Nice Try, Sunshine – Various Artists

Year Released: 2021

Label: Appetite

Year Bought: 2024

My ambition of picking up weird vinyl really came true with this record.

'Nice Try, Sunshine!' is a collection of Swedish indiepop from the 00s, put together by Gothenberg-based record label Appetite. An A5 note inside the sleeve sets out the thinking behind the record:

"How do you make a coherent compilation of a scene that you just barely missed out on, know nothing about or that maybe never even exists in the sense that you could even call it a scene?"

The tunes are apparently based on songs shared between friends over MSN, and has been mastered from those mp3s.

I picked it up in Flashback Records in Shoreditch, attracted by its cover and the fact that even though I had never heard of any of these songs or bands, someone clearly loved them enough to put them out on vinyl.

It's all very jangly, twee, and lo fi, but it just works perfectly. It's pure indiepop. Just look at the titles: 'No One Goes For The Most Clever Girl In Class', 'Kick His Balls Out', 'Everthing, Allright!?' (sic).

The most pure pop on here comes from RingSnuten's song, 'Mellanstadiediskot', a ridiculously earnest and over-the-top tune about having a crush on someone when you're 11 years old, and looking forward to seeing them at a school disco. It's utter seriousness is perfect as when you have your first crush it is incredibly serious.

It is one of my go to albums now. I've resisted the desire to find out more about these bands. I like that this is all I know about them. Finding this takes me back to when people would make you a mixtape or CD and not tell you what was on it, so you listened without prejudice and with no idea what was coming next.

Beats a playlist any day of the week.

8/10

Full Tracklisting

SIDE A

Days - Downhill

Japan Air – Sept

Funday Mornings – Killing Thomas

Second-Hand Furniture – Nice Try, Sunshine!

Action Biker – Farrah

Signed Papercuts – Au Revoir

Ring Snuten – Mellanstadiediskot

SIDE B

Paddington Distortion Combo – Something To Say 2

Jens Lekman – Boisa-bis-o-boisa

Florian – No One Goes For The Most Clever Girl In Class

Rough Bunnies – Dance With Your Shadow

Free Loan Investments – Kick His Balls Out

My Darling YOU! – Everything, Allright!?

The Honeydrips – Hej Då, Karolin

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