Lesson One
That’s Entertainment/Apollon, 2023
9/10
Originally released in 1996, this is unfortunately the only album from Oslo, Norway’s The Bittersweets, but it sure does fabulously document their Ramones influenced version of punk that certainly has aged well.
“Love Can’t Buy Me” starts the listen with driving guitars, thumping drums and melodic singing in the proto-punk climate, and “Good Looks” follows with a bristling pace of pop-punk energy that will get your top tappin’ and head bobbin’ pretty quick.
In the middle, the buzzing and dynamic “I Surrender” showcases the lively rhythm section, while “Story Of Love” is layered precisely with a good balance of power and melody that’s hard hitting yet tuneful.
Further still, “Love It To Death” is full of gritty and rock’n’roll spirited punk that benefits much from the playful organ, and “My Baby Is Cool” wouldn’t be out of place on the Lookout Records roster in the mid '90s next to The Queers and The Riverdales.
The band on this recording are Tomas Dahl (drums), Lars Dehli Johnsrud (organ), Bjørn Haukaas (bass), Kåre Pedersen (guitar), John Martinsen (guitar) and Arne Thelin (Lead vocals, harp), and though The Bittersweets remained together after this recording (albeit with line up shifts), a sophomore record dissolved when Thelin left to Asia for work.
Now available on vinyl for the first time, what a treat it is that Lesson One is back in print.
Travels well with: Pogo Pops- Daylight; The Lust-O-Rama- Twenty-Six Screams