ALBUM REVIEW
by Shardae Jobson
(released in the U.S. on June 15, 2010)
Robyn's 2005 (released in America, 2008) album Robyn was a fantastic collection from this brilliantly thoughtful and original artist, Body Talk, Pt. 1 does have a bit less spunk than her previous effort, but it's not to say that it is any less enjoyable or defining of her talent. It is divine as not just a follow-up, but also stands well on its own. Pt. 1 is the beginning of Robyn's ambitious project of "mini albums" as her latest batch of new songs will be released months apart on as continuous entities. The series will definitely be intriguing to play back to back as a whole once the third is sealed and delivered, but for now, Pt. 1 of Body Talk has much to give and offers a lot to look forward to. Robyn is the kind of artist, after her mainstream pop debut Robyn Is Here was done with its singles, whose progressions in style and sound were achieved without a big deal made of them because they were done so effortlessly. Her calm kookiness and attentive approach are minus of any kind of agenda.
Robyn's 2005 (released in America, 2008) album Robyn was a fantastic collection from this brilliantly thoughtful and original artist, Body Talk, Pt. 1 does have a bit less spunk than her previous effort, but it's not to say that it is any less enjoyable or defining of her talent. It is divine as not just a follow-up, but also stands well on its own. Pt. 1 is the beginning of Robyn's ambitious project of "mini albums" as her latest batch of new songs will be released months apart on as continuous entities. The series will definitely be intriguing to play back to back as a whole once the third is sealed and delivered, but for now, Pt. 1 of Body Talk has much to give and offers a lot to look forward to. Robyn is the kind of artist, after her mainstream pop debut Robyn Is Here was done with its singles, whose progressions in style and sound were achieved without a big deal made of them because they were done so effortlessly. Her calm kookiness and attentive approach are minus of any kind of agenda.
Body Talk, Pt. 1 keeps her in the comfort of electro-pop, but what is different from Robyn is that she seems more accessibly emotional, not so supremely tough. "Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do" is a sincerely laughable and goes to list all the things that are politically wrong, but have somehow managed to put a smile on her face (a stressfully earned one at that) so just leave it alone as well as her. The album really starts to show its true colors on "Fembot", an endearing (and lightly sardonic) proclamation made on behalf of the legions of strong women everywhere that are revealed as both feminine and otherworldly--which apparently many hadn't already taken noticed of: "I've got some news for you. Fembots got feelings too. You split my heart in two. Now what, you gonna do?". "Fembot" is the song most representative of Pt. 1, with its robotic rhythmicals and content pillow talk, this time about supernatural women as food for thought for the masses.
"Dancing On My Own", the first official single, tries to recognize a somewhat unwanted solitude in the mist of aching, unrequited love right before one's eyes. It's similar to "Be Mine!" from Robyn, with its fittingly quaint and anxiously electronica teardrops that linger to the end, just like Robyn's feelings.
The lyrics that are most engaging were inscribed for "Cry When You Get Older" when our Swedish fembot knowingly sings, "Hey girl in the strobing light (and, Young boy by the traffic light), what your mama (daddy) never told you...love hurts when you do it right, you can cry when you get older". With each album release, it seems (in music) Robyn is the best-kept secret on who to turn to for heartbreak relief or a confidence boost. She comes across incredibly intelligent and mentoring in the chorus. She's not asking to be shown love anymore. She's writing her own book about it, and we could use her input.
The one track that is just so fantastic, it's wonder what took so long for its creation is "Dance Hall Queen". Co-produced by Klas Ahlund and and Diplo, it is a Jamaican flavored tune (hence the title) that embraces the country's robustly carefree nature, which Robyn pays homage to it with admirable flair. Robyn declares, "I still run this thing like a dance hall queen, I really don't want no hassle", as she becomes a part of this culture's constant, overtly welcoming and intimidating hip-swaying and undaunted words, you'll want to keep hearing more songs like this from her. Diplo must have also been still riding high from his own reggae mimicked material that he did with collaborator Switch, on the album Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do, under the name Major Lazer. "Dance Hall Queen" is breezy and wonderfully headstrong. You could really picture a queen ruling her land, the people looking up to her and dancing in her palace; Robyn is her loyal wing-woman sharing her story.
The lyrics that are most engaging were inscribed for "Cry When You Get Older" when our Swedish fembot knowingly sings, "Hey girl in the strobing light (and, Young boy by the traffic light), what your mama (daddy) never told you...love hurts when you do it right, you can cry when you get older". With each album release, it seems (in music) Robyn is the best-kept secret on who to turn to for heartbreak relief or a confidence boost. She comes across incredibly intelligent and mentoring in the chorus. She's not asking to be shown love anymore. She's writing her own book about it, and we could use her input.
The one track that is just so fantastic, it's wonder what took so long for its creation is "Dance Hall Queen". Co-produced by Klas Ahlund and and Diplo, it is a Jamaican flavored tune (hence the title) that embraces the country's robustly carefree nature, which Robyn pays homage to it with admirable flair. Robyn declares, "I still run this thing like a dance hall queen, I really don't want no hassle", as she becomes a part of this culture's constant, overtly welcoming and intimidating hip-swaying and undaunted words, you'll want to keep hearing more songs like this from her. Diplo must have also been still riding high from his own reggae mimicked material that he did with collaborator Switch, on the album Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do, under the name Major Lazer. "Dance Hall Queen" is breezy and wonderfully headstrong. You could really picture a queen ruling her land, the people looking up to her and dancing in her palace; Robyn is her loyal wing-woman sharing her story.
Though Body Talk, Pt.1 is the first chapter, it has its segments. After "Dance Hall Queen", tracks 6-8 are mischievously darker like on "None of Dem", produced by Royskopp, who is known for his smoky supple beats (as can be recalled on "Every Other Heartbeat" from Robyn). "Hang With Me" is tricky because even though it's acoustic, it's stripped presentation is unexpected in every which way as she wants you to be her friend and possible lover, but warns you to look out for yourself because her rollercoaster of want and ambivalence--only the push-overs can handle ("Just don't fall recklessly, headlessly in love with me, 'cause it's going to be a heartbreak, blissfully, painfully insanity...if we agree...you can hang with me). Robyn in the beginning went from being hopeful and frustrated, to assertive and selfish, and she plays these roles with a strange grace.The last track "Jag vet en dejlig Rosa" is sung in her native Swedish language, and some critics were quick to ostracize it from the rest because Robyn has never been this vulnerable to an American audience before, but it is beautifully done. "Jag" is another example that language may be a barrier in technicality, but the essential feeling expressed is never too far from needing translation.
Body Talk, Pt. 1 ends too soon which is the genius of making it only eight tracks. Robyn was all about aggrandizing her heartache and cynical yet sensitive outlook on life, as she returned to America's pop scene as a fast-talking, smart thirty-something; (so far) Body Talk is about realizing the issues of an individual is a bigger picture of how connected people really are to each other. The album's title behooves the notion that body language is the real key to self-discovery and growth tat we sometimes would rather ignore. Robyn was a diary. Body Talk, Pt. 1 is the beginning of a memoir. Body Talk, Pt. 2 can't come soon enough.
THE BEST: "Fembot", "Dancing On My Own", "Cry When You Get Older", "Dance Hall Queen", "Hang With Me"
THE BEST: "Fembot", "Dancing On My Own", "Cry When You Get Older", "Dance Hall Queen", "Hang With Me"
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