Sound effects

If you’ve listened to alternative radio in the past couple years, you may have noticed an ’80s sound present in some of the songs on regular rotation. The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and The Bravery are a few of the bands whose music borrows from the New Wave era.

Add The Sounds to the list. The Swedish band made their debut in 2002 with the album, Living in America, and immediately music critics made comparisons between The Sounds’ flaxen-haired singer Maja Ivarsson and Blondie’s Deborah Harry. But the band is aiming to show that they’re more than another 1980s throwback with their latest album, Dying to Say This to You. The disc blends punk attitude and rock riffs with pop sensibility and a little bit of disco for good measure. “Although the group sports a definite ’80s retro vibe, the Sounds adhere to the principle that if you make it your own and make it good, then the rest doesn’t matter,” writes Guitar Player magazine.

The Sounds perform this weekend with another female-fronted band, Morningwood. The New York group, which describes itself as “a monster truck having sex with a Bond girl,” also shares the stage with Action, Action and The Sharpies. The all-ages show begins 7:30 p.m. April 30 at the New Oasis, 2100 Victorian Ave., Sparks. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 the day of show. Call 359-4020.