The Legends

The Legends formed in January 2003 and the week after a gig was booked, supporting The Radio Dept. in Stockholm. As the band basically lacked songs and members the first two weeks were spent writing songs and fathering friends who could play, or wanted to, play in the band.

According to The Legends the band plays music that can’t be placed in a genre, still they’re happy to agree on Television Personalities, Comet Gain, early Jesus and Mary Chain, Motown and C-86 as inspiration.

Slightly mod but definitely pop, the band’s tunes don’t require a great deal of thought but always leave you wanting more.

The Legends, made up of 9 handclapping, guitar clattering, singing band members who had little or no experience before joining the band, now rock out to their own pop beats on TV and radio all over Sweden.

SPLENDID E-ZINE says: “The Legends don't merely rehash rock's past or strain their tunes through a lo-fi filter: they embrace the past as it writes its way into the future, tossing in a variety of musical elements from throughout music history.”

A 7” single (“make it all right”) was released in May targeted at radio and important press in Sweden and the feedback was very good. Rotation on Sweden’s largest channel P3 for 8 weeks. There was also an interview/special feature on Sweden’s number 1 pop show on the same radio channel/ A couple of hundred copies were distributed to the audience and sold out right away.

“If you ever doubted love at first sight, all you have to do is give The Legends half an hour and you will be convinced.” –Nojesguiden (entertainment monthly)

“Johan Angergard has put together an utterly amazing collection is pop songs.” – Expressen

“This is amazingly good pop. Here’s handclap, tambourines and pure Motown fever just about everywhere.” – Sonic

“The best Swedish indie pop in years.” – Sydsvenska Dagbladet

“Direct melodies and guitar fuzz melting together in no time.” – Goteborg –Posten

“There are more pop hits on “Up Against The Legends” than what should be possible for one and the same band to fit in one single album” and “Sweden’s best new band.” – SVD

“Just when I thought I had decided to stop nagging about what a great year in pop this is, The Legends come around with this great mix of British punk pop from 1979 and American soul from the 60’s.” – Aftonbladet

"Slightly mod and definitely pop, this band's tunes are obvious and don't require a great deal of thought... At times, The Legends' sound is something like an indie pop version of The Strokes." BABYSUE (Rating: 4+++)

"Hats off to The Legends for getting even more retro than was thought possible" DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY

"...they're just writing lovely pop songs that have hints of 'retro' but are clearly modern." MUNDANE SOUNDS

"The Legends don't merely rehash rock's past or strain their tunes through a lo-fi filter: they embrace the past as it writes its way into the future, tossing in a variety of musical elements from throughout music history." SPLENDID E-ZINE

"The worlds greatest pop chameleon turned another color right before our eyes, and he made it look as simple as breathing." 9.8/10 INDIESPINZONE

The Legends are one of several indie pop projects masterminded by Swedish producer/musician Johan Angergård, whose other bands include the Acid House Kings (the group for whom he is best known) and Club 8. Initially conceived as a fuzzy, gutsy indie pop act (something like a rougher, fierier version of the Acid House Kings), the group made its live debut in 2003 as an opening act for the Radio Dept. Their first EP, There and Back Again, was released on Labrador one year later, and was quickly followed up by the full-length Up Against the Legends. Angergård took the Legends in a new direction for their sophomore effort; 2005's Public Radio found the Legends dipping into a reverb-swathed sound modeled after post-punk acts like the Cure and New Order. Facts and Figures, the Legends' third full-length, found their sound shifting yet again, this time in favor of a chic, danceable sound that nodded to acts like Kraftwerk and Daft Punk as well as the breezy indie pop sensibilities characteristic of Angergård's other projects. ~ Margaret Reges, All Music Guide