Lock-Sport-Krock,
Nikola SarcevicWhere would we be without the solo album? It is something for restless band members to pour their creative energies into and the chance to explore other musical avenues. The latest individual to break from the collective pack is Millencolin’s Nikola Sarcevic, with his debut solo effort ‘Lock-Sport-Krock’. This is an album of eleven tracks written by Nikola and Branko Sarcevic and featuring a host of guest performers.
The first thing that hits you about this album is that is a lot more than a stripped down version of Millencolin. Often, to fly solo is merely to play the same music albeit in a slightly altered fashion. ‘Lock-Sport-Krock’ is not a punk album, far from it. This is an album full of wide ranging influences from country to pop; all played out in a laid back and heartfelt acoustic rock setting.
Album opener ‘Lovetrap’ gets things off to a great start. It is an infectious, mellow number that complements Nikola’s vocal styles well. It is on the more upbeat numbers that the album has its strongest moments. The likes of standout track ‘Glue Girl’ are simply more interesting to listen to than some of the slower numbers such as ‘Viola’ with appear to get bogged down in a sea of sentimentality. The country efforts are very much a hit and miss affair as well. On one hand we have the well-crafted ‘Nobody Without You’ and on the other we have the lacklustre ‘Mirror Man’. If there is one aspect to the album that remains though, it is the strength of Nikola’s voice; it is on top form throughout, even if some of the songs are not up to the same standard.
‘Lock-Sport-Krock’ is a solid and reasonably enjoyable stab at something a little bit different from a man more know for his melodic punk stylings. The result is a decent attempt at a middle of the road acoustic rock album. There are very strong songs here, but there are also very average ones. It would be fair to say that this album will probably be better received outside the punk rock community than within.
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Mark
