Youth Novels is the eagerly anticipated debut album from Swedish internet sensation Lykke Li.We got a teaser earlier this year in the form of the Little Bit EP from Li, however, unlike another EP/album combo this year (Black Kids I'm looking at you), Li gives us 10 brand spanking new tracks on her full length.
The dominant element of the album is definitely Li's voice. She has a hushed, precocious delivery which draws attention for its understated quality. Backed by a subtle and unobtrusive electronic soundtrack, Li's vocals are charmingly impish. Imagine Bjork without the pretensions.
The combination of vocals and music make for at least a half dozen irresistible "stuck in your head" kind of tracks. In fact, from top to bottom the album is very strong.
Thematically the songs betray two sides of Li. On the one hand we have the strong, independent woman ("I'm Good, I'm Gone") while on the other hand we get someone far more fragile and vulnerable ("Everybody But Me"). These themes and how they portray Li's views on relationships make it hard for me not to compare Youth Novels to Liz Phair's debut Exile In Guyville.
That's an interesting comparison because Youth Novels may be the best debut album from a female artist that we've seen since Exile In Guyville.
The album was produced by Peter Bjorn and John's Bjorn Yttling.
Best tracks: "I'm Good, I'm Gone", "Tonight", "Everybody But Me"
Check out the video for "I'm Good, I'm Gone" here:
Track listing for Youth Novels:
- Melodies & Desires
- Dance, Dance, Dance
- I'm Good, I'm Gone
- Let It Fall
- My Love
- Tonight
- Little Bit
- Hanging High
- This Trumpet In My Head
- Complaint Department
- Breaking It Up
- Everybody But Me
- Time Flies
- Window Blues
9.0
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