Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes, a review



I wasn't particularly a massive fan of her debut. It struck me as too alternative, too focussed on trying to weird the listeners out and whilst there were certainly some interesting elements (the unusual vocal delivery, as seen on 'I'm Good I'm Gone'), it just didn't click. And so she returns with the difficult second album.

From the get-go there're obvious rock'n'roll influences that help to create a more musical, more cohesive and structured environment. Rather than sticking in avant garde revelrie, there's an Amy Winehouse quality to the follow-up: drafting in heavy retro influences to direct her more clearly.

Opener 'Youth Knows No Pain' kicks off with majestic drums and a 60s-inspired organ hook that grabs you by the horns and immediately shakes off all preconceptions about her musical direction. The second single from the project, 'I Follow Rivers' follows the rhythmic stylings but swaps for a more echoed, sexier ("Dark room, honey, I'll follow you") and moodier sound. 'Love Out of Lust' thrives off of atmospheric, dark drums juxtoposed with romantic and hopeful lyrics and vocals.



Running footsteps introduces 'Unrequited Love' with a blues guitar sound and Lykke's vocals are at her best here, tackling such a heartbreaking theme with honesty and fragility. Soul and blues influences are as heavy and obvious as to include "sho-wap-sho-waa"s. All subtleties are tossed aside with 'Get Some', the first single. With a drum rhythm Mark Ronson would've killed for, Lykke tackles promiscuity with casual lyric-drops of prostitutes and shotguns surprisingly convincingly.

Sinister synths and drums that could pass for timpani welcome 'Rich Kids Blues'. In an interview for Pitchfork in November, Lykke mentioned her influences.
I was totally romanticizing the idea of Los Angeles when the Doors, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young were hanging out there.
Which isn't surprising since Neil Young rubs off so clearly here, nearly to a Nick Cave level. The blues continue on 'Sadness Is A Blessing' which showcases Lykke at simultaneously her most exposed and unfortunately shrill, slightly grating on me.



There's a stripped bare nature to 'I Know Places' that is welcome respite from all the humdrum, proving an acoustic talent lies in Li's repertoire. 6 minutes of frankly beautiful, almost hymnal, quality - changing suddenly at about the 5th minute to subtle, reflective instrumentals. 'Jerome' evokes Kate Bush in that throttling, intriguing delivery approach although lacks the hook to truly stand out. And so we conclude with 'Silent My Song', which suddenly introduces echoes and ceremonial drums in a slightly too ambitious project. Nevertheless it's a suitably epic conclusion.

2011 seems to herald a new direction for Lykke Li and it's one I enthusiastically embrace. The music is better, the themes more focussed, the execution as a result more successful.

Rating: 8/10
Highlights: I Know Places, I Follow Rivers, Unrequited Love, Youth Knows No Pain
Avoid: Sadness Is A Blessing

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