Body Talk Pt 1

I've Got Some News For You (2010-07-10) : 5/5
She started out a teen pop star. She created tunes that everyone would dance to at their Middle School Dance. But, just like anyone, she had to grow up. But instead of doing it like today's pop stars, she did it gracefully. Transitioning from her debut album's sweet, pre-teen songs to deep and meaningful songs (in her second album "My Truth" Robyn sang about an abortion she had in her earlier teens). She gracefully transformed from sweet, poppy Robyn to Robyn, a woman whose songs can make you laugh and shed a tear all in 35 minutes. A woman who mixes sweet vocals with ridged, techno beats. Instead of screaming and dressing up like a slutty Big Bird (Miley Cyrus, no offense to fans of Miley) she started to show how wonderful she can really be (not that Robyn wasn't wonderful to begin with). Her comeback album "Robyn (2005-2008)" mixed cheerful, upbeat music with reluctant, amazing ballads. And now the dance hall queen is back to show us why she sits in that throne.br /br /The albums opener "Don't F***ing Tell Me What To Do" is Robyn simply complaining about lives everyday, annoying, true problems. If it were anyone else I would say "shut up, stop complaining" but Robyn tells us about these troubles in such a simplistic and truthful way that it almost sounds like she's speaking for the rest of us, not just herself. Then comes "Fembot." Robyn talks about how women are treated like robots, which in many cases is true. She raps about how she is "fresh out the box," she's "the latest model" with "automatic booty applications." It's a fun, catchy, feministic proclamation that she does have feelings, she's not made out of metal. Next on Robyn's Body Talking Lineup is "Dancing On My Own." In this song Robyn describes a situation many of have been in. Watching the person we want with someone. She sings about the tough fact that no matter how hard she tries, this won't change. But she will press on, she'll dance alone, and in the end smile. Then comes "Cry When You Get Older." Amazon's review sees this song has a sister to sibling point of view. But in a way, I see it has a note to self. She's telling herself that this is not the end, somewhat of a follow up to "Dancing On My Own." br /br /"Dancehall Queen" is a song that may also relate to "Dancing On My Own" or "Fembot" because in a way she is saying that "you did this to yourself. Leave me alone, its not my fault you broke my heart. Maybe you forgot, but this is my space, and you're not ruining it. Remember, I'm the queen of my own land, and my own heart. And you're not entering either." "None of Dem" is a song from the point of view of an outcast. Almost like a kid entering a new school, where no one understands you or you're personality. Where "none of dem get your style" or can dance at your standards. "Hang With Me" is a song that finally shows Robyn opening up her heart, but not too much, just enough to hang with her. Finally, "Jag Vet En Delig Rosa" is a song that reminds us where Robyn began, Sweden. She reminds us of her Swedish roots through her version of this Swedish version.br /br /All in all, Robyn has made yet another musical masterpiece. Robyn has some news for us: she's still at the top of her game and won't be falling off anytime soon.br /br /For more reviews, videos, and more please log on to our website: [...]
I'm right over here / Why can't you see me? (2010-07-03) : 4/5
The above line from Robyn's latest amazingly addictive single "DANCING ON MY OWN" could ironically all but describe her predictament in the US: she deserves to be a huge star in America in the ranks of Gaga, Xtina, and today's other pop vixens, but for some reason, i.e., long delays between albums, label issues, lack of promo/marketing support, being too "quirky"/unique for her own good, etc., Robyn hasn't had her major breakthrough here yet - hopefully that will change with the release of BODY MUSIC PT. 1 and make her the global star she so truly deserves to be. This hybrid between an EP and/or short album features several catchy songs: the simultaneously soraring yet sad first single DANCING ON MY OWN (echoing her last hit WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT) is on auto-repeat on my stereo and I cannot stop listening to it - while Robyn's lyrics/mood are plaintive poignant, even melancholy, the propulsive electro-pop production works on both dancefloor and radio - if there's any pop justice, DANCING ON MY OWN will be a #1 hit in the U.S., but I won't hold my breath, as typically cr*p (not cream) usually rises to the top of radio/retail in the States. And that's part of Robyn's "problem" if she has one at all: she's an authentic, risk-tasking ARTIST, not just a faceless pop product/brand like al the rest. She refuses to dumb it down and/or dilute for America - and I love her for it all the more. Other great tracks include FEMBOT, NONE OF DEM, CRY WHEN YOU GET OLDER, and more. This is one of those rare "albums" that ends too soon and leaves you wanting more - so can't wait for Parts 2 3!!
Robyn is cutting edge, and rocks out on this shorter album (2010-06-24) : 5/5
The best song on the album, hands down, is Dancing On My Own. It reminds me of With Every Heartbeat. There's a driving beat, and she's singing with such languish and despair. it's beautiful, and it's the type of song that taps the emotions pretty deeply. br /br /The song Fembot took a bit of listening to get into it. The intro to the song is like being on a rollercoaster, going over the top and getting pulled along into this electro-heavy song. It's actually one of my favorites now.br /br /Dancehall Queen is a great fun pop song, and that leads into my second favorite on the album, "None of Dem". It's dark and dirty. There's a tremendous amount of bass in this song and if you have it playing loud in your car, your mirrors will ripple constantly. Amazing song! Love it! br /br /Hang With Me is beautiful and sounds almost like an acoustic version of Handle Me from the last album. br /br /I'm not much of a fan of Cry When you get Older (as it sounds a bit sing-songy, but it's still good), and the first song is just a throwaway. It's interesting, but not something I would actively listen to. It's almost like an extended intro to the real songs. The Swedish lullaby (???) at the end is also interesting, but not something I'd put on any mix tape. Reminds me of something from the MST3K movie, "Jack Frost". br /br /
Powerhouse (2010-06-23) : 5/5
**** 1/2br /br /Robyn is the most exciting artist in the current pantheon of pop music ... it's too bad that most American's haven't heard of her, or if they have, only remember her from the couple of hits she had here as a teenager in the 90's. The sweet little girl who sang "Show Me Love" has grown into a pop powerhouse, who can deftly meld various genres into her own glitchy, catchy, edgy concoctions.br /br /At a scant 8 tracks, "Body Talk part 1" still covers a lot of ground. "Don't F*ing Tell Me What To Do" is an unlikely choice for an opener, since it's a hard electronica track that doesn't feature any kind of a melody, really ... and yet it works as an introduction to an album by an enigmatic pop artist who plays by her own rules. "Fembot" comes closer to a conventional pop song, with its twitchy beats and cutesy vocals, but the album really hits its stride with "Dancing On My Own", which is the perfect 21st century pop song. With its throbbing industrial sounding beat and passionate vocals, Robyn takes on a familiar pop theme - the pain of seeing your ex with someone else - and reinvents it. br /br /The album spends the rest of its five tracks packing in a lot of punch, with Robyn taking elements of techno, hip-hop, traditional pop standards, and reggae, and mashing into her own mini opus, which is supposedly only the first of three short albums she plans on releasing this year. With her penchant for borrowing from lots of genres and forgoing typical album formats, Robyn reminds me less of current female pop stars and more of pop oddity Prince in his heyday.br /
Robyn rocks! (2010-06-18) : 5/5
Robyn is back and better than ever. All 8 tracks on this are great, can't wait to check out parts 2 and 3.