When asked in regards to why I’ve been a critic for so long and with how exactly did I garner the longevity I have now as a media critic, I like to point out that a critic’s job is to present a perspective, and mine has a very unique value as a pansexual nonbinary Asian person in their mid-20s. My listening habits greatly differ from a lot of people, shaped by my generation and culture. To that end, I do my best to always present that in my reviews.
I bring this up because while I have been fortunate enough to be able to listen to a lot of music all over the world, let me be one of the first to admit that Norwegian Music in general is a bit of a blind spot and I am happy to introduce a good starting point with it by way of the new Tracks of Fire, vol. 1 EP from the Norway-based band Mainstreet.
Composed of two Norwegian musicians by the names of Glenn Kringlebotten and Magne Skålnes, Mainstreet is a rock duo evoking the sounds of the past with the touches of the present. Their newest release comes with four tracks that from what I can tell, feature a great deal of influence from VH1 rock and heartland country. While my preamble contained a great deal of buildup that this might sound like some unique European project, traces of The Boss and his influence run deep in the four tracks of this EP, almost like they were born to run.
In case I was being too quick on the hint, let me do a quick intermission to talk about Bleachers, the band headlined by Jack Antonoff; producer extraordinaire for many a popstar, working on a great deal of Taylor Swift’s albums, as well as Lorde, The 1975 and Sabrina Carpenter just to run by the list. Going back to Bleachers, part of their four studio albums that is obvious is an affinity to pay homage to a classic artist with an era-defining sound, and that would be Bruce Springsteen.
From the first track, the barnburner Avalon Street all the way to the quaint guitar licks complimenting the forlornly quintessential delivery of The Gypsy Trail, Mainstreet is a band that wears their influence heavy on their sleeves with earnestness and gusto. The Story of a Broken Heart could easily pass off as a lost Bruce Springsteen track and I would likely believe you if you tried to tell me so. With that being said, I do think that Mainstreet do a good enough job encapsulating the sound to be something of their own and I can safely say that this EP did produce some good songs, personally loving every minute of the 6-minute Avalon Sunset with the well-produced earthy piano solo being a highlight and The Story of a Broken Heart being a good second. Much like their big influence, Mainstreet on Tracks of Fire, Vol. 1 shows a lot of heart and a good future for more.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for publications in the US and former lead writer of Atop The Treehouse. Reviews music, film and TV shows for media aggregators.
