The Amazing's 6 favorite songs

The Swedish quintet recommends tunes by The Cure, Sun Kil Moon, and more

The Amazing
(Image credit: (Alexander Donka))

You could call the music of Swedish quintet The Amazing psychedelic, or folk, or whatever you like, but vocalist Christoffer Gunrup is uncomfortable with labels. "If you theorize about the songs, it ruins the tension and passion," he said. "Just shut the f--k up and play, but play good."

The Amazing do, in fact, play good. The group's third album, Picture You, is an effortlessly consuming mix of intertwining guitars and soothing yet melancholic vocals, all set against a pastoral sonic backdrop.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

1. The Cure, "Plainsong"

Gunrup: "It's the best opening song ever to an album in the sense that it puts you right to sleep."

2. Sun Kil Moon, "Alesund"

Gunrup: "That's Mark Kozelek doing just nylon string guitars for the whole album, and this song is one of the most beautiful ones I've heard in many years. And it also sends me to sleep. I always lay down with headphones and try to sleep."

3. Franska Trion, "Karlekens Helvete"

Fadera: "I chose a song from a Swedish band. It's a trio with piano, bass, and drums, and the piano player's singing on it. I really like the way he sings, and the way they play together."

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

4. Jim Sullivan, "UFO"

Fadera: "It's kind of the same thing there. I like the sound of this song and everything about it."

5. Richard Twice, "If I Knew You Were the One"

Swahn: "This is my favorite song. I think the arrangement and the whole vibe of it is just incredible. It's not so known, so everyone should hear it."

6. Ramona Lisa, "Arcadia"

Swahn: "Chairlift is one of my favorite bands, and I think [Chairlift vocalist Caroline Polachek's Ramona Lisa project] also deserves more attention."

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

Picture You is out now on Partisan.

(This interview was condensed and edited by Samantha Rollins.)

Watch the video for The Amazing's "Picture You" below:

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

More in this series...

Samantha Rollins is TheWeek.com's news editor. She has previously worked for The New York Times and TIME and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.