The Real Ones

Norway's musical contributions often receive less attention than they deserve, yet the country's range spans the stark intensity of black metal, the inviting textures of electronica, and the earthy textures of folk and rock. From the early 1990s onward, electronica and rock gained particular traction, introducing international audiences to Royskopp, Annie, and Kings of Convenience. Near the close of the century, Bergen's the Real Ones joined this roster. Blending the atmospheric, near-psychedelic qualities found among their compatriots with the retro approach of the Band and the euphoric style of Flaming Lips, the group issued a series of memorable folk-pop recordings that earned both critical praise and commercial success, beginning with This Is Camping in 2003. By that point the band had already performed across much of Europe and North America, and the debut further elevated their rising profile. In 2005 the Real Ones delivered Home with the Girls in the Morning, which earned a song-of-the-year nomination for the single "Ballad of an Old Man" along with a By:Larm Award. The next year the trippy, folksy Norwegians—Ivar Vogt (vocals, guitars, mandolins), Jorgen Sandvik (vocals, guitars, sitar, banjo), David Vogt (vocals, guitars, violin), Oystein Skjaelaaen (bass), and Kare Opheim (drums)—appeared at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX. Buoyed by fresh momentum, they returned home to prepare their third album, All for the Neighborhood, issued by Warner in 2008. That same year the Real Ones released their debut U.K. single, "Outlaw."