Good comeback stories may be a dime a dozen in the pop music world, but they are always interesting. Take Robyn, a young Swedish pop singer who charmed the world in 1997 with her brand of Swedish pop on the cusp of the Swedish-produced pop invasion that would be BSB and Britney. "Show Me Love" and "Do You Know (What It Takes)" were top 10 hits in the US, all but assuring a follow-up chance. But record label RCA took a pass, and after two subsequent albums, Robyn parted ways with corporate labels.
After starting up her own label, Konichiwa Records, Robyn released Robyn in 2005. It was very successful in Sweden, but not anywhere else. It did catch the ear of one notable US pop columnist, Fred Bronson, who named "Be Mine" one of his favorite singles of the year. Two years later now the album has been given new life after Robyn recorded a new song "With Every Heartbeat," which she released in the UK and was a smash #1 hit, her first #1 single in any country. Its success prompted a re-release of Robyn with some new tracks, which has already been released in the UK.
Despite it being two years old, listening to Robyn feels like listening to the future of pop music. She's at the top of her game on the album's upbeat electronic pop tracks, which comprise the bulk of the album. Her girlish voice is a striking contrast to her sometimes raunchy vocals and street pretensions. "Konichiwa Bitches," during which Robyn raps, should be just silly, but it's actually pretty fun. Bass-heavy "Cobrastyle," one of the new tracks, is good too.
The next six songs though comprise the core of the album, and all of them are fantastic pop recordings. "Handle Me," slated as the next single, marries cello over bass and electronic bleeps and serves as a kiss off to an egotistical ex. "Bum Like You" is a sweet guitar-driven love song about how much she loves her guy, despite him being broke and not particularly good looking.
"Be Mine" is smashingly good. Intense strings keep the rhythm over the beats and keyboards. "With Every Heartbeat" is one those deceptively simple songs that really gets under your skin after a few listens. It's an earnest love song put to a electronic dance rhythm. (To hear a different and equally compelling take on this song, listen to the slower piano-backed version Robyn sang recently on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge with Jo Wiley. It's stunning.) Rhythmic "Who's that Girl" and "Crash and Burn Girl" finish off this fine run of class-act pop songs.
Robyn wisely kept the slower songs at the back of the album, which, while not bad, aren't as interesting as her upbeat pop. Best of the bunch is slinky "Should Have Known." Then there's perhaps the album's only misstep, "Robotboy," a metaphorical ballad that's just too lean to stand up. The UK re-release added a bass line, which helps, but it still doesn't cut it.
It's a minor misstep though in an overall very strong pop album that shows a lot of creativity, diversity, humor, and drive. With any luck, "With Every Heartbeat" will be an international success, putting Robyn back on the pile of pop acts with worldwide appeal.
Best: With Every Heartbeat, Be Mine, Bum Like You, Handle Me, Who's That Girl, Crash and Burn Girl, Cobrastyle, Konichiwa Bitches, Should Have Known
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