From ABBA to Opeth to the Shout Out Louds to The Soundtrack of Our Lives to the Hives to Dungen to Club 8 to Peter, Bjorn and John, Sweden’s exploding with the most imaginative pop or rock or whatchacallit music on the planet. Why this should be the case is still somewhat cloaked in mystery, but here’s an angle on why it oughtn’t be such a head-scratcher: Fresh creativity is best nurtured in a place relatively free of money and health woes. Sweden’s “creative class” has largely benefited from the country’s extensive social welfare system, which provides for health care costs and financial support for artists attending music schools. Smor och brod gor kinden rod –– Butter and bread makes cheeks red.
Bluefat.com MUSIC/ART/FILM
