UNIVERSAL POPLAB SEEDS ALBUM WONDERLAND RELEASE: MAY 7, 2008 REVIEW: MAY 10, 2008

"Seeds" is where it all comes together. The short, but successful career of Universal Poplab may have reached its peak on this fantastic little circular piece of plastic. I would be very surprised to hear an electropop album that tops this one (aside from the recent masterpiece from fellow Gothenburgers Zeigeist, of course).

Single tracks "Fame & Hate" and "On the Run" must have been difficult choices. Not that they are weak in any sense, but the entire album is packed to the brim with single candidates. All of the ten tracks are hits! Some slightly more than others, like the salute to the season that's about to begin here in the north, "Summer Struck". It's a complete song in every way. Super vocals from Christer Lundberg, flawless melody and a chorus worthy of some sort of award. "Another Last Time", "Pearl" and "Don't Believe the Hype" are equally powerful in all their pop glory. Maybe too much catchy pop candy to take in all at once, but I surrender completely.

If there ever was an album in the pop genre, generated mostly by synths, to make it big commercially, this is it. "Seeds" is the closest I have ever been to a perfect ten since my review of long since forgotten Swedish pop wonder Saft's debut album back in 1998.

NIKLAS FORSBERG