Just when you thought irony had gone extinct in the face of the world’s increasing absurdity, Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends drop a glittering, genre-bending gem in the form of their latest single, “Sing-Along Songs,” released on March 28, 2025. If you’ve been sleeping on this Swedish solo project—helmed by Alien Friend, formerly of REDMOON—consider this your wake-up call. Equal parts tongue-in-cheek anthem and razor-sharp social commentary, “Sing-Along Songs” is a playful punch in the face of modern ennui, dressed up in punk attitude, power-pop polish, and just enough folk rock to remind you it’s still human at its core.
Over the past few years, Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends has steadily built a body of work that feels like flipping through a particularly eclectic record collection at a friend’s place—one who can’t decide if they love Americana, Beatlesque harmonies, or the unvarnished emotion of classic Swedish folk more. The 2021–2022 run of singles and the expansive double album co-produced with David Myhr of The Merrymakers laid the foundation: tight hooks, lush arrangements, and lyrics that marry sincerity with a smirk. With No Sweets for E in 2023, the project leaned into the twangy melancholy of the 1950s and early Americana roots, suggesting a restless artist unafraid of musical shapeshifting.
“Sing-Along Songs” feels like yet another pivot—yet somehow completely in character. The track opens with jangling guitar lines that might have wandered out of a forgotten Clash B-side, soon colliding with buoyant rhythms that evoke a 70s power pop buzz. It’s the kind of song that dares you not to tap your foot, even as it slips in lyrics that skewer the numbing absurdities of our time. The irony isn’t just in the words, it’s in the contrast: music that invites you to sing along, paired with themes that might leave a darker aftertaste once you’ve caught the meaning.
Alien Friend’s vocals ride the line between earnestness and satire, giving the impression that he’s in on the joke—but also feels it deeply. That duality has always been the project’s secret weapon. Where lesser artists might lean into retro affectation for the sake of kitsch, Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends use musical nostalgia as a Trojan horse, delivering messages that are strikingly of the moment. This track, in particular, feels tailored for dark times: an upbeat anthem for the end of the world that somehow makes you feel better for having heard it.
What makes “Sing-Along Songs” more than just another genre mashup is its refusal to settle. While it flirts with the punchy immediacy of punk, it retains the melodic precision of power pop, and even hints at the earthy textures of folk rock—suggesting the shape of things to come from this constantly evolving project. There’s a clear sense that Alien Friend is teasing us with a direction, not committing to it. And honestly? That’s half the fun.
It’s easy to imagine this song lighting up the airwaves or being blasted from car windows during a particularly cathartic road trip. But “Sing-Along Songs” also works on a deeper level, as a kind of meta-commentary on the state of music itself in 2025. In a world where every experience is commodified and even protest can be packaged for virality, this song manages to be both catchy and subversive. It dares you to enjoy it—and then pokes you in the ribs for doing so.
As Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends gear up for more releases—some of which will reportedly echo traditional Swedish folk music—it’s clear that Alien Friend is charting a path as unpredictable as it is captivating. “Sing-Along Songs” is not just a new track; it’s a reminder that music can be fun without being frivolous, and that sometimes, the best way to deal with the darkness is to dance—and sing—right through it.
So go ahead: turn it up, sing along, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself thinking a little more deeply once the music stops.
