which numbers twenty-nine members — recalls Architecture in Helsinki and Boy Least Likely To, other indie-pop collectives who traffic in whimsy and banjos. Despite the size of the band, I’m from Barcelona’s focal point is songwriter and singer Emanuel Lundgren. According to the band’s website, Lundgren was spurred into writing “explosive happy pop songs” after having fallen in love with Frida Öhnell, who now plays maracas with the band. “We’re from Barcelona” is undoubtedly the band’s strongest song, with a generous and chirpy chorus that never quite wears out its welcome.