Though it's hard to be absolutely certain, it's probably a fair assumption that Björk and the Hives will never do a duet. Call it a crazy guess, but something about the two acts' aims seems incompatible. Although I can't say that I know anyone who'll be crushed by such news, I'm sure there are listeners for whom such a match-up would be a musical dream. If you are one of these people, I urge you to run to your nearest record store and buy Delusions of Grandeur. Don't read the rest of this review -- just go, now, and buy the album. You can thank me later.

The rest of the population -- those people who haven't been clamoring for the marriage of weird, ethereal pop and the so-called "new garage" movement, may be a little less sure of what to make of Parker. This was my initial reaction to them; in fact, after successive listens, it's still my reaction. Listening to Delusions of Grandeur remains a slightly unreal experience.

It doesn't start out that way. Initially, Parker seem to be grrrl-fronted punk band along Sleater-Kinney lines. Neither "Parker Theme" nor "Big Nose" suggest that the band is anything more than a throwback to the mid-'90s -- albeit a throwback with a female lead singer who can actually sing.

Around "Ugly", however, something begins to sound a little bit off. Lead singer Eva Parker's voice doesn't seem to fit with the music: when the tune is straight-ahead, no frills rock, for instance, her vocals gain a peculiar warble. As the album wears on, it becomes more apparent, peaking on "Sweet Lover Of Mine", after which Parker makes no further attempt to restrain her vocal eccentricities.

Parker, like Björk, is Scandinavian, and as such their English intonation sounds similar -- but there's more to the resemblance than that. Parker's voice share's Björk's instrumental qualities -- it isn't just a person's voice, it's a dynamic part of the music.

And this, ultimately, is what sets Parker (the band) apart, and makes them worth investigating. With a different, less conspicuous lead singer, they would likely be lumped in with the Hives, the Hellacopters and the rest of the current wave of Swedish rockers. With Parker the singer, however, Parker the band forges a distinct sound, and Delusions of Grandeur is their Exhibit A. It may not be what you'd expect of a rock band -- and it certainly rocks more than anything Björk has ever done -- but as long as you can get past that, you'll find yourself amply rewarded.