I have been waiting impatiently for the inevitable:Envelopes to take over the world.
Alas it hasn't happened (yet).
I heard of this band almost by accident, when, flicking through music TV channels I caught their Freejazz video.I bought the single,which was good, and on the strengh of it, this album (as it was(and still is!) the only other available material).
I was very quickly drawn into the album(every track has a great melody),there is a joy of life in this music and humour and fun( and oh just buy it).
If I had to compare them to anyone(and I don't like to do this normally)it might be Gorky's or the Cardigans (Two bands I'm not really that fond of!) but these guys are much much better than either.
I know it means nothing without great songs (of which there are plenty) but the arrangement and playing of the songs is superb. I read that the album is a collection of demos, which is very difficult to believe, since you'd never guess from the quality on display here.
I tried to pick a track to recommend to a friend but ended up buying them a copy of the album.
I'm not foolish enough to think that this will appeal to everyone but if you love melodic catchy tunes and don't mind stepping away from the mainstream this could make your listening year.

Envelopes are yet another band from the burgeoning Swedish pop scene to come out with an album full of catchy and diverse songs that expertly bridge the gap between American and European pop styles. Muscially playful and lyrically nonsensical ("Isabelle and Leonard, dress up so nice in leotard") with both male and female lead vocalists (including the cute French accented Audrey), the group resembles what Arcade Fire might sound like if Arcade Fire were made up of a bunch of fun loving goofballs with a Pixies fixation. That the Pixies are a major inspiration to this band is most evident on the very Pixies-like "I Don't Like It."

This debut CD is a collection of demos (hence the title "Demon" - Swedish for "Demo") and thus has a slightly raw sound to it, which is actually preferable to much of today's overproduced pop/rock CDs. If Envelopes can maintain the energetic creativity of "Demon" and keep that appealing edge to their sound, there's no doubt that their next CD will be on a lot of pop music lovers must-have lists.

I'd given up on indie rock for a long time when I found this album, and I'm glad I did - its the freshest, most exciting thing I've heard in ages. "It is the Law" travels in a hundred fluorescent directions at once, with neon basslines bouncing off of shiny keyboards and edgy, Pixies-style guitar and male-female vocals. "Sister in Love" is a shimmering, driving piece of pop perfection, which, if there was any justice in this world, would be playing right now on every rock station in the U.S. This is one of those rare rock albums which gets more interesting and engaging the more you listen - buy a copy and find out for yourself.