The other day RCRD LBL said that "Lykke Li is basically one iPod commerical away from being the Feist of 2008." You know, not so much, because I can't even pronounce her name let alone imagine someone's grandma saying it aloud (grandmas know about Feist now, right?), but when I stop to think about it, I wouldn't be surprised if an iPod commercial could have the ability to launch the Swedish songstress into orbit alongside Canada's gift to counting. Surely "Dance Dance Dance" is catchy enough to anchor an ad campaign, and surely Youth Novels is full of enough gems to carry Lykke Li to stardom.
"Dance Dance Dance" is definitely what managed to hook me - and I'm almost praying that it doesn't get picked up and iPod-ed to death, because right now it's a serious contender in the "favorite songs of 2008" competition. Ubiquity could only make me sad, but then again, the tune has brought me so much happiness that I feel like everyone else deserves to hear it too.
The rest of Youth Novels doesn't feel quite as revelatory and nearly perfect as "Dance Dance Dance," but with time I think the whole album could earn a spot in permanent rotation. It's a big enough accomplishment that a female vocalist has won me over to such an extent - it's no secret that I'm MUCH pickier when comes to female vocals, but I find Lykke Li's girlish singing to be charming and appropriate to the music (it might be that in some way she reminds me of Karen Peris of the Innocence Mission, who has one of my favorite female voices). I could do without some of the whisper-talking on tracks like "Melodies & Desires" and "This Trumpet in My Head," but the rest of the record balances the sugary-sweet with little punches of rhythm and hugely addictive melodies. It's poppy and bright, simple but filled with interesting flourishes, sweetly melancholy and above all else insanely charming.
"Dance, Dance, Dance"
"Breaking It Up"
Youth Novels is full of borderline-dance-y tracks, so it's no surprise that a number of the tunes are getting mixed and remixed all over the internet. I still dig the originals most of all, but that's just a little PSA for those of you who feel like hunting down more Lykke Li.
