Swedish House Mafia 'Until Now' Album Review

The electro-house super group Swedish House Mafia is saying their farewell with their latest Until Now. Only formed in 2008, Until Now is only the groups second compilation album, yet they could already be recognized as the faces of mainstream progressive house music. Now I, myself am still trying to get into the modern electro movement going on in the music industry, but this album from Swedish House Mafia is great. The band consists of DJ's Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso. Unfortunately this past summer, the member's of the band decided that they are basically going out on top and their current tour would be the last together before the members separate to venture into side projects. With this unfortunate news, Until Now is a kind of last hurrah for the band, and it certainly doesn't let up.

The group Swedish House Mafia is enticing. The beats are fast, they incorporate different vocals into their music, and let loose and burst out some very fun music. I can see why they were thrown to success at such a quick rate. Selling out Madison Square Garden in nine minutes is no small feat. But plenty of songs on Until Now are notable, but to appreciate it, the album is really worth the listen itself.

The album itself October 22, 2012, but it was releasing singles in early 2011. So we begin with the first single off Until Now which is "Save The World". It's an excellent song to introduce listeners to the group. The vocals are excellent, and the lyrics compliment the beat perfectly. I love it, it's an easy transition into house music, and it’s certainly an easy song to get grooving to, but what I noticed best was it has a phenomenal music video that really got to me. As a dog lover, it essentially shows off a group of dogs in consistence with the music saving the world in an area of a lot of
wrong-doing. I thought it was funny and unique, and adds another great element to the song.

"Antidote" is the second single and turns out to be the most energetic track on the album in my opinion. The track is a collaboration with Brit-Australian house group Knife Party, and really sparks up the album. The fast paced beat really stands the track out.

"Greyhound" is the third single off Until Now and it really displays the epitome of house music. However in my opinion, it's the lesser of the four singles from the album. It just doesn't standout as much as some of the others.

"Don't You Worry Child" is the fourth and most recent single off of the album, and is one of the top two best tracks from it. Swedish House Mafia features Josh Martin on the vocals, but really brings the singing essence into the house music. I enjoyed it, Josh Martin does a very good job. The song is one of the more unique because the beat reaches a more above and beyond grand level, while remaining very fun and very danceable. There's even a bit of acoustic guitar beat thrown into the mix. I liked it a lot. It was one of the more tracks off Until Now that showed some depth.

"One (Your Name)" in my personal favorite on the album, and didn't manage to make it as a single. The song features singer Pharrell and one of the more danceable beats. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but this track jumps off the album more to me then some of the others. Listen for yourself and I'm sure you'd agree.

Another notable is the remix of Coldplay's "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall". I'm personally a big Coldplay fan, and the original track itself is an excellent song, so this was the first track on the album I was intrigued to listen to. My ending result was that it's probably a very good track to ease some people into the house genre, being that it's a recognizable song, with the elements of house music infused. Swedish House Mafia does an excellent job here however, and really elevates the original song, and molds it into a larger scale.

Until Now turned out to be a great listen for me. I liked it a lot, I'm just disappointed that I got into the band right as they are on there way out. With the separation of a band such as this, it always leaves a crack open in the door for a reunion in the chance solo endeavors isn’t all they're cracked up to be. However, I recommend anybody interested in dipping their feet into the house genre to listen to this album, and celebrate a group that hasn't built up a very long career, but they sure made a boom while they were here.

Swedish House Mafia - "Save The World":