Today, however, The Royalties are no punchline. Finally crystallizing in late 2005, the duo of Haltbakk and Rambj�r released their debut-album to a cavalcade of critical praise, and even landed a Norwegian Grammy nomination for Best Pop Album in 2007. No laugh-track for those kind of accolades.

Earlier this year, the band followed up their initial success with their rousing sophomore offering, The Lost Royalties, produced by Haltbakk, and bearing the new contributions of Mari Persen.

Later this month, The Royalties are hitting the States with an appearance at Spike Hill in Brooklyn during the CMJ Music Marathon. They'll also be hitting up Mass, D.C. and the left coast with a few Los Angeles dates.