I'm From Barcelona

Under the guidance of principal songwriter Emanuel Lundgren, the debut from this coyly-named Swedish pop collective might be the Scandinavian answer to the Broken Social Scene, even if they choose hugely-orchestrated '60s sunshine over eclectic modernism. The set of buoyant, propulsive indie pop has one foot in the Beach Boys' Smile and the other in modern pop treatments from Beck, who seems to have taught Lundgren how to sing. With its big-gang backup vocals and spaced-out harmonies, Friends is an impressive introduction to the happiest band around.

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. Cuteness is a problem on songs such as
"We're From Barcelona." But leader Emanuel Lundgren has ample melodic gifts, and most
cuts -- dig the singalong "Chicken Pox" -- are pretty damn charming.