Norwegian native Sondre Lerche has been a long-time CSV favorite ever since his groundbreaking debut Faces Down. No doubt, Lerche has faced his fair share of so-so albums. He seemed to lose track of the sound that first put him on the map, trying to delve into the darker Two Way Monologue and even the edgier Phantom Punch. But what’s so wonderful about this 2009 release Heartbeat Radio is that Lerche is returning back to that wonderful sound of Faces Down. 8 years older, and many musical miles under his belt, it’s great to see Lerche come back to the scene of the crime.

Here’s a few thoughts about some of the highlights from the album:

“Good Luck” – Bouncy pianos and playful guitars, not to mention Lerche’s loving way with his vocals, makes this song a great listen

“If Only” – The 90′s power-pop strikes throughout the song are as humorous as anything Lerche’s ever done.

“Easy To Persuade” – A high-charged verse turns into an easy-listening chorus that reminds me a dusty road in the backroads of some eastern town stuck in the 80′s.

“I Guess It’s Gonna Rain Today” – Seamlessly transitioning from a ballad to a horn-laden sonorous song, this Norwegian wunderkind is perfect in this track.

“Goodnight” – The farewell track is a sweet cinematic delight, with its sensitive strings and Lerche’s warmest wishes.

Get a copy of Heartbeat Radio.

“No one’s gonna come / Tell you how it’s done”.  Norwegian sensation Sondre Lerche has made his name known, but for me it goes back to his stunning debut.  “No One’s Gonna Come” is the definite highlight on this track.  If only he could go back to the style of his first quirky venture, I’d be much happier with Lerche’s work!

Grab a copy of Faces Down and all his other good stuff.

Listen to “No One’s Gonna Come”

Postsecret: word on the street is that Lerche will be having an album coming out this year. According to him, it will be the most wonderful “Sondre Lerche experience yet”.

You might be able to imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find that Sondre Lerche had been contracted to do the entire soundtrack for Dan in Real Life. I was so impressed by Lerche’s debut Faces Down, that I was disappointed by his later albums. Lerche seemed to be abandoning that troubadour-style that made him so instantly affable.

Dan in Real Life, my friends, is a return to the Faces Down days, with Lerche crooning out over a rather diverse collection of songs. Lerche performs quite an interesting cover of “Let My Love Open the Door” (the strings are incredible!) and the cool-and-calm “To Be Surprised” shows Lerche making the best out of what could be a simply mediocre track. The swingy-duet “Hell No” with Regina Spektor is an instant classic, while the previously released “Modern Nature” is another delightful duet. So if you love Steve Carell or you just love Sondre Lerche, the OST for Dan in Real Life is a sure bet.

Go and get a copy of Dan in Real Life.

Listen to “Hell No” (4.95/5)

Listen to “Modern Nature” (4.8/5)

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For 642-901 it is important to do 646-203. A simple 640-822 is just not enough.

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