HERR NILSSON – Good Morning Rock and Roll

RELEASE YEAR: 2026
BAND URL: https://open.spotify.com/album/4dyLEcLux9vPC2iEPXZnXY

Leave it to the perpetually cool and interesting Apollon Records to release something as magical as Good Morning Rock and Roll by the enticing Herr Nilsson. There is more than a whiff of sixties-flavored charm, style, and aura to this wonderfully eclectic and oftentimes humorous collection of raw, spirited, and inspired songs. In fact, Velvet Underground around the time of Loaded might not be the worst point of reference here, and one gets the impression that the Byrds and the Beatles at their psychedelic peak also serve as influences now and then. If someone had bothered to shove a rocket up Bob Dylan’s ass and make him properly electrifying and appealing, then maybe a few ideas on this indie pop-esque LP could have been inspired by some of his work too. More than anything though, Herr Nilsson and his merry men of great musical skill sound like none other than themselves, and they have made damn sure that each of the record’s tunes has merit and possesses memorable qualities. The subtly melancholic and the uplifting and rejuvenating walk hand in hand throughout and create a splendid energy and balance, and roughly three songs in I gave up trying to count how many robust hooks, clever details, and catchy vocal lines that are present on the disc.

While the album pays homage to a bygone age in some respects, it also sounds up to date and vital, and there can be no doubt that it carries a timeless vibe that is bound to enthrall, entertain, and stimulate the listener. Life-affirming is an apt description for this fabulous sonic outpouring of all the things that make it worth getting out of bed in the morning. This is, as its title suggests, nothing less than rock and roll music that penetrates to the very core of one’s being; genuine, potent and expertly crafted. If songs such as “Sensational,” “Don’t Get Tired