Thanks to bouts of touring and that reliable phenomenon called ”word of mouth”, Little Green are starting to make waves in their home country, as well as on the international scene. Innocent Again, their third album, is arguably their best so far. With its inventive variations on country, folk rock, Southern rock, and jangly guitars, it will most likely be the album that takes this already highly-respected band to the next level. Little Green always had good songs. This time around, everything else has fallen into place as well. Everything has improved a notch or three: arrangements, performance, recording, mixing, and mastering. On Innocent Again, Little Green leave the folky tendencies of their last album behind, and go for a fuller, more electric sound, with some surprises thrown in for good measure.

The album is full of highlights. To begin with, it features two duets, This Is Our Life (featuring Lisa Pedersen), and I Can Talk Again (featuring Keith Miles). Innocent Again features background vocals by Kimmie Rhodes, whose songs have been recorded by several major artists, including Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler. A songwriter’s songwriter who enjoys a lot of respect from her peers. Ted Russell Kamp adds backing vocals to a couple of tracks. The subtly Dave Matthews-inspired Upside Down describes a poor person’s upbringing, from a Swedish point of view. Don’t Tell Me It’s Over, an old song that was re-worked for Little Green, now features a southern rock groove that let the rhythm section stretch out a little. The majestic closer, The Band Played On is reminiscent of The Jayhawks and Ryan Adams with a touch of swedish folklore.

What makes Little Green different from American bands is the scandinavian vibe that complements their knowledge of the great west, It can be traced in the melancholic and reflective lyrics and subtly swedish folk harmonies. ”European DJ’s tend to like the scandinavian vibe. Hopefully it’s the best of both worlds”, says Thomas Pontén, one of the founding members and continues ”We are influenced by everything we hear, and we certainly don’t pretend to be an American band”.

Americans tend to love them, though, and Little Green have done three tours co-headlining with Ted Russell Kamp, as well as being his backing musicians. Just like The Band (and, later, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) did with Bob Dylan. Needless to say, they look forward to touring together in Sweden again in August.

Until then, listen to Innocent Again by Little Green