Kristoffer Ragnstam: Wrong Side of the Room Review

Kristoffer Ragnstam’s music cannot be broken down with ease, and he can’t be compared to anyone out in the industry today. He has the postmodern sound which the young hipsters who are too cool for popularity eat up. The eclectic nature and post modern sound of his work can earn him comparisons with Beck, but the comparison can only be assessed with vague and broad descriptions. Wrong Side of the Room delivers on so many fronts, it’s bright, filled with character, and simply catchy.

Ragnstam’s music is incredibly fun – the driving rhythms and upbeat tones create a feel good album. Sensationally strong beats drive the music, while the rest of the instruments are merely pawns dancing around it. Ragnstam also adds both subtle and in your face effects to his music to give it more depth and traction. The formula works very well and everything feels connected and appropriate.

His voice is often reminiscent of Jack Johnson’s, and oddly enough, Ragnstam seemingly takes a shot at Johnson’s genre in his song “2008”, “Nothing bores me more than an overrated poet / with an acoustic guitar / and way too much to say.”

Ragnstam’s music will inevitably draw comparisons to Beck, but one of the many factors which separates his music from Beck’s, is that it is far more accessible. Wrong Side of the Room is incredibly fun in nature, and the great melodies driven by a strong beat are bound to put a smile on your face.

Grade: A-