CRASH (Mikael Erlandsson) - Crash (1993)

Requested by a reader

Swedish vocalist Mikael Erlandsson achieved fame & fortune with Last Autumn's Dream, and more recently as well with Lover Under Cover, Heartbreak Radio, Salute and several projects. He also enjoyed considerable popularity in Scandinavia as solo artist during the '90s (some of his albums posted here on the blog), but his career started in the late Seventies.

First, Erlandsson was part of a punk (!) band playing drums, later he switched to keyboards for the group The Studs while perfected his songwriting skills. In the mid-80s joined pop band N'Gang for the first time as frontman / vocalist, with a hit single in Swedish radio and an Eurovision Song Contest participation.
Then in 1991 formed CRASH with brothers Eliasson (drummer Lars and guitarist Jan, who later was part of Danish rockers Push).

Crash released their debut "Crash" in 1993 with the aim to capitalize the American Melodic Rock success at that time, so expect here a collection of tunes in that vein.
"Do The Dance Dirty" opens with an urgent riff and a catchy chorus, followed by 'Close At Hand', a pure melodic rock track with a delicious multi-part harmony vocal work. The ethereal ballad 'Eyes Don't Lie' is perhaps the more 'Scandi sounding' song on the CD, and it's a really good one.

Then on tracks like 'Angina' you can hear Crush replicating the USA sound of the genre being this one akin White Lion (check the guitar swirls), same with 'Through The Shadows' (very Extreme), or the acoustically filled 'October 18' much in the vein of Mr. Big's More Than Words. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as many groups were doing the same, and Crush are pretty good at it.



Only released in Sweden, this is perhaps the lesser known work of Mikael Erlandsson's career. He never recorded a bad album - solo or with a band - and "Crash" is a quite solid melodic hard rock CD as well.
Well produced, composed and executed, "Crash" is a worthwhile addition to your Melodic Hard Rock collection.


01. Do The Dance Dirty
02. Close at Hand
03. Eyes Don't Lie
04. Save The World
05. Angina
06. Through The Shadows
07. Stranger's Kiss
08. Six String and a Highway
09. October 18
10. Livin' On Lovin'
11. Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin cover)

Mikael 'Micke' Erlandsson - vocals, keyboards, percussion
John Melander - bass, percussion, backing vocals
Jan Eliasson - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
Lars Eliasson - drums, backing vocals
with:
Micke Oijwall - keyboards, backing vocals
Ulrik Arturen - backing vocals




CRASH (Mikael Erlandsson) - Crash (1993) HERE
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MIKAEL ERLANDSSON - The Gift (2002) Japan edition + bonus

Mikael is a well known singer in Japan and Sweden.

His sweet voice was chosen for various AOR projects like Tommy Denander's "Radioactive" or "Heartbreak Radio".

But he find a stable band role in "Last Autumn's Dream", a great swedish outfit.

This is his 4th and last solo album, a fine collection of songs, well produced an well written.

'I Send You My Heart', 'Stop', 'Excuse Me Baby' are good examples, production could be better, it's ok.

Nothing to die for, but a good listen and an opportunity to discover this underrated artist.

If you like it, BUY IT.

1. Out Of Champagne 3:16

2. Stop (Following Me) 4:04

3. I Love You 4:14

4. Soul Is My Name 4:38

5. This Is Your Life 3:31

6. Million Dollar Girl 3:34

7. I Send You My Heart 3:40

8. My Day 3:38

9. Stay 3:59

10. Excuse Me Baby 3:53

11. Love's Got A Hold On Me 3:26

12. 24-Hours 2:28

13. It's Gonna Be Alright 4:25 (Japan bonus)

Mikael Erlandsson Lead Vocals, Keyboards

Jan Eliasson Lead Guitar

Mats Persson Bass, Guitar, Keyboards

Torbjoern Wassenius Guitar

DOWNLOAD

LAST AUTUMN'S DREAM - Saturn Skyline (2007)

IMHO this is the best L A D album ever. Even better than the debut.
This time the guys have listened the fans and the production is TOP class.
The songs are a perfect blend of power and harmony.
ROCKS as hell, as never before.
I never was a big fan of Mikael Erlandsson vocals, but this time the guy DID IT. GREAT vocal work and awesome musicianship as usual .
One of the albums of the year without a doubt.
If you like it, BUY IT.

1. For The Young & The Wild
2. After Tomorrows Gone
3. Pages
4. Rock´n Roll Is Saving My Soul
5. I Know A Lot About Love
6. Critical
7. Supersonic
8. Frozen Heart
9. American Girl
10. Domino
11. Still On The Run
12. Skyscraper (Japan bonus track)

This is the Japan Release. In the rest of the World the bonus is the song "Rocket Of Love"

Mikael Erlandsson (vocals, keys)
Andy Malecek (guitar)
Marcel Jacob (bass)
Jamie Borger (drums)



ENJOY