Released 44 years ago this October
Kär och galen
Ulf Lundell · 1982
46 min · 10 tracks · rock music
A blend of poetic lyricism and rock energy, capturing the spirit of 1980s Swedish music with emotive storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Kär och galen Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's emotional core, presenting a vivid exploration of love and madness that reflects Lundell's lyrical depth.
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Öppna landskap — This song became an anthem for freedom and connection to nature in Sweden, showcasing Lundell's ability to intertwine personal and national themes.
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I kvinnors ögon — This track highlights Lundell’s keen observational skills regarding relationships and gender dynamics, offering a poignant commentary through its narrative.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends poetic lyrics with rock energy, showcasing strong songwriting but uneven pacing.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features layered guitar riffs and a steady drumbeat, establishing a rock energy that persists through the first half.
- Several tracks incorporate shifts in dynamics, such as 'I kvinnors ögon,' which transitions from soft verses to a more powerful chorus.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo reflective journey
- poignant storytelling in every track
- ideal for afternoon drives
- evocative melodies with lyrical depth
Maybe skip if you
- seeking rapid energy bursts
- prefer standalone singles only
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Lundell's status as a leading artist in Swedish rock.
- Themes
- Swedish landscapes· love and madness· gender dynamics in relationships
- Career context
- Released on October 1, 1982, Kär och galen marked Ulf Lundell's commercial breakthrough, following his earlier albums that established him as a significant voice in Swedish rock. This album solidified his reputation, featuring tracks that resonated deeply with listeners and helped define the sound of Swedish music in the early '80s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Håkan Hellström· Kent· Bo Kaspers Orkester
Tracklist
- 1 Kär och galen Start here 5:28
- 2 Öppna landskap 4:41
- 3 Herrarna 2:42
- 4 Aldrig nånsin din clown 3:21
- 5 I kvinnors ögon 3:26
- 6 Laglös 4:41
- 7 I dina slutna rum 5:59
- 8 Lycklig, lycklig 4:27
- 9 När jag kysser havet 5:11
- 10 Vid din grind igen 6:23
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Colors
Laleh
Similar blend of poetic storytelling and emotive rock that reflects personal and cultural themes.
Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg
Håkan Hellström
Captures a vivid sense of place and emotional intensity, reminiscent of Lundell's lyrical landscapes.
bob hund
Bob Hund
Combines rock energy with introspective lyrics, echoing the spirit of Swedish storytelling in music.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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