In Sweden, most families start their mornings listening to ‘Do Not Tailgate’ while getting dressed and having breakfast. The Classic Rock radio station plays ‘Let Rasputin Do It’ with such frequency that people are starting to grumble that it's a little played out. And the first Saturday of every month? Begins with a ticker-tape parade celebrating the band, where local citizens build elaborate floats themed to Fireside songs, and PMA Gunnerfeldt rides atop a silver muscle car throwing candies to the thousands of children in attendance. But elsewhere in the world, Fireside are a criminally underrated act that too few have even heard of, let alone worship as they should. Today, we seek to remedy this great injustice with our Fireside Mix Tape. Give it a spin, and check out the breakdown below.
There really wasn't any question when it came to how to kick this thing off. ‘Monsoon’ is a swirling vortex of post-hardcore goodness. Killer riffs, killer hooks—this was the track that firmly established Fireside as more than just an impressive Quicksand clone.
The best song Quicksand never wrote. Fantastic chorus. And when Kristofer sings, “If I had the looks you do, then maybe I could do that too…but I don't think so”—goosebumps. Every time.
The second best song on the band's compilation of previously unreleased odds and ends, Hello Kids, ‘Silver Muscle Car’ is a dark, driving tune with a momentum that never lets up.
Pretty much the soundtrack to our COVID-19-induced season of locked-down depression.
If a track as awesome ‘Silver Muscle Car’ is only the second best track on Hello Kids, the best track must be something special. ‘Big Blue Elephant’ is just that. The song construction is great with the requisite infectious riffs and hooks, but it's the lyrics that put this one over the edge. So many little gems here that are both hilariously specific and somehow universally true. I could quote pretty much any line from this song, but the one that brings me the greatest joy is, “The big blue elephant. That I won in a lottery game. I gave it to her. Instead of my niece.” This might be my favorite Fireside song.
If I'm being honest, Get Shot has not held up well for me over the years. It's fine, but the mainstream garage-rock sound doesn't play to the band's strengths. The album does, however, have a handful of bangers on it, and ‘Backwards Over Germany’ is one of them. It's got a great energy to it, and the lyrics are as endearing as any of the best Fireside songs. The phrase, “my life's been made out of trouble since I don't know when," is one of my personal favorites.
I wish I could have fit more Elite songs on this mix tape, but the songs all flow together seamlessly, which means they cut off rather awkwardly when put in a playlist. Fortunately two of the best songs are back to back and work reasonably well here. This is still angular, Swedish post-hardcore, but it shows the band pushing themselves in new directions.
Notable for its inclusion of a top-ten Fireside lyric, “And I guess that if I drink too much, I'll just have to drink some less.”
If we ever do a Top Ten First Ten Seconds list, ‘Smokerboy’ will be at the top of that list. It kicks you in the teeth right from the get go, with a stellar riff and Kristofer belting out, “Situation died, hopelessness arrived!” The rest of the song kicks ass too.
Another fine example of how Fireside's lyrics stick to the ribs. I find myself thinking of this song pretty much any time I'm on a road trip.
“You're hoping for a fall. You're hoping for a call!”
The interplay between the bass and guitar in the verses of this song is so cool. A Top Ten Fireside song for sure.
I love Fantastic Four, but it's not the album I'd point new listeners to. That said, ‘Jupiter’ has a lot going for it, including a terrific chorus and my all-time favorite Fireside lyric, “never burning the other one's heart on a stick and just throwing it to waste.”
From my own review of Uomini D'onore—if your eyes don't water a bit when Kristofer Åström sings, “And what if I can't live without you? I'm not that good looking or bright, but you know I'd treat you right,” then you might want to check your tear ducts.
Probably the creepiest Fireside song. It's got great atmosphere and tension as it builds to its excellent final minutes.
Another cool slow song to close this out. The lyrics are something else ("The saddest smile can fill my heart with lies") and the delivery is spot on. This song will punch you in the chest and run away.
There you have it. If this is your first time listening to Fireside, congratulations on finding your new favorite band. If you're already a diehard, hit us up on Facebook or Instagram and let us know what would make your ultimate Fireside Mix Tape.
