Poor Rich Ones

Scandinavia has long shown a gift for understated yet emotionally charged rock, evident in outfits ranging from the Cardigans and their mellow pop textures to a-ha and its delicate 1980s peaks. Poor Rich Ones joined this lineage in the late 1990s, a Bergen-based Norwegian quartet centered on singer and guitarist William alongside guitarist Espen, bassist Tor, and drummer Ludwig. Their first release, the apartment-recorded Naivety's Star, earned early domestic notice despite its unpolished promise. The follow-up, From the Makers of Ozium, elevated the group to national prominence, securing both an equivalent of the Grammy award and multiple successful singles. Echoes of contemporary British bands, particularly Radiohead, surfaced clearly in the music, placing Poor Rich Ones alongside the comparably influenced Swedish group Kent. In 1999 the quartet pursued side endeavors such as film scores and paid tribute to earlier Norwegian pop by covering a-ha’s “Hunting High and Low.” The next year brought the full-length Happy Happy Happy; after its completion Espen departed on sabbatical, leaving the remaining members to continue as a trio that secured a U.S. release of the album in 2001.