FROM WITHIN

From Within is a transitional album between Anekdoten's early Crimson-style albums and their own true voice that they've found on this album. While it boasts some of their best tracks, it unfortunately also features their two worst songs. (Actually that would be the only two weak tracks you could stumble on).

Now since you're all so curious to know how on earth I have found weak tracks here and which ones they are and why, I will no longer keep you. The reason is the singing and the tracks are Kiss of Life and Firefly. Now, I don't share the common criticism that the singing is Anekdoten's weakness. Not at all, in most cases it fits the songs and the mood just perfectly and both Jan Erik and Niclas have an excellent feel for melody and for strong catchy tunes. But here, when they're so forcedly squealed and so off-key? No thanks. If you don't have a strong voice you need to use it for what it is good at and no one will take notice. But these two tracks always make me jump for the remote as soon as they open their throat.

Needles to say the rest of the album is top notch.