Robyn

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Why isn't there a thread dedicated to the brilliantness of Robyn's Be Mine! yet?? (Or why can't I find it?). It's got violins. And Destiny Child beats. And a *great* kitsch-y talk-y bit. And it's from an album that I haven't heard yet but where she works with people from Teddybears Sthlm ánd The Knife. And she is Swedish.

― (jg) ((jg)), Monday, 16 May 2005 15:37 (eighteen years ago) link

The album is fantastic fantastic, search: "Who's That Girl", "Handle Me", "Robotboy" and "Bum Like You" especially. "Robotboy" is gaspy in "O Superman" manner. It is great. I really really hope this gets a UK release at some point.

And "Be Mine!" is one of the best singles of the year. Hurrah!, for Robyn.

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 16 May 2005 16:03 (eighteen years ago) link

I also really like Crash & Burn Girl.

― Xii (Xii), Monday, 16 May 2005 16:19 (eighteen years ago) link

Is she the same Europop girl who did "Do You Know (What It Takes)?"

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 16 May 2005 16:47 (eighteen years ago) link

She is, and "Show Me Love" too. Now she is a grownup who curses.

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 16 May 2005 17:08 (eighteen years ago) link

haha

I hope this gets a UK release soon too. I'm so excited.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Monday, 16 May 2005 17:16 (eighteen years ago) link

Be Mine sounds a lot like Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love. Like it!

― Sandeman, Thursday, 19 May 2005 22:14 (eighteen years ago) link

http://www.thepiratebay.org/torrents-details.php?id=3330822&filelist=1#filelist

― JoB (JoB), Thursday, 19 May 2005 23:15 (eighteen years ago) link

The only problem is that "Konichiwa Bitches" is crap! Song title of the year, it should have been a massive dis track to STUPID HATAZ or something.

"I know you wanna hate, but you're all wack! Konichiwa, bitches!". Or similar.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 May 2005 00:16 (eighteen years ago) link

Wow, "Konichiwa Bitches." She must be a Dave Chappelle fan!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 20 May 2005 00:48 (eighteen years ago) link

And in case people DON'T know, despite it having been mentioned loads of times, Robyn also did the original version of Bev Knight's super-fantastic "Keep This Fire Burning". She looked well scary in the video which had some painted blokes in it. I love her.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 May 2005 00:53 (eighteen years ago) link

She also did "Do You Know (What It Takes)," which I think was the pop song that really made me reconsider my nonstop alt-rock listening habits when I was 18.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 20 May 2005 01:19 (eighteen years ago) link

Konichiwa Bitches is good!!: Fannypack's 'Seven-one-eight' crossed with Gwen Stefani. I'm not so hot on the ballad-type tracks that clog up the back-end. Jack U Off from the single obviously ace, as someone pointed out around here ages ago.

― alext (alext), Friday, 20 May 2005 06:20 (eighteen years ago) link

There is a killer remix of Be Mine floating around somewhere. I've yet to find it. It's Robyn singing over a heavy as plutonium DAF bassline. Meat Boys remix or something it's called. I was very drunk when I heard it. But it was fantastic.

― Kaiser of Köln (Kaiser of Köln), Friday, 20 May 2005 08:07 (eighteen years ago) link

one month passes...

God this album is great. I can't believe that she did the original version of that 'Keep the fire burning', I adore it but for ages I've wanted to hear a version by someone else (pref Jamelia). Got Emule on the case now.

― Affectian (Affectian), Thursday, 23 June 2005 15:53 (eighteen years ago) link

She'd be like, what, 25 now?

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Thursday, 23 June 2005 16:39 (eighteen years ago) link

Another vote for "Konichiwa Bitches." JJ Fad lives!

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Thursday, 23 June 2005 16:46 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah! This whole album has a touch of the L'Trimms and the rest of that lot. How long has she been releasing records and what are her best older tracks?

― Affectian (Affectian), Thursday, 23 June 2005 17:14 (eighteen years ago) link

hm, just heard her version of 'fire..burning' and I'm surprised to say that I think Bev still does it best despite her near-total lack of personality. Robyn's vocals just don't *yearn* as much.

― Affectian (Affectian), Thursday, 23 June 2005 17:16 (eighteen years ago) link

Great, another album to add to my ever-growing to-buy list. I've got "Robyn Is Here" and it is really good. I think I bought it when I was in States a couple of years ago. Am I right in thinking she's been pretty successful over there? If so, is there any apparent reason why she isn't in Britain?

― Nick H (Nick H), Thursday, 23 June 2005 20:13 (eighteen years ago) link

I *really* need to hear the rest of this album!

― BARMS, Friday, 24 June 2005 07:34 (eighteen years ago) link

Who produces her now? Surely not Max Martin.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Friday, 24 June 2005 13:55 (eighteen years ago) link

Robyn has own label, and doesn't want demos:
http://www.konichiwa.se/demo.html

God, she's great.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 24 June 2005 14:20 (eighteen years ago) link

Is anyone able to do the album for me, please? Excepting 'Kon'wa, Bitches' and 'Be Mine'. Thanks in advance.

― BARMS, Friday, 24 June 2005 16:27 (eighteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

If this doesn't get a UK release I am going to have to import it from Sweden.
It rules very much.

― fandango (fandango), Sunday, 17 July 2005 00:29 (eighteen years ago) link

I always see 10 used copies of her album for $1. I really don't think it would be any good

http://image.com.com/mp3/images/cover/200/drd000/d052/d05230qmx27.jpg
I hate looking at that cover.

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Sunday, 17 July 2005 00:42 (eighteen years ago) link

This is amazing.

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 17 July 2005 08:35 (eighteen years ago) link

She reminds me of Bob Dylan on "Handle Me".

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 17 July 2005 08:36 (eighteen years ago) link

It is fantastic, though after "Konichiwa Bitches" I find that it trails off a little. But "Curriculum Vitae" still makes me laugh even though I've played the album 1,325,834 times.

― j0e (j0e), Sunday, 17 July 2005 11:30 (eighteen years ago) link

This album is still awesome. Up there with Fannypack for album of the year, definitely. OK, up there with Tegan and Sara for the no. 2 spot, after Fannypack.

― alext (alext), Sunday, 17 July 2005 12:53 (eighteen years ago) link

ARGH BE MINE NON-IMPORT CHEAP COPY.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Sunday, 17 July 2005 17:24 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't like "Be Mine!" though. :(

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 17 July 2005 21:33 (eighteen years ago) link

four weeks pass...

Holy shit, why didn't anyone force me to listen to this earlier? Album of the Year, possibly.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 16 August 2005 14:37 (eighteen years ago) link

EdwardO, get over yr hate of "Konichiwa," bitch!

And this might be the one & only time I'll agree w/ Dom P. Ever. Forever ever.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 16 August 2005 15:07 (eighteen years ago) link

"Bum Like You" is seriously in my top 5 singles of the year so far. Is this still not set for a domestic U.S. release? If not, that is a massive oversight on someone's part.

― Legroom at the Vista (Bent Over at the Arclight), Tuesday, 16 August 2005 15:09 (eighteen years ago) link

'Be Mine' is perfect in every way, from the swoop of the strings to the jitter of the beats to the jacking of 'Time After Time' to the amazing lyrics.

'Konichiwa Bitches' is just begging for an electrohouse remix: fantastic lyrics, great delivery, beat which sounds like a reject Casio demo.

I like 'Who's That Girl?' too, really should get round to the rest of the album as I'll clearly love most of it, but I can't be arsed to import or download.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 16 August 2005 15:13 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm really surprised Tom doesn't like 'Be Mine'!

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 16 August 2005 15:14 (eighteen years ago) link

Great album.

― marc h. (marc h.), Tuesday, 16 August 2005 15:55 (eighteen years ago) link

This is really great! Love love the spoken part on "Be Mine." And the album is pretty solid all the way through.

I am also surprised Tom doesn't like "Be Mine."

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 22 August 2005 04:29 (eighteen years ago) link

I even like the ballads!

― fandango (fandango), Monday, 22 August 2005 06:03 (eighteen years ago) link

Several months later I am not remotely bored of this album, no UK release yet? tsk, madness, in terms of godlike unavailability it will doubtless be to 2005 what Lene was to 2003 and Utada to 2004 except (whisper it) even better.

"Who's That Girl?" goes from strength to strength, THIS is my single of the year now (assuming it gets a release, anywhere, ever)

― Alex in Sheffield (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 22 August 2005 07:57 (eighteen years ago) link

According to her website it was just released as a single...

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 22 August 2005 07:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Daver, I don't hate Konichiwa Bitches so much, it's just that it should be SO MUCH BETTER THAN IT IS WITH THAT TITLE. Though I had a really good idea of what two songs it sounded like and I've now forgotten. ALSO DAVER ANSWER MY EMAILS you mean thing you.

"Who's That Girl" is out as a single now in Sweden, the remixes don't seem to do it for me that I've heard. SUrely "Crash & Burn Girl" has to be a single too, D-D-D-DOWN is a MIGHTY HOOK bit.

(I think Utada is out in the UK this year)

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 22 August 2005 08:08 (eighteen years ago) link

Konichiwa Bitches is perfect.

What on earth would improve it? An ODB, Ludacris, Missy Elliot guest verse??

― fandango (fandango), Monday, 22 August 2005 08:16 (eighteen years ago) link

More Missy-esque daft rhymes like in the second verse would help a bit.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 22 August 2005 08:20 (eighteen years ago) link

I am not sufficiently up to speed on Robyn developments, clearly. Any remixes, sub-par or otherwise, would be received pretty delightedly at the address below...

― Alex in Sheffield (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 22 August 2005 09:12 (eighteen years ago) link

"Konichiwa Bitches" is definitely a masterpiece within a masterpiece. I think it is ideal just the way it is.

I'm pretty big on every song on the record, even the trio of ballads at the end that no one ever seems to talk about.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Monday, 22 August 2005 13:45 (eighteen years ago) link

"BUM LIKE YOU"! "BUM LIKE YOU"! "BUM LIKE YOU"! "BUM LIKE YOU"!

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 22 August 2005 13:47 (eighteen years ago) link

Ha, make that a quartet of ballads then.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Monday, 22 August 2005 19:29 (eighteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

this album is...

― cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 07:04 (eighteen years ago) link

great!

― jmeister (jmeister), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 07:19 (eighteen years ago) link

UTTERLY FANTASTIC

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 08:26 (eighteen years ago) link

yeah it's good

― cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 08:51 (eighteen years ago) link

konichiwa bitches is the best title

― Googley Asearch (Toaster), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 10:05 (eighteen years ago) link

"Bum Like You" makes my day!

― djangojones (djangojones), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 12:11 (eighteen years ago) link

I have gotten over my Konichiwa Bitches hate. I didn't hate it, I just thought with that title it should be her dissing LOTS of punks. Sexily. But it kind of is, I guess.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 12:23 (eighteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

anyone found a website that will let me import this to the UK? i don't really feel like getting into an eBay bidding war for something that's on my computer already. but it is GREAT and i want to have it (and wouldn't mind paying robyn for the privilege).

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Sunday, 2 October 2005 21:21 (eighteen years ago) link

CD-Wow is *in* the UK, no?
A bargain

― vinegar (Koens), Sunday, 2 October 2005 21:36 (eighteen years ago) link

WHOA

thank-you-sir!

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Sunday, 2 October 2005 21:58 (eighteen years ago) link

5.2! :( As if the new Franz Ferdinand is better than this. (snort)

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Monday, 3 October 2005 13:34 (eighteen years ago) link

It's 8.2!

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Monday, 3 October 2005 14:01 (eighteen years ago) link

er. that's what i meant. still 8.-2-. it's at least an 8.5. come ON! :)

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Monday, 3 October 2005 14:26 (eighteen years ago) link

But "Be Mine" [...] is a disarming heartbreaker perfectly poised between twee and tuff, like if Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley and the Neptunes got trapped in Jeff Goldblum's Fly pods.

Fantastic sentence :-)

[Even though the Neptunes would be sat waiting forever in Goldblum's pods, with Wiggs & Stanley in David Al Hedison's pods instead]

― vinegar (Koens), Monday, 3 October 2005 14:40 (eighteen years ago) link

this shit better be top 10 year end pfork!

― fandango (fandango), Monday, 3 October 2005 22:23 (eighteen years ago) link

haha yeah i wouldn't count on that

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:07 (eighteen years ago) link

ha, I'd be plesantly surprised if it made the top 50!

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:21 (eighteen years ago) link

Who picked the numerical rating? That's really low given the inflated numbers that people like Wolf Parade and Sufjan Snoozans have been getting. It's at least twice as great as Illinoise, c'mon!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:41 (eighteen years ago) link

hi, friends, you don't think any of this record is cringeworthy? i'm just sayin. and i do like parts of it.

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:47 (eighteen years ago) link

i have never listened to wolf parade or sufjan stevens and i would rather have each of my pubic hairs plucked out with a pair of tweezers before doing so, matthew, so yr comparison is meaningless.

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:50 (eighteen years ago) link

it's very silly cutty. it's a good gauge of how comfortable you are with your silly listening around other people.

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:51 (eighteen years ago) link

Who's That Girl.. but probably only that track, and robotboy.

The rest is compressed brilliance

I heard Surfjan for the first time today. It was as underwhelming as I'd expected.

― fandango (fandango), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:52 (eighteen years ago) link

(I like Sufjan...)

(perhaps not coincidentally, I've lived my entire life in either Michigan or Illinois.)

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:58 (eighteen years ago) link

i was listening to it by myself and had to look over my shoulder during "konichiwa bitches"

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 3 October 2005 23:58 (eighteen years ago) link

my ULTRA-SCIENTIFIC RATINGS METHOD involved typing an 8 and then a random number after the decimal point.

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 00:00 (eighteen years ago) link

i subjected my officemate to george michael today so perhaps i am not who to turn to regarding shame

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 00:01 (eighteen years ago) link

Oh, Jess, I wasn't accusing you of being a Snoozans fan or anything, no worries. I just brought him up cos I am baffled by his good press.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:08 (eighteen years ago) link

actually i think i did hear the album before i moved, when i was still working at the record store...and if i did hear it, what i am remembering was kind of pleasant, but yeah, the hosannas baffle me too.

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:10 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, exactly. At first I was thinking that it was like one of those posters they used to sell in malls, the kind where if you look just right, there's a 3d boat or something. I tried with that record, and I swear to God, there's NO BOAT.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:15 (eighteen years ago) link

well i liked the NMH record too, but i am still kinda baffled by the 10.0! we must review a random spanish reissue! reception it gets.

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:17 (eighteen years ago) link

(perhaps not coincidentally, I've lived my entire life in either Michigan or Illinois.)

Uh, me too, but I'd like to think that that's not the only reason I like Sufjan so much. Robyn has some really good songs ("Be Mine" is the clear standout here), but sorry, Illinois > Robyn.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:17 (eighteen years ago) link

maybe i need to put patches on the elbows of my jacket

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:19 (eighteen years ago) link

You should, anyway.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:21 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, but Extraordinary Machine >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Illinois

Actually, there's a lot more >'s to go, I just got a little tired of leaning on that key.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:25 (eighteen years ago) link

Ha, you can file that last post under "Everybody Get Random!"

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:26 (eighteen years ago) link

So wait, are you guys trying to tell me that I might like Sufjan by the time he starts writing songs set in Ossining and Poughkeepsie?

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:27 (eighteen years ago) link

"ha, I'd be plesantly surprised if it made the top 50!"

oh scottpl, today's issue makes me cry!

― marc h. (marc h.), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 01:29 (eighteen years ago) link

Robyn's record is definitely much better than Illinoise -- Sufjan hasn't figured out how to make a good album with his terrific songs. You might find him boring or cringeworthy or whatever, but a song like "Seven Swans" or "Casimir Pulaski Day" or "Concerning the UFO Sighting..." is defensibly great.

The new Fiona Apple CD is crap, though, Matthew.

But anyway, ROBYN -- 8.2 was definitely too low. And it's a serious issue, because Pitchfork readers only seem to flock to mega-ratings -- and WHY DID THIS NOT GET A MEGA-RATING. While I'm content to yell about this album to an indie-rock brick wall, veryone would love this album if it was hip.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 06:14 (eighteen years ago) link

Hey, I don't understand this. Why is it so important whether Pfork gives a 7.6 or a 8.7 for it? Though I don't think it would be that good. Not bad, I'd give 7.2, it's still good :)

― zeus (zeus), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 06:37 (eighteen years ago) link

I GIVE IT A 10.0 FOR EFFORT

― Googley Asearch (Toaster), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 06:52 (eighteen years ago) link

It's not actually important, zeus, I am just trying to make meat of something small. Like krill.

PFM gives out a gazillion reviews in the 7-8.4 range. Thus, if an album is in a genre you don't normally listen to (eg: pop), and it gets one of those generic 'pretty good' ratings, I can't imagine someone going out of their way to hear it. If it rates a 9.7, say, there's something compelling there - "maybe this is actually good and worth hearing, even if I don't normally like that stuff".

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 07:11 (eighteen years ago) link

sean, it will be on my year-end list! and ff won't! (i didn't actually cry, though)

― marc h. (marc h.), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 10:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Wow, Sean, you surprise me. I am certain that no one made a record as good as Extraordinary Machine this year. Well, Robyn, MIA, and the New Pornos come close, but not very.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 11:35 (eighteen years ago) link

Gah, Matthew, sometimes you and me live on such different planes. I had less time than I expected for the original EM mix, but I was through with the new one before I had even listened to the whole thing once. Fiona's delivery is pretty great (love the rubicon line [hi MIA!]), but the songs plod for me, going in circles, and none of the production after the opening track zings at all. The new version of that "Love" song whose title I don't remember (you posted the original at Flux) really sucks.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 11:48 (eighteen years ago) link

ooh, if this thread keeps going until tomorrow it can double as the place to complain about the pfm fiona apple review

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 12:20 (eighteen years ago) link

fwiw, sean, 8.2 is supposed to mean more than just "pretty good," though obv how readers use it is up to them.

― marc h. (marc h.), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 12:28 (eighteen years ago) link

Oh no no! You must indoctrinate teh kids! These liberal policies are getting us nowhere!

― vinegar (Koens), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 12:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Oh my God, Pfork dropped the ball on Fiona too? WTF?

ALL HAIL EMPEROR SNOOZANS!

Sean, "Tymps" is actually probably the best argument in favor of Elizondo's version, and the relative flatness of Brion's arrangement!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 13:10 (eighteen years ago) link

Let's see, "Best New Music" -

Broken Social Scene
Franz Ferdinand
Wolf Parade
Devendra Banhart
Serena Maneesh
Kanye West
Super Furry Animals
The New Pornographers
Sufjan Snoozans
Wilderness
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Isolee
Art Brut
Sleater-Kinney
Stephen Malkmus
The Hold Steady
Architecture In Helsinki
Rosebuds
Sigur Ros
Jóhann Jóhannsson
Jason Forrest
Blood on the Wall
Bloc Party
Bell Orchestre
Kalikak Family
Kompakt 6
Part Chimp
Field Music

Well, I guess I shouldn't be very shocked by any of this.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 13:16 (eighteen years ago) link

Sean Gramophone: OK, I understand. But if Robyn is 9.7, than the Franz album should be 10.0

― zeus (zeus), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 17:14 (eighteen years ago) link

And if that Franz album is a 10.0, then it's time for me to start writing reviews of office supplies instead.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 17:21 (eighteen years ago) link

N., I liked your review of the album but thought 8.3 was too high for what you describe.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 17:21 (eighteen years ago) link

technically, the last third or so of what Matthew listed isn't 'best new music'

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 18:26 (eighteen years ago) link

J: That rating takes into account the fact that their first album got a 9.1. Possibly that was not very cool and fiercely-independent of me. But I figure the ratings are for the ratings-heads, and I didn't want to send the message that "Pitchfork" thought there'd been some big decline in quality. (And to be honest, I can't imagine how I would have rated this in some sort of vacuum; I imagine if I'd rated both I'd have put them both in the same 8.0-8.5 range. Which higher? Well, this is why I'm uncomfortable about ratings -- I'd probably put the new one higher for being "more interesting," and then feel guilty, public-service-wise, knowing that the first one was the one more people would actually love.)

I think there was originally some conflicted half-assed "I have reservations" stuff in that review, too, but they weren't clear and precise enough to survive editing.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 19:00 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm posting this here (inappropriately) because I didn't want to just post a snarky "this song sucks" comment on your blog, Matthew, but although I haven't given Extraordinary Machine any more time since this conversation here, I did just relisten to "Red Red Red" and golly do I find it dull. It's exciting when it crests so early (vocally), but then I don't feel it at all when she breaks and stops. The vocal performance feels really tossed-off, like Apple's trying to remember "to do what I did when I sang this song at home and sounded so right". And the tune isn't good enough to carry things with a sheen of fakeness - the melody vanishes in the second minute, the upright bass sounds terrible, and it never gathers its disparate parts.

Come to think of it, it sounds like an Eels cover, which isn't really a plus or minus either way.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 15:51 (eighteen years ago) link

So this isn't getting a UK bonus track extravaganza style release now?

― fandango (fandango), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 19:25 (eighteen years ago) link

Crazy pills, Sean!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 20:03 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm warming up to this A LOT.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 14 October 2005 20:34 (eighteen years ago) link

So, how cold *are* you, John? :)

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Friday, 14 October 2005 20:45 (eighteen years ago) link

If only it had been written by Xenomania/Richard X eh?

― fandango (fandango), Friday, 14 October 2005 20:47 (eighteen years ago) link

MFG, I think the first couple of times I sort of had it on but wasn't really listening to it. It's so solid, though.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 14 October 2005 20:49 (eighteen years ago) link

it is still GREAT

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Friday, 14 October 2005 21:10 (eighteen years ago) link

"Be Mine" = still one of the greatest but I'm burning out on it rather quickly. Haha its so DESIGNED to be loved by ILM tho.

― deej.. (deej..), Friday, 14 October 2005 21:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Be Mine sounds a lot like Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love.

Heh, didn't notice this, BUT "Anytime You Like" (ie the last track) sounds REALLY Bush-like to me – both in the voice (incl the stereoed refrain-thing) and especially the instrumental backing, which (at least at the start) is some sort of twin of "Watching You Without Me" from The Ninth Wave.

― The Vintner's Lipogram (OleM), Monday, 24 October 2005 15:16 (eighteen years ago) link

the good news: i finally tracked down the full album

the bad news: apart from the stuff i'd already heard (and i had reservations about 'konichiwa bitches' anyway), it basically sucks. thoughts here

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 24 October 2005 15:33 (eighteen years ago) link

(i still think 'be mine' and 'who's that girl?' are two of the best pop songs i've heard this year though)

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 24 October 2005 15:34 (eighteen years ago) link

I've really gone off her cos of the voice. O fickle me.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 24 October 2005 15:35 (eighteen years ago) link

Wow, talk about overanalysing the fun right out.

― login name (fandango), Monday, 24 October 2005 16:00 (eighteen years ago) link

tom otm

― strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Monday, 24 October 2005 16:34 (eighteen years ago) link

it might also be because i was driving incessantly for the two weeks i really fell in love with it

― strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Monday, 24 October 2005 16:35 (eighteen years ago) link

What don't you like about her voice? I think it's cute. Too cute, maybe?

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 24 October 2005 16:46 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't understand what's to complain about on the voice front. Well, I guess just a superficial 'rubs me the wrong way', but the same could be said for bits of just about every popstar, for me...

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Monday, 24 October 2005 16:53 (eighteen years ago) link

God, this music is weak. Kind of like Abba for the new millenium: American R&B passed on through mainstream culture to Scandanavians. If Britney Spears hadn't made R&B palatable to white people, would any Scandanavians listen to it? And the comparisons with Kate Bush? Gah. Please don't accuse me of being joyless. I'll admit to cynical and bitter, but I like some fun, as long as it isn't a watered down, formulaic appropriation of black culture by nordic folk.

Listening to this made me really appreciate the internet. There was a time I may actually have paid to listen to this kind of crap. Thanks to miracle of technology, I can now listen to crap for free!

― viborgu, Monday, 24 October 2005 17:07 (eighteen years ago) link

If Britney Spears hadn't made R&B palatable to white people

get one history that extends beyond the millennial mark

― strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:09 (eighteen years ago) link

so, basically, viborgu, yr problem is that she's swedish?

― marc h. (marc h.), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:14 (eighteen years ago) link

also, sir, her debut was released in 1995. r&b/palatable/white folks...

― marc h. (marc h.), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:15 (eighteen years ago) link

also, Lex way over-reacting to the (barely there) "appropriation of hip hop slang" in 'Handle Me'. Jesus, she's just foolin'! Do we have to bring race into this??

I'm hardly convinced she's taking cues from 'electro-house' either. And oh no! ACOUSTIC GUITAR!? It's hardly the main instrumentation, just a tiny melodic frill on that song. Are you really that allergic? The strings are acoustic too as far as I can tell...

The beats are a bit thin & wonky sure (these 'poptimists' have actually heard pop music before haven't they?), but I think they're deliberately so & well used. Every suggestion I've heard to 'improve' Konichiwa Bitches sounds like something that would remove an equal amount of charm & lightness in the process.

The other criticisms just annoy me because I can imagine other scenarios where they'd be totally flipped or disregarded "oh look another boring ballad" (this isn't an r'n'b record!)

― login name (fandango), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:34 (eighteen years ago) link

Britney Spears? Dude, it was the BACKSTREET BOYS! Come on!

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:42 (eighteen years ago) link

(Honestly, on ILC, I bring the funnies non-stop.)

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:42 (eighteen years ago) link

haha does lex really hate on acoustic guitars in that review? (i havent looked)

― strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:44 (eighteen years ago) link

My problem isn't just that she's Swedish. It's that she's making weak R&B that probably wouldn't make a dent if she was a black American. I haven't heard her debut album- sorry, but I'm not versed in her entire discography. Is there anything that doesn't suck on it? She is hot, I'll give you that.

OK- I'm off on my history of the white appropriation of R&B. Backstreet Boys? Hmm...
http://www.musicobsession.com/Pictures/c/o/colormebadd340764.jpg
Oh wait, there's a black guy there. I guess they pass the cool test.

― viborgu, Monday, 24 October 2005 17:48 (eighteen years ago) link

They even had "color" in their name! I think "Colored Me Badd" would have been better. Or "Negro Me Badd"?

― viborgu, Monday, 24 October 2005 17:50 (eighteen years ago) link

can i make negro me badd my new login name? please?

― strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Fandango I think the beats etc. are fine - I love skinny pop beats. But I think her voice is awful, she sounds horribly pert and pleased with herself.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:06 (eighteen years ago) link

Viborgu seems to be overestimating the impact Robyn's album's actually having / had, aside from a few folks on the interweb. (I love her voice. And her. Sigh. Point me to the jacuzzi, plz.)

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:31 (eighteen years ago) link

It's still not even released in the UK/US afaik. There was that import copy available at CD-WOW posted upthread, but I think I've used them before & had problems so I passed.

― login name (fandango), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:41 (eighteen years ago) link

xpost for Tom - Fair enough :)

I guess I don't mind her twee/cute-ness, especially when the lyrics mostly subvert the weak girly-girly factor. I can't really add any more that that. I mean I absolutely loathe Rachel Stevens for similar "pert and pleased with herself" reasons, but can (now) see how they might not be so far apart from some subjective angles.

― login name (fandango), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:42 (eighteen years ago) link

"Be mine" is really really nice in an unplugged piano version too.

― David L., Monday, 24 October 2005 19:46 (eighteen years ago) link

Viborgu seems to be overestimating the impact Robyn's album's actually having / had, aside from a few folks on the interweb

Well yes, and aside from Sweden of course (entered the album charts at number 1 there).

The album is still the business. The pleased-with-herself voice is part of the appeal, in fact. And acoustic guitars? In the hands of beardy men with earnest Coldplay ballads - dud; over electronic beats - total classic.

― vinegar (Koens), Monday, 24 October 2005 20:34 (eighteen years ago) link

I find the production rather matched up (thin voice, thin beats) but I could see being turned off by it being too girly or whatnot.

I also think this album is making more waves as a great pop album rather than a great r&b album made by a scandanavian white girl.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 24 October 2005 23:24 (eighteen years ago) link

i think this "it's pop so therefore it has thin beats" defence doesn't really hold up - what recent pop has thin beats? the best pop beats are massive, pounding, unstoppable things which aren't necessarily mutually exclusive with the light charm of the 'konichiwa bitches' vocal. if it was just beefed up a little (a la 'who's that girl?' in fact) it would be awesome.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 10:04 (eighteen years ago) link

I think if it was beefed up the production would overshadow/overpower her thin voice. But perhaps people want that :)

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 12:14 (eighteen years ago) link

Fandango I think the beats etc. are fine - I love skinny pop beats. But I think her voice is awful, she sounds horribly pert and pleased with herself.

I had to get used to the super-kawaii voice, but I prefer it over, say, Gwen S. Yes, it is over the top pert/purty but those beats/the music needs that. I don't think it would have worked any other way. I really like it.

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 12:22 (eighteen years ago) link

i think beefed-up production could work with her voice quite well - thin singers like aaliyah, kylie, even rachel stevens have benefited from it after all. or at least if it's going to be a sparse beat make it catchy in itself a la lumidee or kylie circa 'slow'.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 12:23 (eighteen years ago) link

i really like that this is a lees OOMPH production clickity tinkly warm pring-pah, instead of a WHOA POP LOCOMOTIVE rachel stevens/girls aloud kinda thing. it's different.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 12:30 (eighteen years ago) link

The most OTM part is the header of Lex's LJ post.

― BARMS, Tuesday, 25 October 2005 16:35 (eighteen years ago) link

Would I like this "Robyn"?

― knife (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 16:39 (eighteen years ago) link

near the end of the song, during the bridge, it sounds like a sample. anyone know what it is. its killing me.

― zak, Wednesday, 2 November 2005 02:51 (eighteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

This album just puts everything else in the shade. Don't know what people are complaining about with her voice, she chokes it off a bit too much maybe, but it fits with her music perfectly. This record just goes in so many directions, unlike say, certain records by certain shchaffel stomp queens where every song is more or less the same ahem.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 21 November 2005 18:57 (eighteen years ago) link

this album is totally fighting with a few unlikely competitors (smog, broken social scene, final fantasy, herman dune) for my totally-doesnt-matter-to-anyone-but-me "album of the year". i've been listening to it for a few months and am just wondering if it's going to get stale pretty fast. it hasn't yet, but pop records don't have good track records with me. and longevity matters to my mental "best records" list.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Monday, 21 November 2005 19:22 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't have one of those.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:52 (eighteen years ago) link

Which sounds really aloof or something, but seriously, I have "THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM THE ENTIRE WORLD HAS EVER PRODUCED" lists, which have one thing on them, and this record is currently hanging in there effortlessly.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:54 (eighteen years ago) link

Lex doesn't like pop music, ignore his views on it.

The "I just miss you, that's all" part of "Be Mine!" is like a butcher's knife to the heart.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:57 (eighteen years ago) link

Yes.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:02 (eighteen years ago) link

hm, just heard her version of 'fire..burning' and I'm surprised to say that I think Bev still does it best despite her near-total lack of personality. Robyn's vocals just don't *yearn* as much.

-- Affectian (niche_ia...), June 23rd, 2005 7:16 PM.

nichey any chance you can send me Robyn's version of this track??

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:06 (eighteen years ago) link

Personally, I'm confused by the Lex's views on this record, because I see Lex as one of our pop standard-bearers, in a way.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:06 (eighteen years ago) link

Robyn's voice is terrific on 'Crash And Burn Girl' - this is my favourite track personally.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:12 (eighteen years ago) link

Has anyone heard the Meatboys remix of "Be Mine!" GREAT.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:31 (eighteen years ago) link

If there's any thing I've learned from reading Lex's various writings over the past year, it's that while he is very pro-pop and that's all well and good, he tends to have incredibly bad taste in the stuff. So nevermind him.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:42 (eighteen years ago) link

i've read that Lex thing again and I think he's largely OTM apart from being a little too hard on 'Handle Me', 'Anytime You Like' and maybe 'Should Have Known'. The acousticy ballads really are the weak links here, while 'Be Mine', 'Who's That Girl' and 'Crash And Burn Girl' are three of the 50 best pop tracks this decade without a doubt.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:50 (eighteen years ago) link

How have I managed to avoid earning Lex's bad rap despite having near identical tastes?

OR HAVE I?

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:57 (eighteen years ago) link

I love "Bum Like You" a ton, though.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:00 (eighteen years ago) link

Lex likes "pop", but he doesn't like "Pop".

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:19 (eighteen years ago) link

Diff being?

(I'm not sceptical, I'm just dense)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:21 (eighteen years ago) link

Lex seems to hate everything that's popular, approving of a small subset of "approved pop" as opposed to "Pop". Not that I don't think he's a useful barometer of whether I'll like something or not, but the distinction is a big one.

― MC Stylised Vadge (edwardo), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:30 (eighteen years ago) link

Doesn't that mean he likes Pop not pop though?

BTW edward yr nickname is a bit sickly!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:34 (eighteen years ago) link

And isn't Robyn more likely to fall into the "approved Pop" category than, say, Brooke Valentine?

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:35 (eighteen years ago) link

Possibly, I don't really go in for genres and such.
(have changed it back, it's one of those mong-fuxxor jokes, sorry)

The difference is that Robyn is generally popular where she's been heard and released, I guess. Brooke Valentine is just as obscure outside the US, I'd imagine, even though her album is fantastic too.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:37 (eighteen years ago) link

So basically you're saying that Lex is a total reactionary?

If so, I agree!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:38 (eighteen years ago) link

I just thought he hated guitars and guitars are popular at the moment.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:40 (eighteen years ago) link

~~But Lex likes Nine Black Alps!~~

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 00:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Seriously though, Lex's objections do seem primarily sonic - you can't map his love of "The Show" and dislike of "Biology", for example, onto any other explanatory formula.

(a dislike I don't share at all, but that's beside the point)

I guess I'm just asking for more evidence of this split between pop and Pop.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 01:14 (eighteen years ago) link

Hard-Fi are one, Annie are the Other. I'm not sure which is which though.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 12:25 (eighteen years ago) link

Does anyone actually love every track on this album?

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 12:32 (eighteen years ago) link

I like every track on the album, and love most of it. I usually listen to the first 2/3 and skip back to the beginning, though.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 12:47 (eighteen years ago) link

It's kinda hilarious how everyone has suddenly forgotten how often they have agreements with Alex (ie. every other Xenomania/MIA/Rachel/etc-related thread)!

Mind you, I hardly tend to agree with him too often, but I am going to go back to this album soon, irregardless of my current disdain of it (possibly on the recommendations of my occasionally useful barometer of tunage, Sven T Massacre).

Tho' Alex remains useless at giving me burnt CDs and I am no longer making any for him.

― BARMS, Wednesday, 23 November 2005 12:51 (eighteen years ago) link

I am still totally loving the Robyn album, which is competing with Fannypack and Tegan & Sara for best of the year so far.

― alext (alext), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 13:00 (eighteen years ago) link

i need to give Fannypack another go - i think i was judging it too much with 'DJ ears' before (i.e. which tracks would you actually want to play out) and only came up with three or four (same ratio as Robyn, but then again this is the same ratio with pretty much all albums).

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 13:48 (eighteen years ago) link

Barms we should do a CD-R trade I think. Are you out tomorrow night?

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 13:48 (eighteen years ago) link

Barima you haven't ASKED for anything. Ask and you shall receive a promise of receiving. Continue hassling and you shall receive, um, more of the same. Continue hassling and you shall receive! I have just finished some Trendy Dahnce primers I promised to Ria in June, after all. And then I refused to give them to her because they were so good and I needed copies myself. Fobbed her off with JLC remixes.

I like pop music and Pop Music, not that I fully comprehend the distinction, and the trouble is that apart from the two Robyn songs which are amazing (and dear god I wish I'd never investigated any further) she is not so much pop as a rubbish Scandinavian version of N Imbruglia or similar. And I do like guitars if they're used in a decent way! Robyn doesn't do this, though. But Edward, you are the person arguing that MIA is neither pop nor Pop!

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 14:36 (eighteen years ago) link

Oh and I do like 'Biology', it's just that 7/10 falls woefully short of the Girls Aloud standard. It'd be, like, the third best song on the Robyn album.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 14:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Lex, as if anything I said on that thread can be taken as a consistent stance.

MIA is still not pop, but you DO like some "Pop" in addition to non-pop things like MIA and grime. Even the most hardened pop-ist or poptimist likes some non-pop.

Biology, as far as second singles off GA albums go, is miles behind "No Good Advice" (but then again, that is one of the greatest singles of all time), but miles ahead of "Love Machine", which I think was rather overrated.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 14:46 (eighteen years ago) link

Grime is pop! The kids on the bus were doing 'Pow!' this morning!

I don't know where this odd idea that I don't like popular things comes from, really. R&B is pretty much my favourite genre, and is also the dominant genre in all charts ever these days as far as I can see. Robyn is completely obscure apart from on the internet and in Sweden!

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 14:56 (eighteen years ago) link

Galang and Sunshowers are unpopular Pop.

There are a couple of moments on Robyn's 'Anytime You Like' where she's teetering on the brink of full on female Prince, but it doesn't happen fully/enough. I like it for that reason anyway, despite the slushiness.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 15:15 (eighteen years ago) link

OK, 'NGA' is not better than 'Love Machine'. That's insania. For that matter, 'Biology' is far more seductive, sweeter and better sung and produced than 'NGA', which has dated incredibly badly for such a recnt song.

Barms we should do a CD-R trade I think. Are you out tomorrow night?
-- Sororah T Massacre (stevem7...), November 23rd, 2005.

I either have a family crisis or a Thanksgiving dinner after work tomorrow, so likely not.

Barima you haven't ASKED for anything. Ask and you shall receive a promise of receiving. Continue hassling and you shall receive, um, more of the same. Continue hassling and you shall receive!

But I'm sure I was whingeing lots on LJ or Gmail about having no broadband and therefore no new tunes. I was pushing the button and waiting patiently and all that.

― BARMS, Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:12 (eighteen years ago) link

Holy shit, is everything she does fantastic or what??? I've just listened to Jack U Off -- yes, it's a throwaway goof, but impossible to imagine any of her so-called competition ever pulling off, much less imagining in the first place, much less actually pressing to disc -- and and AND "Keep This Fire Burning" is simply AMAZING . At first it sounds like "Family Affair" with some clanking prosthetic limp but somehow it cranks up into a another gear that it just maintains effortlessly for the duration. I'm kind of freaking out that it's taken me so long to get with Robyn's program for world domination here.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:39 (eighteen years ago) link

She has a song called "Jack U Off"?!?!

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:40 (eighteen years ago) link

OTM re "Jack U Off" - i tend to hate dumb and pseudoscatological songs like that, but it is awesome. i do not now how. What is "Keep This Fire Burning"? Another b-side? Or am I being forgetful? pls send!

jaymc - "jack u off" ysi via Daughters of Invention.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Yes!! It's a Mo Tucker - style piano goof about the psychology of handjobs. Seriously.

xpost

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:44 (eighteen years ago) link

Also, is anyone else just astounded by her command of English? The lyrics are written much better than most records from native English speakers are. Does she have someone else write the words, I wonder...

I just noticed last night that both the first and last songs on the album talk about how much pressure she's under.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:46 (eighteen years ago) link

I really need to hear 'Keep This Fire Burning'

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:48 (eighteen years ago) link

Holy cow.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:59 (eighteen years ago) link

(Erm, thanks, Sean!)

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 16:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Tracer, I agree w/r/t the lyrics. The opening couplet of "Be Mine" is really astounding: concise but just detailed enough (tears in the pouring rain) to be heartbreaking.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:03 (eighteen years ago) link

http://www.amiright.com/misheard/artist/robyn.shtml

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:15 (eighteen years ago) link

The greatest line in "Be Mine" is actually when she sings -- and it took me a few listens to hear this properly -- "And you never were, and you never will be mine." It's such a beautifully sorrowful realization that she is, well, doubly fucked: not only will she never possess him, but she never did in the first place. *Sniff*

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:16 (eighteen years ago) link

Those are tight, but I'm thinking especially of "Handle Me," "Crash and Burn Girl," "Who's That Girl" ... I agree with Tom about the Dylan qualities on the former, too. At first I was like, what the hell is Tom talking about, but I hear it now, the way she twists the chorus into the person she's addressing, like "in your face." It's even more apparent when you actually see the lyrics written out. I think she has more regret about the not-being-able-to-handleability of her mate than Bob was usually willing to admit to, though.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:29 (eighteen years ago) link

sean m thanks so much!

there are a couple more remixes from the 'Robyn' album available on her site if anyone is interested (just looked now).

also, there's a bunch of other stuff at this fan site (as there usually is at such places) - http://robynmusic.makes.it/ including, for -- Sororah T Massacre a video for "Keep This Fire Burning"

― fandango (fandango), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:30 (eighteen years ago) link

there are a couple more remixes from the 'Robyn' album available on her site if anyone is interested (just looked now).

Yeah, this is where I got the "Be Mine" Meatboys remix. The other "Be Mine" remix I didn't like nearly as much.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:36 (eighteen years ago) link

ah okay :) only scanned this thread quickly today, mention of that got lost under ye older messages are hidden link it seems.

― fandango (fandango), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:40 (eighteen years ago) link

re 'Keep This Fire Burning' i didn't expect the Beverley Knight cover to have copied the music wholesale!

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:41 (eighteen years ago) link

Jack U Off is a Prince cover, no? Was covered on popjustice an age ago. It is good, mind.

― alext (alext), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 22:40 (eighteen years ago) link

re: jack u off/ popjustice. hey i write the daughters blog ... didn't realise that it was covered elsewhere. i'm not as up on my blog reading as i should be for a blogger, i guess. oopsy

― jaime, Thursday, 24 November 2005 00:34 (eighteen years ago) link

I guess that's the explanation for the lyrics addressing a female... but perhaps not the full explanation?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 24 November 2005 01:28 (eighteen years ago) link

The Robyn Jack U Off has expired, can anyone re-YSI in this thread or the YSI one?

― kit brash (kit brash), Thursday, 24 November 2005 12:05 (eighteen years ago) link

I reckon Lex is pretty OTM with his criticism of the album - Who's That Girl is the best pop song of the year and I really like Be Mine and Konichiwa Bitches but as soon as the tempo drops it all goes a bit Dido.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 24 November 2005 13:34 (eighteen years ago) link

Jack U Off - http://s50.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=10VE8ZKIA6JT70OITA9NK4XFX9

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 25 November 2005 22:55 (eighteen years ago) link

Keep This Fire Burning - http://s50.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0A12L9BHJWADK1JZFMJQ2Y4A13

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 25 November 2005 22:57 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm surprised how much I love the Robyn album.

― 'Twan (miccio), Friday, 25 November 2005 23:00 (eighteen years ago) link

I looked at that blog link and it's fantastic, thank you, fandango! I am so hopelessly sunk w/her that I watched 20 minutes of her talking on some stiff-arsed Swedish interview program even though I couldn't understand a word she said.. except where she was explaining the meaning of "konichiwa" to the presenter, and he made some questioning kind of noise, and she was like "[swedish] [swedish], 'whassup?'" and he's like "'wassup?'" probably raising an eyebrow at her and she looks repentant and switches back into swedish.

one of the super weird things about her is that on video she doesn't look anything like any of her photographs.??! and is much cuter than i thought she was.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 25 November 2005 23:01 (eighteen years ago) link

thanks for the ysi's, tracer!

― 'Twan (miccio), Friday, 25 November 2005 23:02 (eighteen years ago) link

I agree with Tracer Hand. Robyn looks so different on video compared to photo's of her (ie: Album cover). Also I had no idea she was still in the music biz and only came across this site today because of the fact I heard a cool dance mix of her single "KEEP THIS FIRE BURNING" on Music One (all dance music internet broadcast radio out of NYC). Last I ever heard of Robyn was waaaaaaaaay back in 1997 when her huge record spawned the hit singles "DO YOU (WHAT IT TAKES), SHOW ME LOVE" were on the air waves in North America back in the late 90's. I'm from Canada and you don't hear her music anymore on radio. I still have her hit record and....geeesh ...haven't even touched it or listned to it since then. WoW hey! I'm a DJ so I have thousands of Discs (Albums, Singles, Promo's, Vinyl) from the last 15 year...hell half of that i don't even play or touch anymore...unless someone requests something from the last 15 yrs...it's like..."oh yeah...I didn't know i still had that one". Anyway, I wished i knew what her music sounded like now...8 years later anyway...Damn!...time flys!!!! whatthefuck...we all gettin' older lol....aiiiight later - peace out!

― Miles, Thursday, 1 December 2005 22:04 (eighteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

Boy, am I not getting this -- and I was looking forward to it. Yes, it's knowing and sassy. Yes, it's got a fancy bleeps and blips production with ace touches of strings here and there. And yes, "Who's That Girl?", "Handle Me" and "Be Mine!" are catchy -- and yes, her English is flawless. I even think she has a really versatile voice.

But there's a distinct...disingenuity about the whole affair -- utterly missing any of the air of vulnerability at the core of the best pop (and that goes for "Be Mine!" -- those lines don't hit half as hard as folks here want them to). I almost get the sense that this whole fascination with persona--with creating this Sassy Swedish Superhott--is so much the focus of this that the failures, regrets that would make it really resonate have a token feel about them. As a result, we get the cartoon R&B songs on one hand and indistinct, desperately-heartbroken ballads on the other -- no in between.

And that's saying nothing of the fact that it's more melodies than tunes -- but that's a whole other argument to be made...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 22 December 2005 02:53 (eighteen years ago) link

But there's a distinct...disingenuity about the whole affair -- utterly missing any of the air of vulnerability at the core of the best pop

Please tell me you're not a Rachel Stevens fan ok?

There's so much vulnerability in those ballads near the end (which people seem to hate...)

― Merry Christmas (fandango), Thursday, 22 December 2005 03:11 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm not a fan of Rachel Stevens. OK?

As for the ballads, the best song on this record for me was the last. But it's not just the vulnerability that makes it so.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 22 December 2005 04:55 (eighteen years ago) link

this whole fascination with persona--with creating this Sassy Swedish Superhott

ot fucking m.

that's as much robyn's fascination as her fans'.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 22 December 2005 12:34 (eighteen years ago) link

uh, i have no interest in this and don't even find Robyn very attractive (physically/'look'/style/personality). but my god her SONGS!

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 22 December 2005 12:45 (eighteen years ago) link

more melodies than tunes

ha! yes, of course, we're blinded by her looks and her tuneless melodies. gramophone OTM on robyn as always

― marc h. (marc h.), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:11 (eighteen years ago) link

I think if someone was listening to 'Be Mine' for the first time, without having seen Robyn or know anything about her at all, I'd be surprised and suspicious if they thought it sounded 'disingenuous'.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:13 (eighteen years ago) link

I love this album

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 22 December 2005 14:36 (eighteen years ago) link

spacemen 3

― Rizz (Rizz), Thursday, 22 December 2005 14:56 (eighteen years ago) link

i dont' get it

― idontgetit, Thursday, 22 December 2005 14:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Sassy Swedish Superhott?

Yes, she plays around with a little bit of fronting in her songs so what? There is more than that to them as well, it's not all about the image.

Hmmm, watch her videos or that live gig linked from one of her fansites... She isn't as ICE COOL UBERSWEDISH as people are imagining her to be here at all. She actually seems very unafraid of cracking that perception and looking a touch ridiculous (like a silly human being) now & then.

― Merry Christmas (fandango), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:13 (eighteen years ago) link

It's possible I've got a selective memory here but I don't remember anyone doing the "ooh, isn't her English good?" thing with Annie. Or, for that matter, any other Swedish pop star ever.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:18 (eighteen years ago) link

Or when Robyn was a Top 40 hit back about 6 years ago, for that matter.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:22 (eighteen years ago) link

sorry yes can someone remind what the deal is with these:

26 - Robyn - Do You Know (What It Takes) - Aug 1997
8 - Robyn - Show Me Love - Mar 1998
20 - Robyn - Do You Really Want Me - May 1998

I have no memory of them at all.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:32 (eighteen years ago) link

re: the "ooh, isn't her English good?" thing, isn't that just because the lyrics seem very naturalised (for a second language) and kinda quirky-personalised (not as bland/general as they could be in parts, or in her past career).

― Merry Christmas (fandango), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:36 (eighteen years ago) link

OTM

― 'Twan (miccio), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Steve, "Show Me Love" was perky dancey pop that went "Show me love, show me life, come on show me what it's all about." I'm sure you've heard it.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:39 (eighteen years ago) link

really does not ring a bell - a top 10 hit in 1998 and i don't know it - outrageous really.

Swedes speak English better than the English. I think she sounds 'American' half the time anyway ('don't be eating in my jacuzzi' etc. - that is such an Anerican thing to say arf).

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:41 (eighteen years ago) link

I used to get "Show Me Love" confused with Robyn S's "Show Me Love", which I would then get confused with K-Klass's "Let Me Show You Love", which I would then get confused with Romanthony's "Let Me Show You Love".

All four are ace tunes.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Sure, but they might not really notice it either.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 22 December 2005 15:44 (eighteen years ago) link

Perhaps because it's not there? I just find it a daft thing to project at a pop record. What, you don't BELIEVE she's really heartbroken? It doesn't really make sense.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Thursday, 22 December 2005 16:00 (eighteen years ago) link

I have no memory of them at all.

me neither. i don't believe they exist, i bet dom hacked into everyhit and placed them there.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 22 December 2005 17:09 (eighteen years ago) link

Evidence of Lex hacking into Everyhit:

2 Nine Black Alps Shot Down Mar 2005
1 Nine Black Alps Not Everyone Jun 2005
1 Nine Black Alps Unsatisfied Aug 2005

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 December 2005 17:10 (eighteen years ago) link

well i did think the '8' for 'Show Me Love' might be a typo but perhaps not.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Thursday, 22 December 2005 17:25 (eighteen years ago) link

Robyn covers Saul Williams:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-418537696859973739

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 2 January 2006 02:01 (eighteen years ago) link

Here's Robyn's "Show Me Love".
http://s41.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2EXGE3QRRCNE627YNLLIICS6E3

Let's just say I'm thankful she's since changed direction.

― davidsim (davidsim), Saturday, 7 January 2006 14:47 (eighteen years ago) link

Let's just say I'm thankful she's since changed direction.

Wha???!!! This is one of the best R&B/pop singles of the mid-90s.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Saturday, 7 January 2006 15:38 (eighteen years ago) link

This is the best algum i didn't listen to in 2005. Too bad i just got it around January 2nd. This should've changed my Top 10. Fuck I love Eclipse and Who's That Girl.

― elgolfo (elgolfo), Sunday, 8 January 2006 03:15 (eighteen years ago) link

The bit at the end of 'Konichiwa Bitches' where she pretends to forget the last word of every line is one of the finest bypass-the-brain-it's-an-awesome-pop-device moments in living memory.

― baboon2004 (baboon2004), Sunday, 8 January 2006 04:17 (eighteen years ago) link

dunno if this is of any interest to anyone...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 12:45 (eighteen years ago) link

List of Demands = holy fucking shit! That's great.

― Raw Patrick (Raw Patrick), Sunday, 8 January 2006 17:58 (eighteen years ago) link

what is it Charlie? I don't want to DL 39 meg on spec.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 8 January 2006 18:17 (eighteen years ago) link

the robyn album

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 8 January 2006 18:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Those of you who are sleeping on that Saul Williams cover really need to get to some clicking.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 8 January 2006 21:07 (eighteen years ago) link

Hang on, so Robyn's Show Me Love is actually different to Show Me Love by Robyn S? How very confusing.

(I have no memory of any of these either)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 9 January 2006 10:06 (eighteen years ago) link

Yes, I remember when Matos talked about Herbert playing Robyn S's "Show Me Love" I had a momentary very weird mental image.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 9 January 2006 11:23 (eighteen years ago) link

xxpost
"List of Demands," that was really great. I enjoyed that, thanks. It would be low quality, I'm sure, but any chance of an mp3 rip? Though the video does make it x-times more fun to hear.

Robyn, who the hell knew? "Show Me Love," ehh...I still can't enjoy that song today. I'm sure I can blame incessant 90s radio rotation for my hatred, but it's not as dreadful of a single as I remember.

― mox twelve (Mox twleve), Monday, 9 January 2006 11:25 (eighteen years ago) link

yes, the s williams thing is v. good, I have listened to it a lot. does anyone have or can anyone make an MP3, please?

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:06 (eighteen years ago) link

robyn covering 'list of demands'?? i can't download but i can't imagine anything worse.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:48 (eighteen years ago) link

you can't download and you can't imagine anything worse

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:55 (eighteen years ago) link

so the only reason i YSId the robyn album was because i had to get it from my work pc to my home laptop somehow - just thought i'd share the link just in case anyone needed it.

so, i'm just hearing the album for the first time now, and...WOW. It's wonderful! Can I expect the Juliet album (which I just ordered) to be as good/interesting/danceable as this?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:19 (eighteen years ago) link

You don't need to download, Lex, just click.

The moment that casio beat comes in! Great stuff.
The other lady there, Jenny Wilson, had a pretty decent album out in 2005 too, including a great single, "Summertime - the roughest time", which is here (video)

― naranjito (Koens), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Charlie, the Juliet album contains less dreary acoustic balladry (none in fact iirc) and is largely produced by JLC i think...but despite this there is nothing on it better than 'Avalon' although a couple of other tracks are worth hearing (about the same ration as the Robyn album, but the good Robyn tracks are probably better).

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:56 (eighteen years ago) link

cos of this thread i found a cheapo bin copy of the first album '.. is here'.. couldn't get through more than 3 tracks before i got bored.

the fact this thread refuses to die is imploring me to try harder .. but i just dont feel compelled to do so.

― mark e (mark e), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:58 (eighteen years ago) link

The Juliet album is about as good as the second Republica album.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:59 (eighteen years ago) link

i wouldn't go that far.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:59 (eighteen years ago) link

The second Republica album is great - "Try Everything", "Luxury Cage", "Kung Fu Movies" - classic. Actually, "Ride The Pain" has the same sort of propulsive thrust as the Republica album in question. I don't rate the Juliet album very highly, "Avalon" is terrific, the sonics are whooshing and exciting but for all of JLC's talk about what a talent and a star she is, I hear precious little evidence.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 9 January 2006 14:26 (eighteen years ago) link

Robin S doesn't have a 'y' in her name.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002IW7.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― deej.. (deej..), Monday, 9 January 2006 15:21 (eighteen years ago) link

And I like Robyn but Robin S' "Show Me Love" >>> All Robyn songs.

― deej.. (deej..), Monday, 9 January 2006 15:24 (eighteen years ago) link

by quite some distance, too.

the jlc remix of 'avalon' is ace but i am confused as to why juliet decided to be shirley manson of the 05 when she could have been glittery electrohouse diva. it sounds a bit like jlc's practice ideas for the madonna album.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 9 January 2006 17:15 (eighteen years ago) link

that's spot-on actually.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Monday, 9 January 2006 17:19 (eighteen years ago) link

robyn has bad teeth

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 9 January 2006 19:03 (eighteen years ago) link

I love her

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 9 January 2006 19:04 (eighteen years ago) link

I just listened to Robin S' "Show Me Love" yesterday and it isn't as good as it should be. It does drag a bit.

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Monday, 9 January 2006 22:53 (eighteen years ago) link

So get the single edit, sheesh!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 9 January 2006 22:57 (eighteen years ago) link

"List of Demands" reminds me that not enough pop stars are precious these days, it's a valuable asset.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 9 January 2006 23:13 (eighteen years ago) link

"So get the single edit, sheesh!"

It was the single edit! I don't know, it's not bad, but I remembered it being much better. I like Robyn's "Show Me Love" better.

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Monday, 9 January 2006 23:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Are you sure you got the single edit? The one with the pianos? Around 3:35 length? Doesn't drag at all.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 01:13 (eighteen years ago) link

K-Klass's "Let Me Show You Love" is better than Robin S's "Show Me Love".

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 01:16 (eighteen years ago) link

just to make sure...

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 01:20 (eighteen years ago) link

can someone re-up "jack u off" ysi style. i'm flippin' about 4 and a half shits listening to the first 2/3 of "robyn" and dying to hear this track!

― regular roundups (Dave M), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 03:48 (eighteen years ago) link

Ha, I think that version of "Show Me Love" is inferior to the original mix.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 04:52 (eighteen years ago) link

"List of Demands" reminds me that not enough pop stars are precious these days, it's a valuable asset.

LOADS of pop stars are precious, dom. nellie mckay, fiona apple, rufus wainwright, the list is never-ending.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 12:40 (eighteen years ago) link

Yr gonna have to explain to me the appeal of that one over the one I posted, MFG!

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 15:11 (eighteen years ago) link

It basically boils down to substituting the brilliantly slender psuedo-xylophone line for a more beefy (and generic) early 90's house/rave piano.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 17:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Jack U Off

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 17:47 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah see I have no ear for subtlety. Now, let's discuss Ricardo Villalobos.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 18:46 (eighteen years ago) link

hang on, which album is "jack u off" on? or is it the prince song?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 18:46 (eighteen years ago) link

It's a cover of the Prince song and I believe it's the B-side of "Keep This Fire Burnin," which itself is as good as anything on the new album.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 20:00 (eighteen years ago) link

I hope you've all seen Lukas Moodysson's excellent film Fucking Åmål (called Show Me Love in the US).Robyn's Show Me Love is in the soundtrack.

― Lisa Lipstick, Tuesday, 10 January 2006 20:05 (eighteen years ago) link

Wow, better late than never. This is AWESOME.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 21:23 (eighteen years ago) link

I've had this on mp3 for ages, but I Really Wanted the CD, and I haven't felt like that about anything in a long time.

Do you think the different facial expressions are pasted on, or are the result of photoshop work? She never looks the same way twice, though, so maybe it's just her.

It's annoying not to have any credits or info in the CD.

It's annoying that "Crash and Burn Girl" isn't all over New York radio, it would be a huge winter song.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 21:32 (eighteen years ago) link

jesus christ, john-tofu!

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 21:34 (eighteen years ago) link

It's a cover of the Prince song and I believe it's the B-side of "Keep This Fire Burnin," which itself is as good as anything on the new album.

er, sorry for being a fucknut, but where's "keep this fire burnin'"? on an old album i presume? absolutely nothing seems to be on sale in the uk.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 22:47 (eighteen years ago) link

I am the same, tracer -- I ordered the CD last week after not having been able to find it in any shops

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 00:17 (eighteen years ago) link

i don't know charlie, i think it may have been just a single.

i went to virgin to get it, and it wasn't in "imports" nor in the regular section, nor in "european music," which apparently consists of france, spain and a grab bag of slavs. when i suddenly realized -- import pop -- paul sci-fi soul -- d'oh -- i went to tower and there were three copies.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 00:42 (eighteen years ago) link

of the album, i mean.

it appears "jack u off" is the be side to "be mine."

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 00:46 (eighteen years ago) link

Sean, you just surprised I never heard this till now? I been busy!
But yeah, Bum Like You is supabrill.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 02:11 (eighteen years ago) link

"Keep This Fire Burning" is from Robyn's 2002 album, "Don't Stop The Music", which has great singles but the filler is a bit more disposable, i.e. there's no amazing non-singles like "Bum Like You" or "Crash And Burn Girl" on it. Actually, it's a bit weirder and noisier production-wise that album.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 02:12 (eighteen years ago) link

I haven't seen it anywhere in the UK. I was in Denmark over Christmas and picked up a copy there having had the mp3's for a while (also got the new Junior Senior which you also can't get here, found out that it's the B52's who sing on Take Your Time!).

It's a great record and can't understand the non release here. Tracer, all the credits for the record are printed on the CD itself rather than the CD booklet thought it's mighty hard to read.

― mms (mms), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 08:57 (eighteen years ago) link

I love the Robyn packaging. Just pictures on the inlay. Text on the CD. It's magnificently unreadable.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 09:00 (eighteen years ago) link

As a fan of quite a few recent Scandinavian pop records it was pretty good being in DK. Heard Robyn - Be Mine and Junior Senior- Take My Time on local radio in the space of an hour. Junior Senior were performing on the Danish sports awards, heard The Cardigans on a Swedish mobile phone advert and Annie was on in one of the clothes shops I was in.

― mms (mms), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 09:25 (eighteen years ago) link

Robyn has UK distribution now, and should be launching around April time here though, correct? God knows how they're going to market here. If they've learned from the Annie debacle, they should realise "Hip Scando Pop Genius" isn't something the UK cares about. Maybe if they market here as some kinda of new Stefani, I dunno.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 11:09 (eighteen years ago) link

Ya I agree with the post about this being an album I didn't hear until 2006, but really really like.

― Stephen C (ihope), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 11:23 (eighteen years ago) link

I will point out again to anyone who missed the information way upthread, that CD-Wow is selling the Robyn CD for £8.75 including worldwide delivery. I bought it from them in October and it came promptly, and I also used CD-Wow when I lived in Canada and had no problems.

I can't really imagine Robyn being a big radio success - this stuff just isn't 'street' or explicit enough to make waves in the straight-up UK pop charts, I don't think...

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 11:44 (eighteen years ago) link

in other words, she's too twee!

(obv she should be on the radio, but 2005 != 1992)

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 11:45 (eighteen years ago) link

I love her too, btw, in all her bad teethed glory

― cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 12:01 (eighteen years ago) link

Well if you look at Rachel Stevens, Girls Aloud and Annie as examples then she has no chance of decent success.

― mms (mms), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 12:29 (eighteen years ago) link

Maybe if she teamed up with some blokes from Northern England...

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 12:37 (eighteen years ago) link

robyn has even less of a chance of success than annie.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 12:42 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't know about that. I can hear Be Mine getting some play on the radio more than anything on the Annie record. Just depends what image she promotes herself with and how strong a push the record company give her.

― mms (mms), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 12:46 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't know that I'd believe that Robyn could be on U.S. radio if not for Natasha Bedingfield.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 14:18 (eighteen years ago) link

so the question remains, i guess... is this ever getting an official u.s. release?

― marc h. (marc h.), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 14:20 (eighteen years ago) link

Robyn has a better chance than Annie on account of most of her album being acousticy twaddle. Britain apparently loving that shit generally (even from foreigns - see Jose Gonzalezzzz). This will translate into maybe crashing into the album charts at #64 with singles firmly outside the top 75.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 14:57 (eighteen years ago) link

acousticy twaddle? where?

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 15:21 (eighteen years ago) link

*points in it's direction*

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 15:32 (eighteen years ago) link

< /snark>

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 15:33 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't think there is any acousticky twaddle but, then I don't know what that means

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 16:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Is Steve accusing Bum Like You of being TWADDLE??!??!?!?!?!??!!?

― kit brash (kit brash), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 20:06 (eighteen years ago) link

bum like you does not sound acousticky

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 23:16 (eighteen years ago) link

not that I know what that means

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 23:16 (eighteen years ago) link

it's a synonym for 'crap', which 'bum like you' assuredly is

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 12 January 2006 12:18 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't like you

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 12 January 2006 12:20 (eighteen years ago) link

The Katie Melua-ish 'Eclipse' and 'Bum Like You' made me think 'acoustic(k)y' and the latter might as well be acoustic - drums are ok but is it really worth having these and 'Should Have Known' (nice beat but eeeh ohterwise) on the album? they all seem to be about the same boring thing. These and 'Robotboy' are just too cheesy for me, despite other emotionally vulnerable-or whatever moments on 'Be Mine', 'Who's That Girl' working just fine.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Thursday, 12 January 2006 13:55 (eighteen years ago) link

tht 'oh god it ain't right' in bum like you (?) is my favourite line from last year

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 12 January 2006 14:04 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't hear any twaddle nor much acousticy nevermind in combination

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 12 January 2006 14:05 (eighteen years ago) link

the same boring thing : (

don't think there's an "oh", cozen, but yeah

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 12 January 2006 14:07 (eighteen years ago) link

Robyn has done well to cater to an audience who want different things.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Thursday, 12 January 2006 14:17 (eighteen years ago) link

Now although she says it with a toying menace that implies "sayoonara",
doesn't "konichiwa" actually mean "good afternoon"?

'Good afternoon, bitches!' - only makes me love the track more.

― Catherine Ryan (and so this is catherine), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:23 (eighteen years ago) link

a reference to the comedian dave chappelle, catherine

― marc h. (marc h.), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:31 (eighteen years ago) link

Here's where you can watch Robyn's performance on the P3 (=radio channel) awards (21/1 2006). She's doing a duet with The Ark's Ola Salo and then some medley thing with bits of Buffalo Stance (Nene Cherry) and Got to Get (Leyla K).
It's at the end, about 1,47 hours into the show.

http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/p3/programsidor/index.asp?ProgramID=2450
Click on the little videocamerathing.

― Lisa Lipstick, Tuesday, 24 January 2006 18:29 (eighteen years ago) link

and here's a video of Robyn and Jenny Wilson doing List of demands
http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=32531

― Lisa Lipstick, Tuesday, 24 January 2006 20:16 (eighteen years ago) link

thanks for the links, lisa lipstick!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 20:27 (eighteen years ago) link

someone should definitely rip that video before it disappears

― sovietpanda (sovietpanda), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 10:53 (eighteen years ago) link

I just walked into the nearby deli and Be Mine was playing on Heart FM! Ergo, Robyn will be massive.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 27 January 2006 13:31 (eighteen years ago) link

I made an MP3 of the list of demands, if anyone wants it

gotta trim off the presenter's bit in the beginning, though

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 27 January 2006 14:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Could you YSI the mp3 please?

― Laney (Laneyje), Friday, 27 January 2006 17:01 (eighteen years ago) link

will do when I've got home and trimmed

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 27 January 2006 17:35 (eighteen years ago) link

list of demands

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 27 January 2006 19:12 (eighteen years ago) link

Here's a streaming of Robyn's liveshow at Mejeriet in Lund 12 nov 2005
http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=32531

― Lisa Lipstick, Sunday, 5 February 2006 11:31 (eighteen years ago) link

Popjustice is reporting that Robyn has recorded a track with Basement Jaxx. Discuss.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 16 February 2006 12:52 (eighteen years ago) link

Can somebody re-up the "List Of Demands" mp3 please?

― Ben (crispyben), Thursday, 16 February 2006 13:47 (eighteen years ago) link

I'll email it to you, Ben.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 16 February 2006 13:51 (eighteen years ago) link

whoops, never mind, don't have it in my email account any more. sorry!

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 16 February 2006 13:52 (eighteen years ago) link

Robyn's career has died because it has been taken over by the media whores and music industry nazis.

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Thursday, 16 February 2006 14:26 (eighteen years ago) link

two months pass...

If someone wants to watch ALL of Robyn's videos (3 from the latest album) + a some more, and full clips from several TV-shows in total there should be around 3 hours w. Robyn
www.Robyn.Makes.It

― Alexander Buster, Saturday, 22 April 2006 04:55 (eighteen years ago) link

I can vouch for robyn.makes.it - it is the best source for robyn stuff in my opinion! apparently there's some rival robyn board that's been making trouble with them, but i don't know what its address is.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 23 April 2006 06:04 (eighteen years ago) link

The Cat5 remix of 'Be Mine' is fantastic. I think it's time for a whole thread devoted to these mysterious Swedish pop makers..

― Affectian (Affectian), Sunday, 23 April 2006 14:35 (eighteen years ago) link

one month passes...

here's some spam but it's the good kind - i got this in my mailbox -----------

During a limited time : until Sunday, you can listen to Robyn Web Radio!

With more than 24 hours of music!

To tune this station in, use your Windows Media player, up left go to open URL, copy this link: http://VonzyPlaza.mine.nu:9000 and paste it in, and you will hear what music I'm playing

NOTE: never click on this link! (might work in WinAmp, not sure though..)

If you hear someone speaking, its me!

Have set it to random play, so you don't will be bored when you hear 25 versions of the very same song!

ONLY 15 listeners can be online at the same time

If you can't connect, try later
This station will be running until Sunday

I can see how many listeners there is - if its many trying to connect, I might lowering the streaming quality a little bit, to let more ppl listen.

Enjoy!

Vonzy®

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 27 May 2006 19:48 (seventeen years ago) link

this is awesome - robyn radio

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 27 May 2006 20:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Show Me love has just come up randomly on itunes. It's a brilliant song.

― chap who would dare to be a nerd, not a geek (chap), Saturday, 27 May 2006 20:45 (seventeen years ago) link

I can't believe there is anyone who doesn't love "Konichiwa Bitches"!!

― musically (musically), Saturday, 27 May 2006 22:04 (seventeen years ago) link

one month passes...

There is a site with +3 hours with videos and TV-shows with Robyn : www.robyn.makes.it check it out!

― Petra Berning (Petrapops), Saturday, 22 July 2006 15:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry... forgot to add that there is a great Robyn-forum as well, where its possible to download lots of stuff, today I found a song "Hey You" that Robyn does with Basement of Jaxx! It will be out in mid september! ;-) there is also a link to the whole album... http://robynforum.rocks.it

― Petra Berning (Petrapops), Saturday, 22 July 2006 15:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Have just listened to the whole album with Basement of Jaxx "Crazy Itch Radio" as someone wrote in Robyn Forum: "it got so many different music styles and different artists, its like picking songs to a mp3-player where you only take the best music from many artists" and I like the song that Robyn does.
More about Robyn: she is flying over to USA to take some pictures to the cover of her upcoming album today, more in that forum and on http://www.robyn.com

― Petra Pops (Petrapops), Saturday, 22 July 2006 16:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Thanks, Petra! I love Basement of Jaxx and that song is great.

Any idea where in the US she is going to be?

― Paul Eater (eater), Saturday, 22 July 2006 18:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry I don't know for sure, someone said N.Y.

― Petra Pops (Petrapops), Saturday, 22 July 2006 21:45 (seventeen years ago) link

I am totally calling them 'Basement of Jaxx' from now on.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 23 July 2006 09:50 (seventeen years ago) link

There is another very active and great Robyn forum online, with a lot of stuff to download. Visit http://forums.cjb.net/robynfanzone.html

― Lena S (mimimi), Thursday, 27 July 2006 19:03 (seventeen years ago) link

two months pass...

UK release! And live dates to be announced soon!
Current mood: excited
Hey!
'The Rakamonie E.P.' is released in the UK on 20th November on Konichiwa Records and contains exclusive versions of tracks not available anywhere else...
1. Konichiwa Bitches
2. Cobrastyle
3. List Of Demands (Live Featuring Jenny Wilson)
4. Be Mine (Ballad Version)
5. Jack U Off
...and some very special live shows are to be announced soon. Keep checking myspace for updates!
new look web site www.robyn.com launched 1st November!

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:25 (seventeen years ago) link

holy crap, cobrastyle is grebt

it's sort of a trifle, but still grebt

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:27 (seventeen years ago) link

for those who did not read that spam:

UK EP on november 1

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Cobrastyle?!?!

It is becoming the mid 00s standard for Swedish acts. Knife cover next please.

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:50 (seventeen years ago) link

; )

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 27 October 2006 10:07 (seventeen years ago) link

shame it's one LP song, one alternate version of an LP song and three covers and only one of them is new

sounds good though

and live shows!

no mention on this thread of "dream on" by christian falk (feat robyn)?

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 27 October 2006 10:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Be Mine (Ballad Version)

so how is this? i can hear in my head a version of the original at half speed, more like 'Live To Tell' but with the original vocals intact just a bit slower

― ;_; (blueski), Friday, 27 October 2006 10:30 (seventeen years ago) link

no mention on this thread of "dream on" by christian falk (feat robyn)?

that has really grown on me. lovely song (video here by the way, the guy singing is him from the ark). there's another song with vocals of robyn on his album, c.c.c, which is also pretty good.

― (jg) ((jg)), Friday, 27 October 2006 11:08 (seventeen years ago) link

his being christian falk btw.

― (jg) ((jg)), Friday, 27 October 2006 11:12 (seventeen years ago) link

One of my favourite songs of the year.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 27 October 2006 11:45 (seventeen years ago) link

um i would not be adverse to someone emailing that song to me...

new robyn ep! live dates!!!!! woo-ee!!

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Friday, 27 October 2006 12:41 (seventeen years ago) link

I would not be averse to sending it but cannot at the mo

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 27 October 2006 13:47 (seventeen years ago) link

maybe NO LIST NOVEMBER can also be YES YSI NOVEMBER...

― ;_; (blueski), Friday, 27 October 2006 13:52 (seventeen years ago) link

someone kind has been in touch.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Friday, 27 October 2006 15:00 (seventeen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

wish I could go see robyn in london at the end/start of the month

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 11:08 (seventeen years ago) link

WAHT

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 12:29 (seventeen years ago) link

yeh the 30th & the 1st like notting hill arts club & somewhere hoxton

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 13:46 (seventeen years ago) link

She turns me into such a giggling nonny.

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 13:48 (seventeen years ago) link

I'd giggle, too. thought she was doing a UK tour, though

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 13:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Why don't you come down for the weekend, Jack?

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 13:57 (seventeen years ago) link

we thought about it!

money and work and cook's b'day on the 29th and long-delayed flatwarming party on the 2nd, unfortunately

trains are expensive and planes are planes

still, it's possible, I suppose

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 16:13 (seventeen years ago) link

can't Jay-Z or someone get this to be released in North America?

― pinder (pinder), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 18:42 (seventeen years ago) link

why on earth would jay-z want to have anything to do with this?!

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 18:50 (seventeen years ago) link

I think it's a joke re: Lady Sovereign.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 18:52 (seventeen years ago) link

(i.e., another white European moppet that Jay-Z was able to make semi-popular stateside)

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 18:53 (seventeen years ago) link

lady sov and robyn are really not very similar at all

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 19:01 (seventeen years ago) link

No shit.

― MRZBW (MRZBW), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 19:36 (seventeen years ago) link

hehe it was just a joke. way to ruin it by deconstructing it

― pinder (pinder), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 19:52 (seventeen years ago) link

This song "With Every Heartbeat" that has been floating around is actually quite perfect.

― matt2 (matt2), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 20:06 (seventeen years ago) link

(slightly inspired by this thread, the bricking thread, the great pop acts thread)

I'm not sure why so many people seem to dismiss Robyn due to her lack of sales. The public isn't infalliable, and there's no reason why her music can't stand up on its own. Demanding that all "pop" must sit atop the charts is as limiting as demanding that all rock bands give great live performances and all dance producers make club hits - these things are obviously all signposts of likely quality but they're not the only barometers, and while I enjoy chart success as I enjoy live performances and club hits I don't see why the absence of any of these things should necessarily be a stick to beat artists with.

I agree that it's annoying when people get a fixated idea of what "pop" is all or should be and then complain endlessly when that idea deviates from what is actually in the charts, but let's not jump the gun. Robyn does quite a variety of different things, some of which sound similar to stuff that has been in the charts recently, and some of which doesn't. I hardly think she's holding out some outmoded, idealised "golden age" notion of pop for musical conservatives to embrace at the expense of current pop music (Saint Etienne or Annie or Sally Shapiro, all of whom I love, and all of whom have a much clearer indie-affiliation, fit this brief much more obviously).

It's as if, since there is no area of pop music which is not currently copping a lot of retro moves, popular success becomes the only possible tool for determining the difference between residual and dominant/emergent pop (sonics alone can no longer help us as they did half a decade ago). But when I think of my favourite pop songs this year (including "Me & U", "Irreplaceable", "Dream On", "Silent Shout", "Promise", "Ghetto Story", "With Every Heartbeat", "Get Together", "Temperature", "Buttons" and so on) I see no clear standout direction for the "sound of now/tomorrow" and rather an every-which-way spillover of ideas grounded in lots of different sonic approaches that have been popular over the last five years. It should be noted that I may be wrong, but for myself, I can't rely on such clear dichotomies to explain my current appreciation of pop music.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 20:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Who'd dismiss Robyn for her lack of sales? She's had her album released in one territory, where it's been a chart topper and produced three hit singles.

― dommy p is alright WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN I CAN SAY ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE (Dom, Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:03 (seventeen years ago) link

"dream on" is amazing!

was this released as a single?

― jackl (jackl), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:12 (seventeen years ago) link

tim! what are 'with every heartbeat' and 'dream on'? i ask because every other song you mention is one of my pop singles of the year too, so it stands to reason that i MUST hear those two.

i concur with dom, who'd dismiss robyn for her lack of sales when there're so many other reasons to dismiss her, like her crap songs?

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:13 (seventeen years ago) link

although i think i actually prefer the 'give it up to me' rmx with keyshia cole to 'temperature' now...

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Ha ha "Dream On" is Christian Falk ft. Robyn and "With Every Heartbeat" is just Robyn.

Lex "Give It Up To Me" is so boring! It's the archetypal last third of the dancehall album pop duet (as opposed to the great first third of the dancehall album pop duet!).

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:18 (seventeen years ago) link

It's like after Sean's magic run of great duets ("Baby Boy", "Breathe" and the terminally underrated "Things Come & Go") he exhausted himself in this dept. But also i think this sound is a bit tired now, there's a reason why all the best dancehall singles of the last twelve months have sounded a lot rawer unadorned.

How good is Alicia Keys on the "Ghetto Story" remix though?

(sorry, wandering off topic)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:21 (seventeen years ago) link

"With Every Heartbeat" is Kleerup with Robyn.
It's on his MySpace: http://myspace.com/kleerup

And yes, it is perfect. Whatever perfect is.

― ana (ana), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Lex "Give It Up To Me" is so boring! It's the archetypal last third of the dancehall album pop duet (as opposed to the great first third of the dancehall album pop duet!)

yeah i know but keyshia cole's verse pwns all. so light and offhand and perfect! all of SP's duets are underrated though, everyone seemed to love 'baby boy' at the time but have now forgotten how supremely poised it is. incidentally tim i think you've totally underrated b-day, we should return to this elsewhere though as beyoncé is too good to be talked about on a robyn thread.

How good is Alicia Keys on the "Ghetto Story" remix though?

YES. i love the whole cham album too.

what are those robyn songs like? what i mean is, are they cutesy and twee and fucking annoying with lame beats and no basslines, or are they dreadful sub-imbruglia acoustic balladzzzz, or is it possible that robyn has actually done another song as awesome as 'be mine'?

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:28 (seventeen years ago) link

xp thanks ana!

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:28 (seventeen years ago) link

"Dream On" is weird. The closest thing I can think of is The Knife's "Heartbeats", and it's got a similar scary emotional over-investment aura to it: its anthemic but depressing, an offer of one night of sanctuary to all the unwanted elements of society: "thugs and badmen, punks and lifers, fucked up interns, pigs and snitches, rest your weary heads, all is well, you won't be strip-searched, torn up tonight, you won't be cut up, bleeding tonight, you won't be strung out cold shaking to your bones wishing you were anywhere else but right here, so dream on..." It's also got the best verse/chorus pay-off of any tune this year. The music is almost secondary, but it's fine - a brisked looped breakbeat, big electro synth riffing and doodling arpeggios.

"With Every Heartbeat" is a chilly electro-ballad on which Robyn sounds scarily like Kate Bush - and I mean scarily. Musically it's in Anneli Drecker territory, lachrymose string sections and squeaky clean zoloft synthesiser arpeggios, it sounds large and emotional more than tuneful.

As per the above I generally like Robyn at her most serious (yes, like "Be Mine").

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 21:46 (seventeen years ago) link

A mere year later, I only just realised that "Jack U Off" is a Pansy Division cover.

― dommy p is alright WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN I CAN SAY ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE (Dom, Tuesday, 21 November 2006 22:14 (seventeen years ago) link

prince innit?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 00:09 (seventeen years ago) link

The closest thing I can think of is The Knife's "Heartbeats", and it's got a similar scary emotional over-investment aura to it: its anthemic but depressing

As someone who believes Who's That Girl is Robyn's masterpiece, this makes me very happy.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 10:31 (seventeen years ago) link

'With Every Heartbeat' soundin' good

― 2 american 4 u (blueski), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 12:45 (seventeen years ago) link

three months pass...

I don't like C.C.C. at all.

Robyn show on the 2nd... so so excited!

Hopefully she plays more than 6 songs ;_;

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 23 February 2007 14:32 (seventeen years ago) link

ccc?

'with every heartbeat' is so fucking amazing, even without a chorus. i don't like 'dream on' though.

― lex pretend, Friday, 23 February 2007 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah, it really foregrounds her intense yearning energy thing. it's like she's clawing at something, desperately, that she will never get.

C.C.C. is another Christian Falk song, starring Robyn. but as i said it's not very good.

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 23 February 2007 16:05 (seventeen years ago) link

tracer, what about the 29th? got my tix

― RJG, Friday, 23 February 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

er I was unaware of Robyn activities on the 29th?? i can't look at her page cause I'm at work

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 23 February 2007 17:21 (seventeen years ago) link

"With Every Heartbeat" is a bonkers choon.

― The Reverend, Friday, 23 February 2007 21:57 (seventeen years ago) link

new London show at Cargo on 29th March!

― RJG, Saturday, 24 February 2007 08:29 (seventeen years ago) link

she's playing metro before the cargo show...

― CharlieNo4, Saturday, 24 February 2007 14:40 (seventeen years ago) link

correct

― RJG, Saturday, 24 February 2007 16:11 (seventeen years ago) link

if anyone is interested in the new album, email me via the link on this board

― Tracer Hand, Saturday, 24 February 2007 17:38 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.atproud.net/images/upload/AMAK26.jpg

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 1 March 2007 13:30 (seventeen years ago) link

FIVE QUID!?!?!!! oh to live in london!

― sean gramophone, Thursday, 1 March 2007 14:50 (seventeen years ago) link

where everything is inexpensive!

― s1ocki, Thursday, 1 March 2007 15:07 (seventeen years ago) link

hahaha....oh yeah, london. wow. cheapest place i ever been

though to catch the likes of the lovely rob yn for nary a penny would be fuckin sweet

i like me some robyn

― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 1 March 2007 16:49 (seventeen years ago) link

thursday feb 29th...2024??

― RJG, Thursday, 1 March 2007 19:02 (seventeen years ago) link

1996, obv.

― The Reverend, Thursday, 1 March 2007 21:44 (seventeen years ago) link

s1ocki, when i get back to montreal (may), please be organising a $5 robyn gig somewhere, obv with film accompaniment, so that we can meet & toast in the most regal of circumstances.

― sean gramophone, Thursday, 1 March 2007 22:19 (seventeen years ago) link

I had been on the fence about Robyn, but just got back from seeing her in Camden and she was great. Two drummers! Excellent.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/407300117_5e593c908d.jpg

― Stevie T, Friday, 2 March 2007 00:41 (seventeen years ago) link

great pic! wish i'd gone now. hoping to sneak in to metro tonight though...

― CharlieNo4, Friday, 2 March 2007 08:25 (seventeen years ago) link

looking at flights/whatever for thursday mar 29th 2007--don't know if I'll be able to afford to get there! and back : (

― RJG, Friday, 2 March 2007 09:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Robyn's offering discount tickets for the Cargo gig through her website... not as cheap as five pounds though :(

― braveclub, Friday, 2 March 2007 10:39 (seventeen years ago) link

dudes! that picture's great. how many songs did she sing?

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 2 March 2007 10:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Maybe six or seven :/

― Stevie T, Friday, 2 March 2007 11:01 (seventeen years ago) link

tonight looking less likely by the second :-(

― CharlieNo4, Friday, 2 March 2007 13:09 (seventeen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

i realise i am way behind the ILM curve, but just how bloody massive and great is that trentmoller remix of Konichiwa Bitches !
uk copies of the album now doing the rounds, so far today, i'm loving it.

― mark e, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 14:44 (seventeen years ago) link

i cannot stand what they did to "bum like you".

*sigh*

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 15:45 (seventeen years ago) link

anyone in need of a couple of tickets for the 29th?

― RJG, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 15:46 (seventeen years ago) link

i realize from reading a few threads that "soulful" is anathema to many ppl here, but has anyone else heard "Good Thang", the tune she did with Masters at Work? It was during the period that her albums were only being released in Scandinavia so most of that material isn't well known. http://www.discogs.com/release/60275

It's a GREAT tune, lovely blueeyed soulful house. This was in 1999, when MAW are right in their element, dropping all kinds of gorgeous chord progressions and backup harmonies, without too much live instrumentation, just flecks of guitar and horns here and there (If you've heard the tunes they did with people like Stephanie Mills, Luther Vandross and Kenny Bobien, you'll know what I mean.)

Ms Robyn at this point has grown out of the Mary J Blige-isms you hear on "Robin Is Here" and hasn't yet developed a lot of the quirky tics that are all over Konichiwa, so you really get to hear her sing. She can belt it out for sure.

I also like the semi-acoustic version of Saul Williams "List of Demands" that she does with Jenny Wilson. I think that's a b-side now (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEvxsu9aeQQ)

― Jah Q Areas, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 17:38 (seventeen years ago) link

have never heard that she did a MAW collaboration Jah, thank you for that info!

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 17:43 (seventeen years ago) link

How is her pre-[i]Robyn{/i] stuff? (Especially the stuff leading up to that album) I've only heard those stray mid-90s crossover hits. (which are not my cup of tea)

― The Reverend, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 22:55 (seventeen years ago) link

anyone want to pleaseplease zap me the new "bum like you" to give me something to cry over?

― sean gramophone, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 14:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Wait, what did they "do" to "Bum Like You"?! That's my favorite song she's ever done!

― Ben Boyerrr, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 15:05 (seventeen years ago) link

What's the difference between the UK album and the original?

― Matt DC, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 15:10 (seventeen years ago) link

anyone want to pleaseplease zap me the new "bum like you" to give me something to cry over?

Er, try Googling the words "Don't Stop the Pop"...

― braveclub, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 15:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Ms Robyn at this point has grown out of the Mary J Blige-isms you hear on "Robin Is Here"

i find it incredibly difficult to believe that robyn ever possessed any qualities as great as "mary j blige-isms"

― lex pretend, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 15:13 (seventeen years ago) link

So I just actually listened to the version I just mentioned and it's this really annoying anti-copyright thing that keeps fading in and out and panning L to R. Think I prefer the original anyway.

― braveclub, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 15:17 (seventeen years ago) link

~~anti-copyright~~ copyright protection

― braveclub, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 15:28 (seventeen years ago) link

she turned "bum like you" into a slow yet herky-jerky robo-electro ballad :/

hoiwever the trentemoller remix of KB is supposed to be grebt, i can't webt to hear it!

main difference (besides "bum like you") is that new album is longer - it includes "heartbeat" and "cobrastyle"; it's also pretty massively re-ordered to what i think is very good effect

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link

it's still crazy to me that "crash and burn girl" hasn't been a single.

lex her whole thing before this album was modelling herself on US R&B, doing the same accents and vocal inflections - she worked very diligently on this stuff in new york so it's not surprising to me that some mary j would have rubbed off on her

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 17:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Both versions of "Be Mine" are amazing. I'm not sure whether to spring for the UK album since I have the original as well as the EP she released, but I'm a sucker for her and probably will.

― musically, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 17:18 (seventeen years ago) link

i have entered a contest to become her "roadie" - watch out world

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 17:32 (seventeen years ago) link

haven't really listened to the UK one through as a whole but I think the running order of the original album (if you take out robotboy and the skits) is perfect

― RJG, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 17:40 (seventeen years ago) link

lex her whole thing before this album was modelling herself on US R&B, doing the same accents and vocal inflections - she worked very diligently on this stuff in new york so it's not surprising to me that some mary j would have rubbed off on her

really?! i haven't heard any of her previous stuff - i really can't imagine it because her voice on 99% of what i have heard is so...pert, full of those quirky cutesy tics which really bug me. and when i do enjoy her voice (ie when she calms the fuck down and stops being pleased with herself enough to let actual emotion through, ie 'with every heartbeat' and 'be mine') it doesn't sound r&b at all, it sounds ike kate bush. and on the album when she does lean in the r&b direction, it sounds like a really insincere piss-take.

so this is interesting! do you have any of her old stuff you could send/burn me?

― lex pretend, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 18:38 (seventeen years ago) link

― fandango, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 19:04 (seventeen years ago) link

so this is interesting! do you have any of her old stuff you could send/burn me?

http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/search/robyn%2B%2B%2Bshow%2Bme%2Blove/video/xbws6_robyn-show-me-love

her most famous song. I think it's about 10 years old. it always make me think of the film with the same name(the swedish title of the film is fucking åmål) by lukas moodysson.

this one came out 5 years ago:.
http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/search/robyn%2B%2B%2Bshow%2Bme%2Blove/video/xnmas_robyn-keep-this-fire-burning

lex her whole thing before this album was modelling herself on US R&B

not entirely true. her second album from 1999 was quite experimental and eclectic, but she went back to her r&b-pop roots on her third album in 2002. the album discussed on this thread is her forth.

― Lovelace, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 20:10 (seventeen years ago) link

fourth*

― Lovelace, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 20:12 (seventeen years ago) link

her first single in canada was "Do You Know What It Takes" and there's a whole bunch of Mary J Blige-isms in that tune. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6kH3BQeqRc

― Jah Q Areas, Thursday, 22 March 2007 19:17 (seventeen years ago) link

....so at the beginning over her career in north america, she was clearly still in thrall to US R&B, mid-90s edition

― Jah Q Areas, Thursday, 22 March 2007 19:19 (seventeen years ago) link

'do you know what it takes' is pretty great! the other two are like low-rent low-interest british r&b, it doesn't surprise me that bev knight covered one of them. no more taking ms blige's name in vain though, robyn's voice is more on a samantha mumba level.

― lex pretend, Thursday, 22 March 2007 22:43 (seventeen years ago) link

quirky cutesy tics??

― fandango, Saturday, 24 March 2007 01:50 (seventeen years ago) link

is Robyn the new Neneh Cherry ?

― djmartian, Thursday, 29 March 2007 17:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Robyn is a real woman made of blood and cheese. Fuck, I love her moosh.

― TynanTynan, Thursday, 29 March 2007 22:08 (seventeen years ago) link

enjoyed her show at Cargo tonight. did 'Dream On', 'With Every Heartbeat', 'Jack U Off' n' all.

― blueski, Thursday, 29 March 2007 23:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Two encores! Two versions of "Be Mine"! Having two drummers on the first few songs made them sound almost... tribal??

She did a wonderful slowed-down version of "Show Me Love", which was a great surprise.

The sound was crystal clear although there were a few hiccups - feedback, buzzing - but whatever.

She forgot the words in the middle of what - "Handle Me", I think?

(I was right in my unvoiced theory about "Bum Like You" - the new beefed-up electro album version of it sets her up to do the heart-breaking acoustic version in concert. IT'S ALL PART OF THE PLAN.)

A wonderful show, a really supportive crowd. And a merch table! Just like a real scrappy rock n roll band. She mentioned that she's on her own record label now and she "did it all myself" - you could see that she's really proud of that.

I can't remember being so hopelessly in love with a singer.

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 30 March 2007 11:26 (seventeen years ago) link

I wore my konichiwa records t-shirt, yesterday

― RJG, Friday, 30 March 2007 12:06 (seventeen years ago) link

I wore my konichiwa records t-shirt, yesterday

-- RJG, Friday, March 30, 2007 5:06 AM (10 hours ago)

yeah right.

― TynanTynan, Friday, 30 March 2007 22:10 (seventeen years ago) link

OK I've been into Robyn since "Who's that girl" but it's been bugging me people saying she did a song called "Show me love" in the 90s. I am pleased to discover thanks to this thread that it is not the song "Show me love" by "Robin S", a track I particularly despised in my adolescent years.

The real one's pretty crap though right.

"Cobrastyle" is very good also.

― Not the real Village People, Friday, 30 March 2007 23:25 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah right?

― RJG, Saturday, 31 March 2007 00:06 (seventeen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

I played some Robyn tracks in my journalism class, and everyone said she sucked. They then blasted that John Mayer track ("Waiting on the World to Change"?), and I couldn't hear Robyn. I was sad.

― Tape Store, Thursday, 26 April 2007 03:03 (sixteen years ago) link

Le sigh.

― The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 03:23 (sixteen years ago) link

ALARM!

ROBYN @ DINGWALLS 14th June 2007
£8.00 @ www.seetickets.com
Doors are 8pm
Reduced tickets (£7) from Robyn's web site!

― CharlieNo4, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 15:06 (sixteen years ago) link

two months pass...

still love robyn but the paucity of new tracks is almost annoying. enough w/ the remixes. don't care much for her new logo or sleeve designs, either

― RJG, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 12:19 (sixteen years ago) link

tried to pile through all the remixes of Heartbeat yesterday and got fed up. the album version is probably the one i will play the most.

― mark e, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 12:45 (sixteen years ago) link

radio 1 a-list though, remarkably!

― CharlieNo4, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 13:05 (sixteen years ago) link

not a coincidence surely.

rjg don't worry, everybody has to go through a grunge phase. don't they? i very much like her new logo. but i agree on the sleeve art, it doesn't hold a candle to the orig. album.

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 13:50 (sixteen years ago) link

appparently she's signed a distribution deal with Island - so - next stop America? or at least Toronto?

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 22:40 (sixteen years ago) link

I did a quick search and cannot BELIEVE that nobody has used the word hipster to describe her yet. Is it her being Scandinavian that makes people oblivious to the obvious? I write this as some posters seem to harbor some assumption that she is this homespun maverick "just doing her own thing," when a comparison with a certain Diplo protegé would be more apt.

― Jeb, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 23:29 (sixteen years ago) link

She started out as a really lame teenpop act with "Do You Really Want Me" and I've never really liked her afterwards either.

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 09:01 (sixteen years ago) link

Jeb have fun fighting with those voices in your head, dude

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 10:07 (sixteen years ago) link

Yeah the word hipster really doesn't get used enough to describe musicians or music fans, let's change this together at ILM!

― DJ Mencap, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 10:16 (sixteen years ago) link

here's hoping she has some new songs of her own eventually!!

― RJG, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 10:38 (sixteen years ago) link

Diplo IS the 5th Stockholm Teddybear... burn all your MIA CDs now, it's not real music you know!

― fandango, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 10:39 (sixteen years ago) link

Jeb have fun fighting with those voices in your head, dude

Huh? ... w/e, pinko. M.I.A. is all right with me, and Robyn's first album is neato in a sugary, ephemeral-fun kinda way. The new stuff, however, treads that baleful space where overly self-conscious indie and dance music at its least hedonistic converge, which is to say that it's pompous garbage masquerading as ebullient, let-it-all-hang-loose music. I would have thought that the discerning ILXor masses would have spotted that in an instant, but it appears not.

― Jeb, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 12:54 (sixteen years ago) link

wow looks like someone got hit over the head with robyn's size 10xl boxing gloves this morning.

it is possible to like 'do you know (what it takes)' and 'konichiwa bitches,' dude. and please never use the word 'hipster' again unless you can define it. hint: 'i know one when i see one' doesn't count.

― maura, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 13:11 (sixteen years ago) link

maura i'm pretty sure it means having an interesting haircut.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 13:44 (sixteen years ago) link

wow looks like someone got hit over the head with robyn's size 10xl boxing gloves this morning.

Ah, a veiled attempt at the old "you're only envious" reply -- musty as ever.

and please never use the word 'hipster' again unless you can define it. hint: 'i know one when i see one' doesn't count.

and please never use the word 'evil' again unless you can define it. hint: 'i know it when i see it' doesn't count.

― Jeb, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 16:42 (sixteen years ago) link

evil has many haircuts so it's harder to define, it's not really a fair comparison.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 23:01 (sixteen years ago) link

i heard "with every heartbeat" randomly today, as i was walking by a radio! wow!

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:44 (sixteen years ago) link

that song absolutely slays me - bitter, triumphant, sad - about as far from a "pose" as you can get, really

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:45 (sixteen years ago) link

is that guy talking about robyn's first album or not?

― RJG, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:46 (sixteen years ago) link

there's a remix of with every heartbeat on some BBC thing at the moment no?

― RJG, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:46 (sixteen years ago) link

not that that's automatically a good thing, mind

xpost dude i have no idea

xxpost on what bbc thing?

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:47 (sixteen years ago) link

like a preview for a new season of programmes or something...? maybe it's a telly ad for radio stations?

― RJG, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:49 (sixteen years ago) link

a remix of that song seems beyond pointless

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:49 (sixteen years ago) link

pretty sure it sounded different but I admit I am v quick to assume the remix

― RJG, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:51 (sixteen years ago) link

the normal one has a kind of... compressed quality to it that i normally hate but which i think adds to the closeness of it, the intimacy, everything feels like it's squashed up against itself - yet it all sounds as though it's at a slight remove from you as well, like it's some distance off. anyway on tv i bet it sounds even MORE compressed.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 19 July 2007 23:58 (sixteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/08/robyn_scores_a_triumph_for_pro.html

TOP TEN BITCHES :D

― fandango, Saturday, 4 August 2007 08:36 (sixteen years ago) link

lol miss kittin

― Dom Passantino, Saturday, 4 August 2007 09:03 (sixteen years ago) link

TOP FIVE BITCHES

― blueski, Sunday, 5 August 2007 23:14 (sixteen years ago) link

plus top 5 = go ladies, generally

― blueski, Sunday, 5 August 2007 23:18 (sixteen years ago) link

"Proper pop". Is this "troo kvlt black metalz!!!!111!!1" for poptimists?

― jim, Sunday, 5 August 2007 23:25 (sixteen years ago) link

I love this song, but jesus "proper" sounds like a total insult of an adjective when it comes to pop.

― da croupier, Sunday, 5 August 2007 23:37 (sixteen years ago) link

WOOOOO HOOO

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 6 August 2007 09:13 (sixteen years ago) link

"with every heartbeat" is about as unproper a pop record as robyn has ever made! i mean, it's basically techno.

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 6 August 2007 09:15 (sixteen years ago) link

I don't think I've actually heard With Every Heartbeat, possibly due to losing interest in Robyn about a year ago. Is it as good as Who's That Girl or Be Mine?

I love how the first two comments under that piece are from Peter Robinson and Alex Needham.

― Matt DC, Monday, 6 August 2007 09:21 (sixteen years ago) link

it's very different, matt. it's more sad and wistful. she (and kleerup?) capture something of that superpitcher style of sad equanimity. "who's that girl" and "be mine" are more in the fire of the moment, in the confusion of making tough decisions, and this one is after those decisions have been made, and how in the hell one can live with that.

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 6 August 2007 09:39 (sixteen years ago) link

Tracer do you like that track she's done with Christian Falk? it's good.

― blueski, Monday, 6 August 2007 10:21 (sixteen years ago) link

the one that sounds like it was recorded live somewhere? "dream on"? i like that one a lot.

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 6 August 2007 10:22 (sixteen years ago) link

but i would, wouldn't i! (actually she and falk have a couple of other songs that i don't like very much)

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 6 August 2007 10:23 (sixteen years ago) link

i mean the one that isn't 'Dream On' - Remember

― blueski, Monday, 6 August 2007 10:23 (sixteen years ago) link

altho it's not as good as i remember now ha ha

― blueski, Monday, 6 August 2007 10:24 (sixteen years ago) link

I can't believe "With Every Heartbeat" has gone top 5. I mean, it's great, but it's not the sort of song I'd expect the public to get behind.

― Tim F, Monday, 6 August 2007 12:31 (sixteen years ago) link

it's all because of the Ibeefier remixes i guess

― blueski, Monday, 6 August 2007 12:45 (sixteen years ago) link

it's more sad and wistful. she (and kleerup?) capture something of that superpitcher style of sad equanimity

Haha I finally heard this and TOTALLY. Superpitcher feat. Kate Bush!

― Matt DC, Monday, 6 August 2007 22:19 (sixteen years ago) link

<i>I love this song, but jesus "proper" sounds like a total insult of an adjective when it comes to pop.</i>

otm

For some reason "proper" has taken off as an adjective regarding pop...according to PopJustice, the new Sugababes single is also "proper pop". But I think, regarding any kind of art, "proper" seems to imply "by the book" and therefore not particularly innovative or original.

― musically, Monday, 6 August 2007 22:27 (sixteen years ago) link

Yes, it implies propriety.

― Tim F, Monday, 6 August 2007 22:32 (sixteen years ago) link

lol #1

― Dom Passantino, Sunday, 12 August 2007 19:41 (sixteen years ago) link

I suppose it'll do until "Hey There Delilah" is released.

― Dom Passantino, Sunday, 12 August 2007 19:42 (sixteen years ago) link

this is amazing. if you'd said a year ago she'd be #1 etc.

― blueski, Sunday, 12 August 2007 21:04 (sixteen years ago) link

Internet pop star in 'properly successful' shocker. Be Mine could be absolutely huge now.

― Matt DC, Sunday, 12 August 2007 21:04 (sixteen years ago) link

I just walked into the nearby deli and Be Mine was playing on Heart FM! Ergo, Robyn will be massive.

-- Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 27 January 2006 13:31 (1 year ago)

Called it.

― Matt DC, Sunday, 12 August 2007 21:05 (sixteen years ago) link

Someone please set up as "Why Robyn got big but MIA didn't" thread please. That's got 1000 post meltdown written all over it.

― Dom Passantino, Sunday, 12 August 2007 21:09 (sixteen years ago) link

going to see her in glasgow whenever it is

am a little annoyed that she was always just playing in london before but quite a lot and in a similar way to being annoyed that she rereleased her album and may well rerelease be mine or whatever now it just seems a bit...something oh well

― RJG, Sunday, 12 August 2007 22:40 (sixteen years ago) link

IT IS LIKE WHEN THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN APRIL SKIES GOT IN THE TOP 10

― Alan, Sunday, 12 August 2007 23:04 (sixteen years ago) link

cynical

― RJG, Monday, 13 August 2007 08:45 (sixteen years ago) link

Did it actually get released over here the first time round? Seems a bit churlish to be complaining when 99.9% of the population had no idea who she was at the time and she's finally going to see some success out of it.

― Matt DC, Monday, 13 August 2007 09:53 (sixteen years ago) link

I know you are but what am I

― RJG, Monday, 13 August 2007 10:14 (sixteen years ago) link

cynical

― blueski, Monday, 13 August 2007 10:29 (sixteen years ago) link

was disappointed w/ the reshuffled album, whether or not the original had a proper release here, and annoyed that she hasn't recorded much since that. she's making a lot of effort about stuff from a while ago when she could, potentially, be doing something else, for better or worse. understand why she's done it and maybe I'm not really annoyed w/ how she's doing it, now, but that she didn't do it better first time round. obviously, it's possible she only got a shot at DOING it, this time, because of last time, but it does seem slightly...cynical! happy for her to have success and some of the other stuff from that album does have the potential and deserves to hit and success means she won't just be playing in london, too

yay robyn still luv ya : D

― RJG, Monday, 13 August 2007 10:47 (sixteen years ago) link

that's kinda indie.

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Monday, 13 August 2007 10:50 (sixteen years ago) link

I know you are

― RJG, Monday, 13 August 2007 11:05 (sixteen years ago) link

but what am I

― RJG, Monday, 13 August 2007 23:48 (sixteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

i cannot believe the, er, quality of the songs that have pushed robyn out of the number one spot!

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 30 August 2007 03:44 (sixteen years ago) link

i think the new version of 'bum like you' is a lot better than the old one

― blueski, Thursday, 30 August 2007 09:47 (sixteen years ago) link

I STRONGLY DISAGREE but then I only listened twice on computer speakers, months ago, and then deleted

― energy flash gordon, Thursday, 30 August 2007 10:18 (sixteen years ago) link

She should move into Mondeo Pop.

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 30 August 2007 10:20 (sixteen years ago) link

blueski you would

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 30 August 2007 10:50 (sixteen years ago) link

i think i prefer the old versh but that's prob just standard "heard it first"-ness.

― CharlieNo4, Thursday, 30 August 2007 12:32 (sixteen years ago) link

is the scala an OK place to see bands? i'm on the verge of buying tickets

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 30 August 2007 13:54 (sixteen years ago) link

yes. last gig i saw there was The Knife - awesome no complaints sound-wise or whatever

― blueski, Thursday, 30 August 2007 13:55 (sixteen years ago) link

The Scala's fine apart from the annoying position of (and massive queues for) the bar.

― Matt DC, Thursday, 30 August 2007 13:56 (sixteen years ago) link

will remember to bring flask

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 30 August 2007 14:06 (sixteen years ago) link

anyone going to bush house gig?

― czn, Wednesday, 5 September 2007 12:37 (sixteen years ago) link

yep!

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 5 September 2007 13:27 (sixteen years ago) link

I think Kleerup's "With Every Heartbeat" deserves its own thread

― baaderonixx, Wednesday, 5 September 2007 14:30 (sixteen years ago) link

from memory:

1. cobrastyle
2. crash and burn girl
3. who's that girl
4. bum like you (u.k.)
5. handle me
6. dream on
7. be mine
8. keep this fire burning
9. konichiwa bitches
10. with every heartbeat

11. eclipse
12. show me love
13. jack u off

this was possibly the MOST UNBEARABLY WARM show i have ever attended. everyone in the crowd was drenched in their own sweat!! is every show at bush hall like this?? it's not like it was even unseasonably warm outside, just normal. i think something must have malfunctioned, inside. during "eclipse", which is a very slow, very quiet song, with only occasional piano accompaniment, the crowd was very talkative, making phone calls, etc. and it was distracting. but you get unsettled and cranky and impatient in heat like that. eventually robyn got us involved again.

i'm not going to give a full review here, but i will say that every time i've seen her she is so intense. she involves everyone, and draws you into the story. she just flat-out knows how to perform, it's amazing. every show feels like something special.

"keep this fire burning" was MASSIVE. two drum sets - incredible. it was a heavy, almost zeppelin-ish version of it. it was the highlight for me.

she said something about "be mine" being the next single. like rjg, though, i am a little tired of these songs now. i guess that's what you get for being hardcore!

― Tracer Hand, Saturday, 8 September 2007 18:23 (sixteen years ago) link

she didn't do crash and burn girl at cargo earlier in the year - has public demand won her over?

― blueski, Saturday, 8 September 2007 22:39 (sixteen years ago) link

if by public demand you mean me shouting at cargo "crash and burn girl!" and her saying "no" into the microphone, apparently so!!

― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 9 September 2007 11:52 (sixteen years ago) link

This is exciting Tracer, I'm seeing her next week!

― Tim F, Sunday, 9 September 2007 12:02 (sixteen years ago) link

but she has no live dates scheduled for next week? wait a minute i'm going to start being very jealous in a second!

― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 9 September 2007 12:47 (sixteen years ago) link

She plays Melbourne on the 16th.

― Tim F, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:30 (sixteen years ago) link

got my glasgow tix yesterday :D

― RJG, Sunday, 9 September 2007 14:21 (sixteen years ago) link

Trying to get the Dirty Vicar to go. I'll be seeing her on the 3rd November.

― kv_nol, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 08:57 (sixteen years ago) link

two months pass...

Tim and RJG and kv_nol - I want to know what you thought of the show!

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 22 November 2007 13:04 (sixteen years ago) link

I saw her in Sydney last month and London this month (and decided at the last minute not to go again in Sydney last week!).

― energy flash gordon, Friday, 23 November 2007 00:11 (sixteen years ago) link

and?

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 23 November 2007 03:48 (sixteen years ago) link

Her album finally comes out in the US in the next couple weeks, apparently.

― The Reverend, Friday, 23 November 2007 03:53 (sixteen years ago) link

and?

it was ace! two drummers/one kbd bloke also running the bits of backing track, Robyn thumping syndrums/sample pad thingies on a few songs, the drummer wot wos Kleerup playing gtr or bass on a couple.

on some Robyn thread stevem hoped that the re-recorded Bum Like You was meant to be a bait-and-switch so that people would be stunned and amazed at the gentle acousticy heart-render when they saw her live: I thought of this when they played the new album version live in Sydney and she actually fucked up the words a few times, apparently losing her place because the tempo was off from what she was used to!

at the Scala there was a second encore where she did do it all acousticified, along with Be Mine (also a repeat from earlier) - they were filming the show, so maybe DVD will turn up sometime with the best version of each song cherrypicked.

generally: she is full of energy, continually bouncing and engaging the crowd, in a very "I am appreciative of your presence and it makes me give a better show!" way. not unlike J0hn D. actually!

am kinda wishing I'd gone again now.

― energy flash gordon, Friday, 23 November 2007 06:23 (sixteen years ago) link

first time around both indie-rock based free papers here were VERY BITTER about tracks being used: one flat-out bitched that the show was a rip-off because she was miming!

― energy flash gordon, Friday, 23 November 2007 06:25 (sixteen years ago) link

"generally: she is full of energy, continually bouncing and engaging the crowd, in a very "I am appreciative of your presence and it makes me give a better show!" way. not unlike J0hn D. actually!"

Yeah, it occured to me when watching her perform that if she somehow fails to be a "proper" popstar in some Lexian sense, it's because she's just too fully into her songs and performances, there's none of the detachment you expect from professionals.

Which is a far cry from the way she's painted by some hostile Lex-like pop fans and the more indie section of her fanbase, both of whom give the impression that Robyn's just playing with pop song stylings as a bit of a lark (in the Travis covering "Baby One More Time Sense"). It's just not the case at all! She's deadly serious!

Brilliant show, highly recommended.

― Tim F, Friday, 23 November 2007 07:09 (sixteen years ago) link

I'm so sad I missed her when she was in Melb last week. :(

― Roz, Friday, 23 November 2007 08:22 (sixteen years ago) link

I'm obsessed with Robyn. I always tend to go back and listen to Annie because they seem so similar. I figured out what the "problem" was with Annie: Robyn's voice is way up front, as though it's *tickling* my ears, whereas with Annie it seems cool and detached and kinda embedded in her sound.

― nathalie, Friday, 23 November 2007 08:27 (sixteen years ago) link

I should note that i'm not trying to knock Lex above - it's just we recently had this very argument.

― Tim F, Friday, 23 November 2007 12:08 (sixteen years ago) link

Girls Aloud sang "With Every Heartbeat" on the Jo Whiley show today -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/jowhiley

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 23 November 2007 12:49 (sixteen years ago) link

or whenever the hell her show is

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 23 November 2007 12:52 (sixteen years ago) link

one month passes...

sorry if this has already been posted (from pitchfork):

For months-- gosh, years-- we've been thinking wishfully about Robyn making her way to the States for the first time in forever. Occasionally, rumblings could be heard about a U.S. trip, but still we waited. But guess what, my fellow Americans? Robyn is (coming) here. So what am I supposed to dream about at night now?

Following a few European dates next week and an exhaustive search for a suitcase big enough for all the costumes, Swedish sensation Robyn will meet the bright lights of big city New York February 5. She'll then make her way to California for a pair of dates later in the week. Indeed, that's it for Stateside appearances at the moment, but those three gigs beat the hell outta the zero we've been getting these last few years. Thanks to BrooklynVegan for the tour tip-off.

It seems Robyn herself will make it to the States before the (still awesome) Robyn does, as that's tentatively scheduled for an April release over here. Not at all tentative whatsoever: a slightly updated Rakamonie EP, which will hit North American shelves January 29 on Konichiwa/Cherrytree/Interscope. And fans the world over should be alert to the many versions of her "Be Mine" single still trickling out as I write this.

The Rakamonie EP:

01 Konichiwa Bitches
02 Cobrastyle [Teddybears cover]
03 Be Mine (Ballad Version)
04 With Every Heartbeat (Acoustic Version) [with Kleerup]
05 Jack U Off [Prince cover]

Robyn:

01-10 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
01-11 Groningen, Netherlands - EuroSonic
01-12 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
01-14 Cologne, Germany - Gebäude 9
01-15 Berlin, Germany - Maria
02-05 New York, NY - Highline Ballroom
02-07 San Francisco, CA - SF Popscene
02-09 West Hollywood, CA - The Troubador
02-27 Bristol, England - Thekla
02-28 London, England - KOKO
02-29 Edinburgh, Scotland - Liquid Room

― Bee OK, Monday, 7 January 2008 03:12 (sixteen years ago) link

This reminded me to buy tics for the NYC date. So excited.

― maciej recognizing trill, Monday, 7 January 2008 03:38 (sixteen years ago) link

01-10 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
?

this was 2007? :-((((((((

― stevienixed, Monday, 7 January 2008 03:42 (sixteen years ago) link

all dates are 2008.

Robyn in West Hollywood on a Saturday Night, heaven?

― Bee OK, Monday, 7 January 2008 08:04 (sixteen years ago) link

why does this thread have so many replies.

― The Brainwasher, Monday, 7 January 2008 08:33 (sixteen years ago) link

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/sftw/article674122.ece

robyn is at the time of this writing, on the homepage of thesun.co.uk

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 11 January 2008 17:25 (sixteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

http://perezhilton.com/2008-01-28-listen-to-this-the-sex

― MRZBW, Monday, 28 January 2008 12:08 (sixteen years ago) link

she was great on sound this week; guy in the trilby hat had clearly not thought AT ALL about what questions to ask her (him: "so what's robyn all about then?" robyn: "uhm" him: "like, describe yourself." robyn: "well first of all, i'm very good looking")

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 28 January 2008 12:16 (sixteen years ago) link

who were that immensely indie band at the end of that ep of Sound - it was like a C86 rerevival. something with pier in the title?

― Alan, Monday, 28 January 2008 15:06 (sixteen years ago) link

http://www.myspace.com/lateofthepier

― blueski, Monday, 28 January 2008 17:24 (sixteen years ago) link

oh man at one point their lead singer brushed the hair away from his face and HELD IT THERE FOR A MOMENT, FROZEN IN TIME

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 28 January 2008 17:31 (sixteen years ago) link

THAT'S the bunny. ha ha

http://a779.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/79/m_ea65048e7c69c0c083061f2af5d3219a.jpg

― Alan, Monday, 28 January 2008 17:32 (sixteen years ago) link

i fear for my pop soul in 2008

― Alan, Monday, 28 January 2008 17:33 (sixteen years ago) link

six months pass...

so yeah this album's fucking great

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 13:51 (fifteen years ago) link

Yes it is but please Robyn when come back bring MORE MUSIC k thx xooxoxo

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 14:27 (fifteen years ago) link

that Blak Neon remix of 'Dream On' is super

― blueski, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 15:07 (fifteen years ago) link

You're just making this stuff up now.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 15:15 (fifteen years ago) link

the Chandelier Volcano dub of 'Satellite Bitch' may be her real peak

― blueski, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 15:17 (fifteen years ago) link

It kind of grated on me after a while. For a stage I was well into the album and really getting it but then it just seemed...whiny. Maybe I need to re-listen. Its still a pretty decent record but its not great.

― VeronaInTheClub, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 16:29 (fifteen years ago) link

The Gyraffe Cock dub of "Cru$h On U" slays.

― Savannah Smiles, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 16:33 (fifteen years ago) link

Verona OFFTHEMF$$$

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 14 August 2008 02:37 (fifteen years ago) link

five months pass...

best tv station ever!!!!

http://www.svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=74527&selectedDate=20090107

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 14 January 2009 00:14 (fifteen years ago) link

six months pass...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/health_over_50/

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 10 August 2009 15:55 (fourteen years ago) link

LOL

― StanM, Monday, 10 August 2009 16:00 (fourteen years ago) link

ha ha ha 'elderly_jolly_lady.jpg'

but will Robyn turn 50 before making a new song?

― unban dictionary (blueski), Monday, 10 August 2009 16:04 (fourteen years ago) link

^ u&k

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 10 August 2009 16:24 (fourteen years ago) link

seven months pass...

http://pitchfork.com/news/38179-robyn-talks-ambitious-2010-plans/

Chatting from her management's office in London, Robyn told us her next, as-yet-untitled, more dance-y release is due in June, with another one due "sometime after the summer." After that, she's playing it by ear. "Let's see how far we get," she said. The accelerated schedule is part of her plan to make music more fluidly without long breaks disrupting her creative flow.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 18:07 (fourteen years ago) link

wouldn't want any long breaks

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 18:07 (fourteen years ago) link

http://www.robyn.com/ <---- new song: "fembots".

― nevermind312, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 19:09 (fourteen years ago) link

Fembots is great.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 19:20 (fourteen years ago) link

it is a catchy song.

― Daniel, Esq., Wednesday, 17 March 2010 19:22 (fourteen years ago) link

apparently she's coming out with three "mini-albums" (EPs) this year??

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 22 March 2010 10:51 (fourteen years ago) link

Her new single is called "Fembots"? Way to kill any excitement on my part.

― grady "cougar" mellencamp (The Reverend), Monday, 22 March 2010 17:37 (fourteen years ago) link

Hah, I admit to hating such a timely 2001 song title, but the song is great!

― he's always been a bit of an anti-climb Max (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 22 March 2010 18:06 (fourteen years ago) link

"fembots need love too" would be less pointless if it wasn't her first track since "The Girl And The Robot" ffs

― one of the jones boys (sic), Monday, 22 March 2010 21:21 (fourteen years ago) link

guys, she is trying to tell you something

― ALLAH! *rolls on floor* (HI DERE), Monday, 22 March 2010 21:22 (fourteen years ago) link

four weeks pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U2px0GP1B8
<3

― let me take you to the (Tape Store), Tuesday, 20 April 2010 20:32 (fourteen years ago) link

it's like, everything about her should combine to make something that i enjoy. but i don't think i like her voice or something! something about it seems ... oddly dead, to my ears.

― la senora (surm), Tuesday, 20 April 2010 20:34 (fourteen years ago) link

"Fembot" is the worst song of the year. Worse than Heidi Montag.

― skip, Thursday, 22 April 2010 02:11 (fourteen years ago) link

"Fembot" is phenomenal.

― rennavate, Thursday, 22 April 2010 02:18 (fourteen years ago) link

fembomenal.

― Throwing Muses are reuniting for my next orgasm! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 22 April 2010 02:28 (fourteen years ago) link

"Fembot" is meh and a little bit "ok I think we've had enough robots for a while, thank you". I quite like "Dancing On My Own" though.

― the subject of many men’s thoughts (daavid), Thursday, 22 April 2010 05:39 (fourteen years ago) link

the title "fembots" - and the other title "dancehall queen" - pissed me off so much that the merest mention of robyn's name to me right now is liable to send me into a RAGE BLACKOUT

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 22 April 2010 07:50 (fourteen years ago) link

listened to robyn again for the first time in maybe two, three years after really falling in love with her stuff - nowadays I don't know if I have time to her, she's a little too sincere/monochromatic - her emoting lacks the subtleties I've come to expect from my pop divas nowadays

― "I am the bone lord," Tom proclaimed skulkingly. (dyao), Thursday, 22 April 2010 13:43 (fourteen years ago) link

Dancing On My Own is the best of her recent singles. She can emote all over my face.

― Blancminaj (Spinspin Sugah), Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:56 (fourteen years ago) link

Yeah. Fembot is fun but one note. Dancehall Queen doesn't do anything for me. But Dancing On My Own is a massive crying at the club anthem and is totally wonderful.

― Alex in Montreal, Thursday, 22 April 2010 19:50 (fourteen years ago) link

― "I am the bone lord," Tom proclaimed skulkingly. (dyao), Thursday, 22 April 2010 13:43 (6 hours ago) Permalink

YES

― la senora (surm), Thursday, 22 April 2010 19:52 (fourteen years ago) link

like i get the feeling that she doesn't know exactly why she's singing this pop music that she's singing

― la senora (surm), Thursday, 22 April 2010 19:57 (fourteen years ago) link

not going to dispel any of the anhedonia talk

None of Dem

― fakeducks, Thursday, 22 April 2010 20:13 (fourteen years ago) link

"dancing my own" is amazing

― yo gotti or notti (J0rdan S.), Saturday, 24 April 2010 19:42 (thirteen years ago) link

it's like if m83 wrote a 4 min synth pop song

― yo gotti or notti (J0rdan S.), Saturday, 24 April 2010 19:42 (thirteen years ago) link

glad i'm not the only one underwhelmed by body talk. "cry when you get older" is pretty solid, though it's still overshadowed by "the girl and the robot"

― borntohula, Saturday, 24 April 2010 20:10 (thirteen years ago) link

and by "cry when you get older" i mean "none of dem"

― borntohula, Saturday, 24 April 2010 20:10 (thirteen years ago) link

okay I can't really deny 'dancing on my own' it's a nice background tune.

― dyªº (dyao), Sunday, 25 April 2010 02:41 (thirteen years ago) link

I've finally heard this now. On first listen "Cry When You Get Older" is the real standout for me. It's got all those harmonies everywhere! And I love how the synth does a sort of call-and-response with Robyn's voice. I also like how unpredictable/complicated it is, it seems to dive and fold in on itself in interesting ways.

It's true that "Fembots" is pretty one-note but it is irresistable.

She really has gone totally into this shiny clean and crunchy sonic territory - everything gleams and glistens. Everything sounds like it's incredibly close-miked, like you're 1mm away from all the pistons and churning robo-parts. I'd like to hear her mix it up a little - like the kind of sound she used on "Keep This Fire Burning" for instance - or just some kind of other textures, roughed-up a little for variety.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 28 April 2010 12:34 (thirteen years ago) link

Maybe my own selfish preference is for her to just do more R&B.

But surm when you say "she doesn't know exactly why she's singing this pop music that she's singing" I don't think that's right at all! I think she's pretty clearly doing it because 1) It allows her to play different parts, assume different roles; she does this more explicitly than any other singer I can think of off the top of my head and 2) well, obviously she can sing, can write a good lyric (usually) and has great taste.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 29 April 2010 14:18 (thirteen years ago) link

u make a good point. there's just something in her voice that doesn't compel me. i recognize that her composition is good, and that she has taste, but i don't feel engaged with her vocally. maybe she plays so many different parts because she's not sure who she is, as a singer.

― la senora (surm), Thursday, 29 April 2010 14:56 (thirteen years ago) link

... Or maybe she knows exactly who she is, ie someone who likes fucking around with a bunch of different things.

― Marriage, that's where I'm a Viking! (HI DERE), Thursday, 29 April 2010 15:07 (thirteen years ago) link

maybe. maybe i just don't feel like she's connecting fully with any of those things. or maybe i plain don't like her voice very much.

― la senora (surm), Thursday, 29 April 2010 15:35 (thirteen years ago) link

holy shit fembot is fucking great great great

― i never promised you a whinegarten (forksclovetofu), Saturday, 1 May 2010 22:04 (thirteen years ago) link

surm she does lean kind of heavily on a coquettish little girl thing sometimes, which is probably my least favorite part of her schtick. Is that what you're reacting to maybe?

― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 2 May 2010 17:27 (thirteen years ago) link

you know what i think it is: i think she's very playful -- which is a good thing, definitely. but i think i react more personally to a bit more soul in my pop. however, i'm sure a lot of ppl listen to Robyn precisely because she is as playful as she is, and no more heavy, which i can totally appreciate.

― la senora (surm), Sunday, 2 May 2010 17:38 (thirteen years ago) link

there's something about her delivery that's very physical, and not overly cerebral, which i think some ppl really appreciate (my boyfriend is like this - he's one of those people that reacts very physically to songs).

― la senora (surm), Sunday, 2 May 2010 17:45 (thirteen years ago) link

personally i dislike her voice because she always sounds so pert and pleased with herself - like surm i don't get much emotion there beyond an inane tee-hee-aren't-i-cute

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Sunday, 2 May 2010 17:54 (thirteen years ago) link

jeez i'm just listening to "fembot" for the first time and this is one of the worst fucking songs i've ever heard no joke

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Sunday, 2 May 2010 17:55 (thirteen years ago) link

hahaha it sounds like something written 10 yrs ago i think. like, wasn't it?

― la senora (surm), Sunday, 2 May 2010 17:56 (thirteen years ago) link

but "with every heartbeat" is still great, i think we all agree?

― Morgan Spurlock Presents (Tape Store), Sunday, 2 May 2010 17:59 (thirteen years ago) link

i'm giving kleerup a lot of credit for that

― Morgan Spurlock Presents (Tape Store), Sunday, 2 May 2010 18:00 (thirteen years ago) link

seriously if this was by any random new pop chick people would be rushing to post it on the I AM SO FUCKING APPALLED thread

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Sunday, 2 May 2010 18:00 (thirteen years ago) link

the robot stuff was lame the first time around

― Morgan Spurlock Presents (Tape Store), Sunday, 2 May 2010 18:01 (thirteen years ago) link

anyone stuck on the robots-in-pop meme needs to eat a dick, seriously. SO BORING.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Sunday, 2 May 2010 18:04 (thirteen years ago) link

looking forward to sparring with you on SJ with this one then lex, cuz I think it's awesome.

― i never promised you a whinegarten (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 2 May 2010 19:14 (thirteen years ago) link

Natalie Imbruglia's "Want" has made a lot of Robyn's affectations look redundant; that record does everything most of Robyn's stuff is supposed to do.

― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 2 May 2010 19:16 (thirteen years ago) link

the title "fembots" - and the other title "dancehall queen" - pissed me off so much that the merest mention of robyn's name to me right now is liable to send me into a RAGE BLACKOUT

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:50 AM (1 week ago)

jeez i'm just listening to "fembot" for the first time and this is one of the worst fucking songs i've ever heard no joke

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Sunday, May 2, 2010 5:55 PM (2 hours ago)

It really sounds like you had already mind up about this song before you had heard it. Personally I love it and the rest of the album.

I'm a huge fan of her vocals especially on last years The Girl The Robot which had her sounding as powerful and vulnerable as she did on With Every Heartbeat and Be Mine.

― Kitchen Person, Sunday, 2 May 2010 20:35 (thirteen years ago) link

Really like Robyn too.

Does anyone know if she intends to release an album this year, or just a bunch of singles?

― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Sunday, 2 May 2010 20:41 (thirteen years ago) link

She's putting out three mini albums throughout the year. Body Talk part 1 is the one being discussed which is out June 14th and has 8 tracks on it.

― Kitchen Person, Sunday, 2 May 2010 20:46 (thirteen years ago) link

Fembot steals teh Pea's schtick and makes me actually like it.

Which is a monumental accomplishment IMO.

― babylon sister (Siah Alan), Monday, 3 May 2010 08:11 (thirteen years ago) link

X-Post: Mini album as in download only then, I presume?

― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Monday, 3 May 2010 14:43 (thirteen years ago) link

okay, there's nothing special about this song at all but it's nowhere near being one of the worst songs ever recorded

― DUM DUM DUM DUMMMMM! (HI DERE), Monday, 3 May 2010 15:15 (thirteen years ago) link

also I've now found two different versions of this on Youtube pitched a half-step apart and the higher key makes into a better song

― DUM DUM DUM DUMMMMM! (HI DERE), Monday, 3 May 2010 15:18 (thirteen years ago) link

it is kind of flagrantly cheap sounding, tbf

― la senora (surm), Monday, 3 May 2010 15:19 (thirteen years ago) link

one month passes...

All this rage blackout/WORST SONG EVAH nonsense is fucking ridiculous. This album is fantastic and Dancing on My Own is the song of the year. That is all.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 08:53 (thirteen years ago) link

forks and i did end up sparring @ the singles jukebox over this! i called her the diplo of scandopop. really, smh at this woman and her exceedingly smug, boring quirks. and i am so over people recycling old-ass "crying at the discotheque" tropes for cheap emotional affect.

http://www.thesinglesjukebox.com/?p=2259 - fembot
http://www.thesinglesjukebox.com/?p=2261 - dancing on my own

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 09:04 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm loving this album a lot. But I can get with some of the hate, it's not quite as jaw-dropping as her previous stuff like Be Mine and Girl and The Robot etc. But it's still probably my favourite pop album I've heard all year after Janelle Monae.

― Christyles, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 09:29 (thirteen years ago) link

I don't understand "cheap emotional effect" here. "Crying at the discotheque" isn't a tired old trope, it's one of the basic planks of pop. You might as well call any classic pop theme a tired old trope. Dancing on My Own does it so well - the monstrous, chugging synth line, the melancholy PSB-style glock melody, the a cappella breakdown, the detail in the lyrics. Your Robyn hate seems to come from a place that I don't understand - there's nothing in the music to justify it. You seem to be on a mission to defend black music from her when it doesn't need defending.

Re: Fembot, I'm very amused by the way Vigilant Citizen reads every predictable robot reference as code for the "transhumanist agenda" and mind control. I take the point that the imagery's pretty played out but I still love the tune.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 10:11 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm tired of all these LOVE songs, I tells ya!

― Becky Facelift, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 10:50 (thirteen years ago) link

Weirdly the Lex actually likes Robyn when she's doing sincerity (Who's That Girl, Be Mine, With Every Heartbeat), it seems to be the other side of her persona that enrages him. Not surprisingly really because her Konichiwa Bitches/dressing up as a bumblebee thing is lame and annoying.

― Vulvuzela (Matt DC), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 11:07 (thirteen years ago) link

Yeah, grudging cosign

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 11:10 (thirteen years ago) link

Sonically I thought the revamp of "Bum Like You" from acoustic ballad (on the Swedish CD) to electro ballad (on the UK CD) was a bad sign; i hoped that it was somehow a sop to the UK market rather than a decision that it actually sounded better that way. however on the basis of the new joint it appears she really does think it sounds better that way, which saddens me

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 11:45 (thirteen years ago) link

I guess that's the problem with any distinctive sense of humour in music - if you're charmed/amused by it, great, but if not then it's just aggravating. I find Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do pretty funny.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 15:34 (thirteen years ago) link

I would support any brutal dictator who promised to outlaw pop stars dressing up in animal suits.

― Vulvuzela (Matt DC), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 16:11 (thirteen years ago) link

is OK if they also wear something over their head so you can't be sure it's them

― mdskltr (blueski), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 16:18 (thirteen years ago) link

I think Lex might be the brutal dictator you're looking for. He's recently been talking about beheading Frankie Boyle so I think he's got the chops for the job.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 16:21 (thirteen years ago) link

i really enjoy most of the tracks on this new record but i do think that it is being received slightly better than it deserves simply because it is robyn.

― teledyldonix, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 18:44 (thirteen years ago) link

I was turned off by "Fembot" because it seemed wholly unnecessary, like she redid "Bum Like You" with all of the fun sucked out of it or something; still willing to check out the album, though.

― Damn these skinny jeans' pockets. (HI DERE), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 18:49 (thirteen years ago) link

need to listen to this album before i discuss further methinks

― I have been forks-style since day one (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 21:14 (thirteen years ago) link

Listening to her cover of "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart" right now. It's obvious it was just thrown together for an in-studio performance on Radio 1, but if she fleshed this out in the studio it could probably work really well.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 21:22 (thirteen years ago) link

SFJ in the New Yorker:

Robyn’s lyrics are a mash of language from everywhere and nowhere, and sound decidedly un-Swedish: “I press trigga, I don’t press people button / Nobody tjaffs come face me with something / like how I have twenty-two inna me something / Ten is for you so who gon’ get the next dozen, fool.” That kind of borrowing could be off-putting coming from someone who was trying to pass herself off as Sweden’s dancehall queen.

Mad Cobra's lyrics, one presumes?

― how much can a koala ˁ˚ᴥ˚ˀ (sic), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 02:22 (thirteen years ago) link

I think Lex might be the brutal dictator you're looking for. He's recently been talking about beheading Frankie Boyle so I think he's got the chops for the job.

He may end up being a bit too busy beheading pop stars who are over 35, are fat, with a beard, and have been around since the 80s or earlier....

― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 12:07 (thirteen years ago) link

ok i like 'don't fucking tell me what to do'

i think this is the closest i've come to a guilty pleasure, like, ever

― janice (surm), Sunday, 11 July 2010 13:40 (thirteen years ago) link

I wholeheartedly love this record. Was super-disappointed by Fembot as a leak, but without the "pointless sequel to Girl & The Robot" factor it fits well after Don't Fucking, and the autotuning for effect not only works thematically but sounds great too. The tail-off of the two downbeat/acousticy twaddle songs at the end works SO MUCH better than on the 2005 Robyn; partly because they're not outweighed by so many bangers and Bum Like You beforehand, partly because they're both dope. I feared a song called "dancehall Queen" written & produced by Diplo before hearing it, but it's a great fakeout, with cultural magpieism present only in absentia, as a touchstone for 'Robyn' to long for. And the more emotions, items and people she has to long for, the more amazing songs we get from her (even though she didn't write it).

Can't WAIT for Dancing On My Own when she tours. That's going to be immense.

― oh shit a ◕‿‿◕ (sic), Monday, 12 July 2010 02:16 (thirteen years ago) link

http://pitchfork.com/news/39451-new-robyn-album-gets-a-release-date/

Robyn promised us three new albums this year, and it looks like she really might come through. After last month's brilliant Body Talk Pt. 1, her next release-- appropriately titled Body Talk Pt. 2-- is due September 6 in the UK on Konichiwa/Island.

Keeping things moving, the Swedish singer is also set to release a new, danced-up version of Pt. 1's killer ballad "Hang With Me" as a single on September 5. Robyn also recently recorded a track with Snoop Dogg, but it's still unclear whether the duet will end up on Pt. 2 or Pt. 3.

― Bee OK, Thursday, 15 July 2010 07:21 (thirteen years ago) link

ok wtf i am a big fan of robyn's work but how can one objectively think that this last record was "brilliant" or that hang with me is "killer" (esp when compared to some of her previous ballads which actually ARE borderline-"killer," whatever that means)? it is a very good ep-esque thing but that's about it. maybe if pitchfork didn't hype her up so much they wouldn't feel obligated to praise the shit out of her work when it doesn't really deserve it that much

― teledyldonix, Thursday, 15 July 2010 15:38 (thirteen years ago) link

"Don't Tell Me What To Fucking Do" kind of shames the rest of this

― HI DERE, Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:00 (thirteen years ago) link

i always feel like Dancing on my own is pretty middling until it gets to the title line, when i start to cry

― janice (surm), Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:04 (thirteen years ago) link

guess u told me!

― oh sh!t a ¯\⎝⏠___⏠⎠/¯ (sic), Friday, 16 July 2010 00:34 (thirteen years ago) link

sry i didn't know that my opinion on robyn's recent material seemed so aggressive... ?

― teledyldonix, Friday, 16 July 2010 04:03 (thirteen years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCI1YkP5zyc&feature=player_embedded#at=51

Hang With Me (Single Version)

Danced up, kind of a banger in the Dancing On My Own template, but at the end of the day, I think I like the stately string arrangement of the Acoustic take more.

― Alex in Montreal, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 00:29 (thirteen years ago) link

letterman performance was pretty great

― orakle-krake (Gukbe), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 00:50 (thirteen years ago) link

yeah, that sounds more like a demo. could come good with a Rex The Dog remix but the acoustic pwns it. (xpost)

― oh sh!t a ¯\⎝⏠___⏠⎠/¯ (sic), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 00:53 (thirteen years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TlwcQn5eBI

incredible performance

― markers, Saturday, 31 July 2010 03:55 (thirteen years ago) link

I like Robyn but I like ilx user rrrrobyn more

― I think I'm Big Bird, Harold Hooper (crüt), Saturday, 31 July 2010 03:58 (thirteen years ago) link

just saw this, great performance. i'm definitely gay for Robyn.

― Bee OK, Monday, 2 August 2010 04:55 (thirteen years ago) link

but was that live?

― Bee OK, Monday, 2 August 2010 05:00 (thirteen years ago) link

Robyn also recently recorded a track with Snoop Dogg

!!!

Basically I am with the others here who express a bit of disappointment at this record. I would really really like her to do more interesting things with her sound; she's refined the shiny tech-electro-pop template past the point of interestingness at this point (imo)

"Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do" and "Dancing on My Own" ARE pretty great, though.

Holding out for more good things in Sept! (Autumn tour tix just went on sale I believe - big venues this time!)

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Monday, 2 August 2010 16:43 (thirteen years ago) link

robyn finally got her first #1 single in sweden w/ dancing on my own, grats robyn

― teledyldonix, Monday, 2 August 2010 20:18 (thirteen years ago) link

!!!

She was on a remix of Sexual Seduction back in ’07 or whenever, and the new song is on the announced BT pt2 tracklist

― Miss LUSHBOOSIE (sic), Monday, 2 August 2010 23:54 (thirteen years ago) link

part 2 is floating about...

"In My Eyes" is very good at being a Robyn track but "Hang With Me" is my fave on first listen. Not sure whether if "We Dance to the Beat" is a joke -- "We dance to the beat of the continents shifting under our feet". I laughed out loud at least.

― skip, Thursday, 5 August 2010 20:53 (thirteen years ago) link

I wasn't expecting the track with Snoop to be a full stomp uptempo banger, but he shines in that setting.

― Johnelle Fevráe (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 5 August 2010 20:55 (thirteen years ago) link

Include Me Out, Criminal Intent and U Should Know Better are the stand-outs beside Hang With Me. Good EP tho.

― The SBurbs (Alex in Montreal), Friday, 6 August 2010 04:25 (thirteen years ago) link

"Include Me Out" is holy moly. BAM

― sean gramophone, Friday, 6 August 2010 15:57 (thirteen years ago) link

has anyone been to any of the All Hearts shows? she killed it at webster hall the other day (kelis was great too)..my neck hurts from dancing so much. and i caught the drumstick she threw into the crowd!

― /\/K/\/\, Friday, 6 August 2010 17:46 (thirteen years ago) link

she's a beast live and such a pro about it.

― fuck ya law! (Spinspin Sugah), Friday, 6 August 2010 18:35 (thirteen years ago) link

I saw her at OSHEAGA last weekend, but Kelis cancelled last minute.

― The SBurbs (Alex in Montreal), Friday, 6 August 2010 22:14 (thirteen years ago) link

so what is ILM's opinion about Body Talk PT2? i'm just getting this now.

― Bee OK, Monday, 9 August 2010 00:59 (thirteen years ago) link

now i see two comments up thread, i thought this just leaked but it has been out for a few days.

― Bee OK, Monday, 9 August 2010 01:09 (thirteen years ago) link

not out until 24th Sept here. also costing 33% more than vol 1! BOOOO.

― Teddybears.SHTML (sic), Monday, 9 August 2010 01:19 (thirteen years ago) link

I think part two works better as a whole than the first one. At this stage if I made my own compilation of the two I would leave off Dancehall Queen, Hang with me (acoustic) and Jag ven et dejlig rosa off part one and maybe just We Dance to the beat off this latest one.

The full version of Hang with me is really great and a very good single choice, she's going to have an amazing Singles collection one day.

Criminal Intent sounds like an update of Curriculum Vitae from Robyn.

Indestructible is pretty special, if they do a full version of it for volume three it could be in the same league as The Girl & the Robot and With Every heartbeat.

U Should Know Better is my favourite at the moment, the chorus keeps getting stuck in my head. As Johhny Fever said earlier Snoop sounds great on this kind of song.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 9 August 2010 01:47 (thirteen years ago) link

the phrase "include me out" bothers me more than like even 'come and take a ride on my discostick'

― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 15:39 (thirteen years ago) link

I thought I was the only one. Nice tune though.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 15:40 (thirteen years ago) link

Oh man, just hearing "We Dance to the Beat" for the first time and loving it.

― pshrbrn, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 16:23 (thirteen years ago) link

Really *beautiful* video for the single version of "Hang With Me". Might be my fave vid this year in fact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3a2qoyONVA&feature=av2n

― Bill A, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 18:43 (thirteen years ago) link

What a great video. I have stopped bothering (or more accurately never bothered) trying to feel a personal connection to musicians but that makes me want to, well, hang with Robyn.

― skip, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 20:16 (thirteen years ago) link

I love Robyn. I love Hang With Me. I like the video. What is it you guys love about it so much? Isn't a standard (though well shot) artist on tour video?

― textbook blows on the head (dowd), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 20:42 (thirteen years ago) link

On a purely technical level it's a very well made video; beautifully shot, edited and composed in general. Also, the director owes a clear debt to Andrea Arnold's style (her film Fish Tank for example), which is no bad thing imo.

But I also think it gives a real glimpse into the touring life of Robyn and her band, in a very honest and direct manner - from the coach trips, to the instore shows, to fanclub stuff, interviews and then a festival gig. I guess I just find this interesting as her videos are usually much more stylised, this has a very beguiling openness to it.

The things that make it my fave this year though: the rollercoaster clip and the pure joy on her face (and the way this is cut with the drop of the chorus), the intercutting in the finale between the bedroom practice and the big show (and Robyn giving it heaps in both), and the tiny detail around 1:35 of the young girl who is clearly a *huge* fan - that look on her face is how I want great pop music to make me feel: completely stoked with excitement, a bit embarassed at being spotted and then just giving in to it.

― Bill A, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 21:37 (thirteen years ago) link

I guess I just find this interesting as her videos are usually much more stylised, this has a very beguiling openness to it.

agreed. this is a really lovely video. one of my favorites from her for sure, and it's not as if she's totally slacking in the video department.

― teledyldonix, Thursday, 12 August 2010 05:50 (thirteen years ago) link

its loveliness was very subtle; it really snuck up on me. i watched this video for the first time thinking, "kinda boring huh" but there was something entrancing about some of these shots that drew me back repeatedly over the next few days. i don't think i ever watched the "dancing on my own" video more than once or twice.

― teledyldonix, Thursday, 12 August 2010 06:01 (thirteen years ago) link

I just heard the new version of "hang with me". WOW. Robyn is BACK.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 12 August 2010 18:12 (thirteen years ago) link

Her voice annoys me on this EP: that quaver underscores her "vulnerability" in too grating a manner.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 12 August 2010 18:31 (thirteen years ago) link

there's something a little patronising about 'hang with me' but I've known girls like that

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 12 August 2010 20:47 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm starting to think that I like Chord Changes Robyn and am lukewarm on Ride a Vamp Robyn.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Monday, 16 August 2010 10:42 (thirteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

Body Talk Pt. 2 streaming at guardian.co.uk

― Bill A, Monday, 6 September 2010 14:38 (thirteen years ago) link

What's the verdict?

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Monday, 6 September 2010 17:55 (thirteen years ago) link

Guilty.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 6 September 2010 17:57 (thirteen years ago) link

Of?

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Monday, 6 September 2010 18:00 (thirteen years ago) link

...blowing my mind, again. I've only had one proper listen through, and whilst nothing has leapt out in "Dancing On My Own" style, Pt. 2 is another delight. It certainly made my walk home from work fly by, and seemed oddly apt for the blustery sunshine. I gotta get tickets for her show next month.

― Bill A, Monday, 6 September 2010 18:23 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm sure we'll poll these eventually; in the meantime Pt. 1 >>> Pt. 2

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 6 September 2010 18:25 (thirteen years ago) link

Where is the love for "Love Kills"? It's the best song on Pt. 2.
BTW: Pt. 2 > Pt. 1

― zeus, Monday, 6 September 2010 21:09 (thirteen years ago) link

Part 2 is way better than Part 1 just for lacking 1's multiple cringeworthy moments. There will be an album of the year-quality EP when all three parts are said and done but she's sure drawing it out.

― skip, Tuesday, 7 September 2010 01:56 (thirteen years ago) link

i think they're comparable. was pleasantly surprised - for some reason i had lowered my expectations for this one, but it's good all the way through. again, nothing super tremendous, but the combined 3-part thing is shaping up to very impressive.

― teledyldonix, Wednesday, 8 September 2010 03:43 (thirteen years ago) link

"Love Kills" is weird - it made me cringe the first few times but now I look forward to it

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 8 September 2010 11:05 (thirteen years ago) link

It's impossible for me to grasp how anyone could like Part 2 more than Part 1. Part 1 is gripping, progressive, and perfectly produced. Take "Hang With Me" of Part 2 and it's barely worth your time.

― Indexed, Wednesday, 8 September 2010 14:37 (thirteen years ago) link

Reasons why Part 2 is better than Part 1:

1. No 'Fembot'
2. Only one ballad, which is much better than any slow song on Part 1
3. Has some floorfiller disco tracks like "Love Kills" and "U Should Know Better".
4. Overall better songs, more coherent.

Part1 has one big advantage: "Dancing On My Own", but still.

― zeus, Wednesday, 8 September 2010 14:52 (thirteen years ago) link

Fembot chorus is A+ so shut up

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Wednesday, 8 September 2010 15:23 (thirteen years ago) link

"Fembot" is probably my favorite Robyn song ever, after "Dream On." The whole pop-diva/robot theme is becoming played out, what with similar work from Christina, Rhianna, Kelis, and Janelle Monae (not to mention Robyn's previous work).

"Fembot" has been the only track that's really stood out of the lot. The chorus is infallible, the way she makes the phrasing and rhyming work despite the odds. She rhymes "system," "condition," "transistor," "switches," "position," "ignition," and "demolition" by focusing on the "ih" sound instead of the final syllable. It's the catchiest thing she's done in her career. Then there's all the joyous little bells and whistles, like her moans throughout much of the song (which only become apparent in the outro) and the second layer of vocals she does in the final chorus ("heeee" / "Baby" / "AHH haaa"), which scream Michael Jackson.

More than anything else, "Fembot" serves as the perfect bridge between "Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do" and "Dancing on My Own." Which for me is why Part 1 destroys Part 2: it's pacing is perfect. The only track that doesn't quite stand up is the final Swedish ballad. I know why it's there, and I guess it's a nice nod to tradition, but it seems superfluous after the acoustic "Hang With Me".

I will agree that Part 2 seems more "coherent", but only in the sense that Part 1's array of producers didn't seem to do much to work towards one sound. But the notion that there are "overall better songs" on Part 2 is pretty much laughable.

― Indexed, Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:00 (thirteen years ago) link

i think this review is largely otm: http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-09-01/music/give-robyn-her-knock-back/

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:02 (thirteen years ago) link

I don't think Fembot is her best song, but yeah, what he said. xpost

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:02 (thirteen years ago) link

I adore "Dancing on My Own," didn't much care for "Fembot" and haven't heard the rest of the Body Talk stuff. Though, both are arriving in the mail this afternoon(!) from Amazon, so I'll be more informed in short order.

Indexed: I hope "Fembot" works as an effective bridge, I didn't really like it in isolation.

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:04 (thirteen years ago) link

soooo

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:05 (thirteen years ago) link

i have to admit. Dancing On My Own has really come together as a whole song for me, and it pretty much destroys everytime.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:06 (thirteen years ago) link

Rich is absolutely OTM:

If you love her voice, great; if you don't, it will cloy you to death. Robyn's interpretive skills are minimal at best: She opens her mouth and smiley faces come out. Her perpetual upward lilt and limited range give her delivery a detrimental sameness

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:09 (thirteen years ago) link

Really excited about Pt. 2 now. Does anyone know if their distribution in the US is to larger chains, or will I have to seek out a record store?

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:21 (thirteen years ago) link

Indexed, I don't know how you can get that deep into internal rhymes and then ignore all the more important and obvious horrible stuff going on around it. Fembots have feelings too? What the hell is she talking about? "I'm sipping propane topped with a cherry"? "Once you've gone tech you ain't never going back"? Does she get a pass for this stuff because she isn't a native English speaker? The "I've got some news for you" tag is sing-song awful and her voice is extra cloying in the verses. She doesn't even sound especially robotic--the backing vocals do that for her. And not to turn this into Common People chapter 2 but the word "fembot" has a Rush Limbaugh meaning over here in the States that I can't ignore.

"Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do" is also a stupid song for anyone over the age of 13 despite the shoutouts to adult problems. Again the production is interesting but to enjoy it you have to hear a grown woman say "don't fucking tell me what to do" over and over again.

― skip, Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:24 (thirteen years ago) link

most lyrics sound pretty stupid to me so i don't pay attention to them. it's all fine by me.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:26 (thirteen years ago) link

skip, when was the last time a pop star was hailed for their meaningful lyrics? In the context of pop, I primarily care about two things: production + melody. The song isn't "about" anything. She probably just wrote down a bunch of words that somewhat relate to technology and computers and worked them into a song. My question isn't, 'What does she mean?,' it's 'Who cares?'

The production + melody equation stands up on the whole of Body Talk Pt. 1, but fails throughout much of Pt. 2. Here's where I take issue with the crux of Rich's argument: for the most part, I just don't care. I very rarely listen to this type of music for the quality of the voice. In fact, it is regularly the pop singers with the best chops (i.e. Christina and Mariah Carey) who put out the most bland albums. Say what you will about Britney's talent as a singer, she's had an incredible musical career due to her production and melodies (let's not start down the 'superstar'/image road).

The songs I dislike most on Part 2 are "Love Kills" (which has great production) and "We Dance to the Beat." They fall flat because the melodies aren't there. Let Beyoncé sing "Love Kills" and it'd still fall flat, because the melody is boring.

I'd like to say a couple more words on Robyn and what she's trying to do as a whole this year, which is really something that should be admired. Pop music is typically exciting because it comes in 3 minute snip-its. Try listening to a pop album released in the last decade, however, and by its 73rd minute, you'll be clawing your ears out. Then wait three years for the artist to tour and run out of singles to finally put out a new record. What Robyn's doing should be the model for pop. Release 30 minute albums, because who wants to listen to more than 45 minutes of this stuff? And release them often because it boosts your profile each and every time, and keeps the consumer/fan excited for what's next. I sure hope she doesn't quit at the end of 2010 and wait another 5 years to put out her next batch...

― Indexed, Thursday, 9 September 2010 18:01 (thirteen years ago) link

Try listening to a pop album released in the last decade, however, and by its 73rd minute, you'll be clawing your ears out.

rong

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 18:02 (thirteen years ago) link

I like the idea of 30-minute albums as much as anyone, but my problem's with Robyn herself (outside a couple of really good singles).

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 18:07 (thirteen years ago) link

when was the last time a pop star was hailed for their meaningful lyrics?

all the time? or at least, if not "meaningful" in the profound sense, then at least pithy or witty or evocative or any of the manifold ways pop lyrics can be good.

In fact, it is regularly the pop singers with the best chops (i.e. Christina and Mariah Carey) who put out the most bland albums

rong, both specifically re: xtina and mariah, and as a general rule.

Try listening to a pop album released in the last decade, however, and by its 73rd minute, you'll be clawing your ears out.

rong, so many counterexamples to even list (though obv most pop albums don't even make it to 73mins)

the three-part mini-album is a great idea, though labels have been experimenting w/pared-down mini-releases for a while, and of course if anything proved the legitimacy of this model it was the fame monster

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 9 September 2010 18:39 (thirteen years ago) link

Rich is absolutely OTM:

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 16:09 (3 hours ago) Permalink

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:13 (thirteen years ago) link

def the most otm thing i've heard about robyn, sums up my feelings to a T.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:14 (thirteen years ago) link

lol @ mariah putting out bland albums as compared to britney though. the idea that a good voice oft makes for bland albums is pretty laughable on the whole.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:15 (thirteen years ago) link

I'd say it's almost OTM but not quite, as I don't really hear smiley faces on "With Every Heartbeat" or "Be Mine". She isn't the world's most versatile singer but she also is not as monolithic/one-note as pre-Rated R Rihanna.

― STOP DREAMING ABOUT HORSES, THIS IS REAL LIFE (HI DERE), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:16 (thirteen years ago) link

The "meaningful lyrics" standard is a bit of a straw man but I don't disagree with you on the general importance of lyrics in pop music. Parsing Robyn for deep meaning obviously misses the point. That said, lyrics can be bad enough that they distract, and the words on the Body Talk project are so in-your-face on that they are impossible to ignore. "Include me out", "don't fucking tell me what to do", "none of dem", "once you've gone tech you never go back" are cringeworthy and distracting.

Hang With Me is probably my track of the year and that's because the lyrics melt into the background and let me enjoy the songwriting and production. The combination of Robyn's distinctive vocal delivery, the front-loading of the vocals in the mix, the ridiculous lyrical content, and occasional moments when the melody itself highlights the ridiculous lyrical content make that impossible on much of the rest of Body Talk. I wish it were otherwise.

― skip, Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:17 (thirteen years ago) link

the idea that a good voice oft makes for bland albums is pretty laughable on the whole.

I think this statement is deeply OTM and says more about the laziness of listeners than anything else; if you want a reason for why a Mariah Carey album is unsatisfying, the answer is likely going to be found in some of the material she's singing, not because her voice is "too good" (not that anyone's saying that about Mariah these days)

xp: lol "Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do" is the only song on Body Talk vol 1 that I've played more than twice

― STOP DREAMING ABOUT HORSES, THIS IS REAL LIFE (HI DERE), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:18 (thirteen years ago) link

"once you've gone tech you never go back" are cringeworthy and distracting.

Didn't even know this is what she was saying.

I got into Robyn at the same time I was into Rachel Stevens and Girls Aloud in a big way, so limited vocals are cool in my book.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:23 (thirteen years ago) link

Right, I don't think there is an implied correlation between "good" voices and "bad" albums (i.e., a good voice guarantees neither a good album, nor a bad one). The point is that there is NO correlation; and, that those listening to pop albums solely on account of good voices are not necessarily listening to the "best" albums, specifically because there is hardly any correlation between good voices and interesting pop songs.

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:23 (thirteen years ago) link

xp to HI DERE

Though, I am hesitant to start talking about anything related to good voices w/ HI DERE, on account of the last convo we had on that subject...

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:24 (thirteen years ago) link

i actually do think Hang With Me is a pretty great, wide-reaching pop song.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:24 (thirteen years ago) link

Try listening to any released in the last 10 decades, however, and by its 73rd minute, you'll be clawing your ears out.

50 mins then gtfo

― ךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLךLך like (cozen), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:25 (thirteen years ago) link

Parsing Robyn for deep meaning obviously misses the point.

I can't even understand this. Criticism is "parsing" anything for "deep meaning."

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:29 (thirteen years ago) link

, that those listening to pop albums solely on account of good voices are not necessarily listening to the "best" albums

That is entirely dependent upon why you are listening to the album!

If you primarily listen to music for singers' voices, particularly singers of a certain style, the intricacies of the songwriting behind them is going to be important to you only insofar as it shows off the person singing the song. One of the reasons why both Celine Dion and Beyonce get away with singing some of their more egregiously awful songs is because people really, really love the way they both sound on them. Delving into the songwriting is likely to remain the province of the minority of listeners.

― STOP DREAMING ABOUT HORSES, THIS IS REAL LIFE (HI DERE), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:36 (thirteen years ago) link

That Voice review is good prose but obnoxious criticism. He's very self-important about taking down Robyn's fans (with exclamation marks to denote sarcasm!) and has a real bee in his bonnet about her perceived narcissism (again in relation to her fans). Does he think Dancing Is My Own is a true story? He's not a humourless writer but he's completely missed the humour in Robyn's songwriting.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:37 (thirteen years ago) link

Cuz she's not funny?

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:39 (thirteen years ago) link

also she has the gall to appear in her videos.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:39 (thirteen years ago) link

It's one thing to not enjoy Robyn's sense of humour, it's quite another to pretend it isn't there at all. I hate critics who slam an artist for not being what their "loudest fans", "champions" and "music snobs" claim, without specifying what those claims are. I also hate critics who write lines like: "As she transitioned from Max Martin–molded tart to a dish of her own design…" Ugh.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:43 (thirteen years ago) link

It is coming across more like you hate critics you disagree with.

― STOP DREAMING ABOUT HORSES, THIS IS REAL LIFE (HI DERE), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:44 (thirteen years ago) link

That article smacks of the guy not only not liking her music, but annoyed that the indie fans like it and claim it as their own for some reason. So on top of 'she's not that good' (fair enough) he wants to show her up as no more than your standard pop artist.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:47 (thirteen years ago) link

also this

the broken booty bass of "Criminal Intent" would get her ass laughed out right out of Miami

annoys me.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:51 (thirteen years ago) link

xpost. Not at all. I like plenty of critics I disagree with - I just find the tone of this review weird and offputting. It's too pedantic, full of misreadings, and, as Gukbe says, depends too much on ranting about strawman "music snobs", ie people he disagrees with.

I've never read this guy before - maybe he was having a weird day.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:53 (thirteen years ago) link

the broken booty bass of "Criminal Intent" would get her ass laughed out right out of Miami

HI DERE

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:54 (thirteen years ago) link

actually, Rich is one of the more generous and thorough critics out there.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:55 (thirteen years ago) link

http://fourfour.typepad.com/fourfour/2010/07/a-collage-for-a-collage.html

Another of his pieces

― STOP DREAMING ABOUT HORSES, THIS IS REAL LIFE (HI DERE), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:56 (thirteen years ago) link

Oh that was him? Loved that.

― Haunted Clocks For Sale (Dorianlynskey), Thursday, 9 September 2010 19:58 (thirteen years ago) link

the idea that a good voice oft makes for bland albums is pretty laughable on the whole.

― janice (surm), Thursday, September 9, 2010 2:15 PM (55 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I obviously wasn't arguing that good voices make bad albums, but rather that good voices are neither necessary nor sufficient conditions for good pop albums. I will likely get laughed at for this opinion, but fuck it: I prefer the new Kesha record to the last Mariah record. Now, I recognize that Kesha is pretty obnoxious, can't sing for shit, and writes terrible lyrics. Compared to Mariah Carey, she's nothing. But try listening to E=MC2 and I guarantee you'll turn it off by the fifth track. It's just boring. At least Kesha sounds young/fun.

That said, lyrics can be bad enough that they distract, and the words on the Body Talk project are so in-your-face on that they are impossible to ignore. "Include me out", "don't fucking tell me what to do", "none of dem", "once you've gone tech you never go back" are cringeworthy and distracting.

― skip, Thursday, September 9, 2010 2:17 PM (54 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Honestly, I don't find those lyrics cringeworthy at all.

As for "Hang With Me," she didn't write it (neither the lyrics nor the song). So that's probably why you like it more. I love it. It's tremendous. And I'm glad we agree on that front.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, September 9, 2010 2:47 PM (24 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

OTM

― Indexed, Thursday, 9 September 2010 20:23 (thirteen years ago) link

But try listening to E=MC2 and I guarantee you'll turn it off by the fifth track. It's just boring. At least Kesha sounds young/fun.

Do you realize who you're addressing here?

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 20:26 (thirteen years ago) link

yeah, Mariah is not the way to go here.

I get where you're coming from, though that was covered by the Celine Dion mention upthread. It's like Olly Murs singing 'Twist and Shout' on X Factor.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 20:33 (thirteen years ago) link

first of all, Indexed, E=MC2 is not the last mariah album. second, it is a bad example of a Mariah album. it is definitely boring by the 5th or 6th track, but this is not the case for most of her albums.

I obviously wasn't arguing that good voices make bad albums
not so obvious. you said "In fact, it is regularly the pop singers with the best chops (i.e. Christina and Mariah Carey) who put out the most bland albums." same difference, in terms of argument.

also i would listen to mariah carey's worst album over kesha's best any day. any. day.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 20:52 (thirteen years ago) link

i'm pretty upfront about when mariah's music is shit, and she's definitely had her moments. but i wouldn't even dream of spinning a k$sha record in my house, like, ever.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 20:57 (thirteen years ago) link

Haha, fair enough, janice.

― Indexed, Thursday, 9 September 2010 21:23 (thirteen years ago) link

Just found this on NME's tracks you have to hear this week. I know Lex is really going to hate this but I think it's rather lovely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB27jQkO0Cs

― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 9 September 2010 21:32 (thirteen years ago) link

xp :D

funnily, i heard that bjork cover the other night

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 21:51 (thirteen years ago) link

But try listening to E=MC2 and I guarantee you'll turn it off by the fifth track.

i've spun e=mc2 many a time and never turned it off by the 5th track. the 5th track is "side effects", for heaven's sake, one of the best songs of her career! and the 6th is all-time classic 4eva spring jam "i'm that chick"! i would probably skip the 7th track, "love story", though. can't even remember how that goes. but even then the second half still holds the excellent "o.o.c.", "for the record", "i wish you well"...

the broken booty bass of "Criminal Intent" would get her ass laughed out right out of Miami

this doesn't annoy me, because robyn gets a lot of undeserved plaudits for her beats, most of which are pretty weedy takes on club music. that track is booty bass for people who've heard of, but never heard (and aren't interested in hearing), booty bass.

rich j is maybe my favourite critic around, even when he's wrong (nicki minaj) he's basically right (that "family guy approach to referencing" line is seriously the only thing i've ever read about an artist i love that's made me genuinely reconsider for a minute).

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:14 (thirteen years ago) link

actually, lex is right about the first 6 tracks on e=mc2. thanks for that reminder, lex. there is only 1 track in those 6 that isn't wonderful ("i stay in love," tho i know lex and i disagree on that).

however, e=mc2 definitely does boast a few decidedly bland tracks, and "i stay in love" really is a clunker as it is in the tracklist.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:23 (thirteen years ago) link

Fans thinking a critic's singling them out = very lame.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:24 (thirteen years ago) link

i like "i stay in love" but i wouldn't call it wonderful. shameless, maybe. i would sometimes skip it, but only sometimes.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:25 (thirteen years ago) link

i'm pretty embarrassed i said that about the 1st 6 tracks, considering a few of them are some of my favorite moments in her career.

but i still get what Indexed was saying about the record.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:33 (thirteen years ago) link

thing is turning e=mc2 off midway through because you're BORED doesn't make sense - that album is so all-over-the-place and stylistically varied that you might get sick of it for other reasons, but certainly not boredom. i could understand that criticism applied to memoirs, or indeed any of mariah's other albums, more than e=mc2.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:35 (thirteen years ago) link

no problems with the sentiment that the beats are crap it was just the way it was written.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:36 (thirteen years ago) link

my boyf really likes the bleeps. he says the synths are the main draw of robyn's music for him.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:38 (thirteen years ago) link

::shrug::

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 22:38 (thirteen years ago) link

I hate critics who begin sentences with "See,"

That article is pretty much straight garbage, Lex. He has a couple of points: about how her voice is "limited" (er, who cares?) and how her sound since 2005 has become worse (I agree, but he doesn't really explain why, which might be interesting) but he surrounds it with so much mind-reading and defensiveness and unattractive condescension that it's impossible to even really understand what else he's on about for the rest of it. Or care.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:33 (thirteen years ago) link

lol I was going to do an extended super-trolly "he was writing in the persona he perceives from the album! GENIUS" line of argument but life is really too short

― and by "Heavens!" i mean WATERFALLS OF BIDDY (HI DERE), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:35 (thirteen years ago) link

HI DERE said: I don't really hear smiley faces on "With Every Heartbeat" or "Be Mine"

Or "Hang With Me", or "Dancing on My Own"... etc. Robyn deserves better pans than this!

xpost Yes it is.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:39 (thirteen years ago) link

It's pretty clear he means "limited" not just technically (who cares), but emotionally -- and, yes, I do care.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:43 (thirteen years ago) link

Well, I think it's pretty clear that she's not just "smiley faces", i.e. the songs just mentioned above. So that criticism is rubbish.

For the record I think there are quite a few misses on both these EPs and I really wouldn't have minded her waiting a bit longer to put together one super-tight album. Given the fact that she's still putting the finishing touches on Pt 3 I kind of wonder if it was a personal finance thing, or a contract thing, where she really needed to just get some stuff out there before it was all really ready. The high points are exceedingly high for me though so..

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:46 (thirteen years ago) link

the review pretty much says that her voice is fine technically but she fails at conveying most emotions, which...obv that's something to care about?

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:46 (thirteen years ago) link

it's not "smiley faces" as in jolly happiness, it's "smiley faces" as in that smug cutesy thing she always has going on, even on her boring heartbreak ballads

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:47 (thirteen years ago) link

I think she conveys emotions pretty well. Better than, say, Rachel Stevens (and that didn't hurt her at all).

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:48 (thirteen years ago) link

it is the way in which she conveys emotion, not how much emotion she conveys. like i said a while ago, i often don't feel like i understand why she's singing what she's singing. i almost feel like she could take it or leave it.

that being said, i think "dancing on my own" and "hang with me" and even "don't fucking tell me what to do" are strong exceptions to that idea.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:51 (thirteen years ago) link

but yeah, i do care about a level of emotional investment in a song. there is a way to sound detached and still committed to what you're singing.

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:52 (thirteen years ago) link

it probably did hurt r. stevens, really! idk stevens lucked out with some really well-crafted songs that conveyed the emotion in the songwriting, and i think her slight air of detachment was the right way to perform them; actually on a song-by-song basis, i think stevens did manage to communicate the emotions behind each song, it's just that overall she was a boring popstar character. robyn's songs aren't as well-written - mostly either nonsense or cliché with little in between - and to me, her voice always sounds a bit hectoring.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:54 (thirteen years ago) link

^^great word

― janice (surm), Thursday, 9 September 2010 23:55 (thirteen years ago) link

Hectoring's actually the one word I wouldn't think of with Robyn! (Except maybe in her cod-rap boast mode.) It's so weird how differently she comes across to people. I mean it's no use me telling you that her voice actually DOES convey heartbreak, or ambiguous fascination, or twee pugnacity, or grudging acceptance, or the sublime feeling of being loved by someone you love too. If it doesn't to you then it doesn't. But it might help to explain WHY it doesn't instead of just saying so.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:01 (thirteen years ago) link

By the way all the comments at the end of that Voice article are just <3 <3 <3

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:02 (thirteen years ago) link

One thing that is very true about Robyn though - and this is as far as I'll go to concede the "limited range of emotions" accusation, which is RONG but is trying to describe something real - is that she has this paradox: in every song she's playing a different character, yet she has such a distinctive personality (love it or hate it) that it shines through in every song as well.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:11 (thirteen years ago) link

I agree w/ the roboticness of Robyn - wrote this upthread

― "I am the bone lord," Tom proclaimed skulkingly. (dyao), Thursday, April 22, 2010 9:43 PM (4 months ago) Bookmark

and it sounds like not much has changed.

― always be cozen (dayo), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:13 (thirteen years ago) link

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Friday, September 10, 2010 1:01 AM (19 seconds ago) Bookmark

That's a tough one. can you explain why it does, for you, in concrete terms? it's hard to put that kind of thing into words.

sometimes it just doesn't sound like she cares too much about what she's putting out there. the whole thing -- the message, the sound, the overall feel. it sounds like it kind of happened to her, and she went with it, because certain people liked it or something. like she's playing dress up for the sake of other people. and she is a great show-woman -- that is true.

why does it sound that way, on a physical level? i don't think i hear enough depth in the tone of her voice -- the timbre often sounds too flat. instead, she seems to employ certain accents as a means of expression but they more or less just annoy me. i'm not sure i can explain it better than that in terms of physical qualities.

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:15 (thirteen years ago) link

I suggest everybody vacate this thread and listen to the new fantasia

― always be cozen (dayo), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:16 (thirteen years ago) link

they're no different to the usual "jUsTiN rox UR gAy!!!!11111" fan defensiveness in response to most negative reviews!

i'm half-asleep so this might come out garbled, but i get a real self-absorbed impression from robyn's vocals - it's like she sets up scenarios that she thinks are Good Looks for whatever reason (eg "dancing on my own" casts her as sensitive, as an outsider, feeds into suspicion/envy of people having an unqualified Good Time, the myth that heartbreak is a natural thing to feel on the dancefloor), but it's like she thinks that's enough - she doesn't get inside the scenario enough for me, she doesn't make me feel what the narrator feels, she doesn't bring it to life - it's just a scenario w/pre-existing signifiers and she relies on those for it to be affecting.

cf this fantasia single i was listening to today, where i have no irl experience of the narrator's perspective, but she delivers it so well that i'm with her every step of the way - both in the sense of having exactly what she's talking about evoked, and on her side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Nxpes6wgM

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:20 (thirteen years ago) link

HAHAHA genuine xp!!!

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:20 (thirteen years ago) link

when i was listening to the fantasia album today, part of me was obviously thinking about how it's a really great r&b album, and then part of me was thinking about how woefully underappreciated it'll be compared to robyn and janelle monáe, who are both at least within the same ballpark, and that is just WRONG and NOT FAIR.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:22 (thirteen years ago) link

the myth that heartbreak is a natural thing to feel on the dancefloor)

expand on that

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:22 (thirteen years ago) link

it just seems a lot of people are v much in love with the idea of ~subverting~ the good-times vibe of club life and dancefloors with tears, heartbreak &c - uncomfortably close to ye olde indie maxim that the only true and real emotions are sad ones, and also bs.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:25 (thirteen years ago) link

i would much rather hear songs from people dancing their asses off and getting their boy/girl in the middle of the dancefloor than the wallflowers being awkward and harshing the buzz tbh.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:26 (thirteen years ago) link

i'm on the other side of that fence. obv every song has a time and a place, but i haven't heard too many songs about feeling sad on the dancefloor and tbh, i could hear more. dancefloors are very emotional places for people.

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:27 (thirteen years ago) link

and just the idea of going out -- searching, in the midst of all these people, for something or someone. that is a very complicated issue, and it's not always just fun.

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:30 (thirteen years ago) link

I just listened to only love can break your heart and it kinda hit that spot

― always be cozen (dayo), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:30 (thirteen years ago) link

I remember a Neil Tennant quote from when I was younger talking about celebrating your depression on the dancefloor, and that's always stuck with me. Of course I was an angsty pre-teen who probably did buy into 'the only meaningful music is sad music' with my Pumpkins t-shirt but still. I love to dance to silly songs and joyous songs and sad songs, and I take exception to the notion that the purpose is for one thing and one thing only.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:32 (thirteen years ago) link

Although my experience on the dancefloor has always been a complicated one.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:33 (thirteen years ago) link

One of my problems with Robyn is how her vocal melodies and lyrics insist on mirrorball tragedy when her voice is clearly designed for giddy show-me-love.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:35 (thirteen years ago) link

I mean this:

She has described her quasi-emcee "voice" as "kick-ass," but it reads more like pipsqueak—her Nordic tongue doesn't spit so much as gleek... [insert several unilluminating examples] ... Glance at a picture of this five-foot-three, blue-eyed, blonde-haired thumbnail sketch of Scandinavia, and ask yourself: Are you scared yet?

I mean this is just extraordinarily -- I dunno, conservative. Is Robyn disallowed from copping rap moves because she's white?? Because she's not American ... because she has a high voice ... is it because she doesn't sound like DMX? Because she's short???

I guess we have to disagree about whether she's living "inside the song". Some of her songs are not even made to live inside of, they're all surface. But others.. "Dream On" is probably my favorite thing she's done and Lex I have a hard time believing you wouldn't sweat your ass off to that late in a set somewhere.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:35 (thirteen years ago) link

I mean, it's clear from her released work that Robyn herself subscribes to mirrorball heartbreak.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:36 (thirteen years ago) link

Although my experience on the dancefloor has always been a complicated one.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, September 10, 2010 1:33 AM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark

otm x100, and my experience going out has always been a complicated one.

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:37 (thirteen years ago) link

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Friday, September 10, 2010 1:35 AM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark

i still would like to hear why her voice conveys to you all the things that it does

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:40 (thirteen years ago) link

btw that's a really good way to put it -- "...whether or not she's living inside the song."

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:43 (thirteen years ago) link

surm OTM, lots of different scenarios can play out on the dancefloor. plus it's not as if liking the one type of song precludes liking the other? both can be done well, obv (lots of stuff on those "crying on the dancefloor" ILM list threads that i'm too lazy to link to right now)

― marilyn VO5 savant (donna rouge), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:46 (thirteen years ago) link

this is me if someone played robyn at a party

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn3bvWd5_RY

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 00:47 (thirteen years ago) link

I did bring up Rihanna for a reason, Tr

I mean this:
_She has described her quasi-emcee "voice" as "kick-ass," but it reads more like pipsqueak—her Nordic tongue doesn't spit so much as gleek... [insert several unilluminating examples] ... Glance at a picture of this five-foot-three, blue-eyed, blonde-haired thumbnail sketch of Scandinavia, and ask yourself: Are you scared yet?_
I mean this is just extraordinarily -- I dunno, conservative. Is Robyn disallowed from copping rap moves because she's white?? Because she's not American ... because she has a high voice ... is it because she doesn't sound like DMX? Because she's short???

This is a massive reach, Tracer. The passage points out that Robyn is describing herself as a bad-ass but the audio (chirpy, high-pitched cutseyness) and the visual (short smiley girl) don't match the attitude displayed.

Robyn's big problem us the same as Rihanna's; she uses her voice the same way on almost every song, making it difficult to ascertain the emotion she's attempting to portray aside from the instances where her particular singing style lines up with the song's emotional center. That is really her biggest problem and the main thing keeping her in her loved-by-indie niche.

― and by "Heavens!" i mean WATERFALLS OF BIDDY (HI DERE), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:47 (thirteen years ago) link

people can definitely enjoy all forms of dance songs, i was just responding to lex's 'people harshing the buzz' comment.

xposts

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:48 (thirteen years ago) link

me, surm & lex will be drinking pinot

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 00:48 (thirteen years ago) link

i love u jordan so much

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:48 (thirteen years ago) link

for real tho i like "dancing on my own" a lot but robyn's more uptempo tracks have always come off to me as thin sonically & cloying emotionally

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 00:51 (thirteen years ago) link

and really if you want humor in your pop music, listen to mariah carey ffs

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 00:52 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm drinking pinot now!

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:53 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm going to karaoke in 45 minutes, guys. Need a ride?

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:53 (thirteen years ago) link

yeah, that about sums it up for me too

xp that will also be true, in a moment

― marilyn VO5 savant (donna rouge), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:53 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm going to repeat:

One of my problems with Robyn is how her vocal melodies and lyrics insist on mirrorball tragedy when her voice is clearly designed for giddy show-me-love.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:54 (thirteen years ago) link

jordan i love that if robyn came on at a party u and i would just leave, and go find lex

why does that crack me up so much ?

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:54 (thirteen years ago) link

More resourceful vocalists can do something with this tension -- she can't.

xpost

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:54 (thirteen years ago) link

alfred, you're looking too deep

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 00:54 (thirteen years ago) link

she's like if a literal robin was a pop singer? is that the point?

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 00:56 (thirteen years ago) link

Well, robins can generally sing

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:57 (thirteen years ago) link

and they have pretty plumage

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:57 (thirteen years ago) link

well -- the Swede does too

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:57 (thirteen years ago) link

even tho i love "dancing on my own" this is the visual equivalent of robyn in that song

http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/robin.jpg

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 00:57 (thirteen years ago) link

if Robyn was a robin, and she caught a worm, she wouldn't celebrate how delicious the worm was -- she'd lament how the worm might give her heartburn.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:57 (thirteen years ago) link

rofl xp

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:58 (thirteen years ago) link

u guys are seriously cracking me up

― janice (surm), Friday, 10 September 2010 00:58 (thirteen years ago) link

If Robyn was a robin she'd think it uncouth to leave her nest and risk mockingbirds stealing her song. The male robins are all like, "fuck that."

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 01:01 (thirteen years ago) link

xposts -- I think lovers and haters could maybe agree that lots of Robyn tracks are basically using a voice that doesn't naturally read as "tough" and putting them in this heartbreak context where they get to act tough but convey vulnerability. Right? To me that seems like the great trick on "With Every Heartbeat" -- her voice is perfectly suited to "I am not naturally a tough person but I am being tough to get through this emotion." This is surely a lot of why indie fans find her relatable and various other people find her wimpy and cloying!

So, regarding her "rap moves" and whatnot: maybe I'm nuts, but to me her normal speaking-English voice sounds like she took a few language lessons in the Bronx or something. And given the shades of American and hip-hop stuff in her work, I wonder how much of it was stuff she absorbed during her mid-90s teenage pop-star period -- in other words, I get the feeling it's way more "authentic" to her than it comes off to a lot of listeners! Or else maybe they just have "street" lessons in Max Martin school, I dunno.

― oɔsıqɐu (nabisco), Friday, 10 September 2010 01:05 (thirteen years ago) link

I shouldn't say "naturally a tough person," because it's about the voice, not the person -- but you probably know what I mean

― oɔsıqɐu (nabisco), Friday, 10 September 2010 01:06 (thirteen years ago) link

I should add that "With Every Heartbeat" is my favorite Robyn track because her tentativeness for once works with and for the music instead of undermining it.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 September 2010 01:09 (thirteen years ago) link

"with every heartbeat" is good again because it's on the more ballady side of things as well -- it's stuff like "fembot" that really grates

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 01:13 (thirteen years ago) link

nabisco dropping dimes, as usual.

― fuck ya law! (Spinspin Sugah), Friday, 10 September 2010 02:37 (thirteen years ago) link

yeah even i love "with every heartbeat". she doesn't really sound like herself on it.

robyn's "tough" voice just makes me feel like i'm being attacked by a rubber, you know? i think björk does that tough-though-i'm-not thing a million times more effectively.

would party at non-robyn soundtracked parties w/jordan and surm.

this bears repeating:

and really if you want humor in your pop music, listen to mariah carey ffs

― J0rdan S., Friday, September 10, 2010 12:52 AM (5 hours ago) Bookmark

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 07:32 (thirteen years ago) link

Is Robyn disallowed from copping rap moves because she's white?? Because she's not American ... because she has a high voice ... is it because she doesn't sound like DMX? Because she's short???

it comes off as gimmicky, whether it's authentic or not - like i don't doubt that diplo really does love all the music he samples and plays, it's just the way he does it is so thoughtless and superficial - robyn is the diplo of scandopop really. i think there's something telling in how her urban moves are embraced so much by popjustice types, who are notoriously allergic to any actual rappers or dancehall artists.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 07:40 (thirteen years ago) link

she's not Real, yeah we get it Lex

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Friday, 10 September 2010 11:25 (thirteen years ago) link

don't know why authenticity matters for synthpop.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 12:53 (thirteen years ago) link

don't know why authenticity matters for synthpop.

^^^ Real talk.

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Friday, 10 September 2010 13:11 (thirteen years ago) link

i think there's something telling in how her urban moves are embraced so much by popjustice types, who are notoriously allergic to any actual rappers or dancehall artists.

This is the old, tired "the audience damns the artist" argument -- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Friday, 10 September 2010 13:12 (thirteen years ago) link

infinite xpost

Bjork hilariously utterly unmoved throughout the performance of "Hyperballad".

― matt2, Friday, 10 September 2010 19:14 (thirteen years ago) link

it's never about authenticity in any case -- most criminals are not good rappers, and most good rappers probably would not make good criminals -- it's about how you PULL OFF that authenticity -- even taking out their various talents as musicians, that's why young jeezy is respected and rick ross is largely seen as a clown

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 19:49 (thirteen years ago) link

and i think that's the argument that lex is making

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 19:49 (thirteen years ago) link

to use a pop example, katy b went to the same school as kate nash & adele but she can pull off singing over funky tracks while i don't think you could say the same about kate nash or adele, even tho they are all equally 'authentic'

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 19:51 (thirteen years ago) link

yeah but i don't understand how you define 'authentic'

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 20:00 (thirteen years ago) link

it doesn't really matter

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 20:00 (thirteen years ago) link

it's obviously a subjective judgment -- you can make your case either way, but it comes down to whether or not you think she "pulls it off"

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 20:01 (thirteen years ago) link

of course, i'm just not sure why she has to 'pull anything off', as opposed to just being.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 20:03 (thirteen years ago) link

because she's a performer?

― J0rdan S., Friday, 10 September 2010 20:03 (thirteen years ago) link

jordan otm, though it's not so much "authenticity" that's the quality in question here as...attitude? i know how annoying the word "swagger" is but that might come close. cf neneh cherry, who robyn is oft compared to, who wasn't remotely street but who absolutely nailed the rude-gyal talk on "buffalo stance". or that girl cher lloyd, who did "turn my swag on" on the x factor last week - middle-class white girl from worcestershire, obv not remotely authentic, but she totally convinced as someone who knew what she was doing.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 20:05 (thirteen years ago) link

I guess I've always taken Robyn's rapping and 'attitude' on those songs as knowingly ridiculous, which I think she does quite well. I never really saw it as anything else.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 20:10 (thirteen years ago) link

"Knowingly ridiculous" totally encapsulates why it grates on me - it's that thing of Wackiness and Craziness and basically taking on signifiers of an entire culture as silly mannerisms, "comedy" hip-hop just for larks.

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 10 September 2010 20:14 (thirteen years ago) link

I wouldn't call it "comedy", as that implies mocking. More playful.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 20:17 (thirteen years ago) link

Should add that I understand why you or anyone really would find it grating though.

― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Friday, 10 September 2010 20:18 (thirteen years ago) link

i was going to agree with the smiley face thing, even re: tracks like "dancing on my own" but then i remembered that she has done tracks like "eclipse" (WHICH SHE DIDN'T WRITE)

i'm not following the last few posts especially the katy b thing.

― teledyldonix, Friday, 10 September 2010 22:34 (thirteen years ago) link

oh and also i did hear robyn at a party recently, someone put on "fembot". lol.

― teledyldonix, Friday, 10 September 2010 23:22 (thirteen years ago) link

hi robyn love u forever

― conrad, Friday, 10 September 2010 23:56 (thirteen years ago) link

Lex it sounds like if someone cops rap moves you want them to do so convincingly i.e. measure up to the rules of the Rap Game - i.e. spit bars, get the accent right, etc - but i really don't think Robyn is interested in being a legit rapper. So to judge her on that and find her wanting seems either disingenuous, mistaking what she's trying to do, or want to fit everyone into the same sort of box. To me she seems interested - sometimes - in the kinds of performances, the kinds of characters, that rap enables - ridiculous boasting, shouting out to your crew, etc. And to me at least it never feels like she's laughing at that or doing it ironically, she's trying on these attitudes, borrowing them, revelling in them - the way millions of non-black non-Americans do with rap all over the world every day. It's just one of the ways she pushes against her "natural" strengths; it's been mentioned that her voice seems more suited to pure pop "Show Me Love" stuff and instead she often goes for ambiguity, bitterness and disappointment - and nabisco's said how often this obviously untough girl is trying to be tough in the face of lovesickness. If you don't like her I guess you say "bad call" but if you do, that's what you like about her.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Saturday, 11 September 2010 00:04 (thirteen years ago) link

She totally has the right to try on and borrow attitudes, but it comes down to how I feel about her voice, which can only project one emotion: an immersion in pleasure. I suppose it's the same problem lots of critics in the seventies had with Bowie, but Bowie's songwriting and arranging skills mitigated the ickiness of his (emotional) vocal chops.

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 11 September 2010 00:09 (thirteen years ago) link

not robyn exactly but im feelin rasmus seebachs latest single

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFtnV6pMqvA

― chilli, Saturday, 11 September 2010 02:00 (thirteen years ago) link

hang with me is drenched with goodness

― janice (surm), Sunday, 19 September 2010 13:39 (thirteen years ago) link

i can't

― janice (surm), Sunday, 19 September 2010 13:39 (thirteen years ago) link

even

― janice (surm), Sunday, 19 September 2010 13:39 (thirteen years ago) link

<3 the new Pt. 2 album, though I can barely get past the first three tracks, all are so stunning.

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Sunday, 19 September 2010 15:18 (thirteen years ago) link

yeah i've been feeling "hang with me" even more than usual lately. and yes i love the album.

― teledyldonix, Sunday, 19 September 2010 15:51 (thirteen years ago) link

The Singles Jukebox on Hang With Me

― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 19 September 2010 17:11 (thirteen years ago) link

Martin Skidmore: I like this a lot: the lyrics are almost entirely those of a positive song of friendship, but her tone has a sadness and aggression that complicates it in fascinating ways, inserting a level of irresistible cynicism about the outcome.

otmx1000

― janice (surm), Sunday, 19 September 2010 17:13 (thirteen years ago) link

the sadness in dancing on my own is similarly almost unbearable. in a good way.

― janice (surm), Tuesday, 21 September 2010 04:19 (thirteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

http://i56.tinypic.com/658qio.jpg

No date yet for Body Talk Pt. 3, but "Indestructible" is due toward the end of November. psyched

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 21:54 (thirteen years ago) link

"Hang with Me" got super-awesome once it got a great arrangement on Pt. 2 -- can't wait to hear how "Indestructible" fares.

― more than ever convinced ilxor is a sock (ilxor), Wednesday, 13 October 2010 22:00 (thirteen years ago) link

really like Pt 2. the Diplo & Snoop tracks are the only kinda weak spots.

― sock lobster (blueski), Wednesday, 13 October 2010 22:28 (thirteen years ago) link

So I hear the final part of this trilogy is going to be five songs from part one, five from part two and then five new songs including the new version of Indestructible. I'm thinking this might just turn out to be the album of the year.

I really think it's going to be hard to narrow down part two to just 5 tracks, they are all really great.

― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 22:54 (thirteen years ago) link

That sounds like a bit of a gip having bought the first two parts.

― No Good, Scrunty-Looking, Narf Herder (Gukbe), Wednesday, 13 October 2010 22:59 (thirteen years ago) link

the Diplo & Snoop tracks are the only kinda weak spots.

Agree re: Diplo but that Snoop track is the highlight of Side B, are you kidding?

― more than ever convinced ilxor is a sock (ilxor), Wednesday, 13 October 2010 23:09 (thirteen years ago) link

So I hear the final part of this trilogy is going to be five songs from part one, five from part two and then five new songs including the new version of Indestructible.

What's yr source??

― more than ever convinced ilxor is a sock (ilxor), Wednesday, 13 October 2010 23:09 (thirteen years ago) link

that is what digital spy says http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a281596/robyn-announces-new-single-details.html

― teledyldonix, Thursday, 14 October 2010 00:48 (thirteen years ago) link

she said early on that she might do that but hadn't decided yet

― Mary Lynn Ice Cube (sic), Thursday, 14 October 2010 02:15 (thirteen years ago) link

It's fine with me, tbh, because I haven't bought a physical copy of either of the eps so far.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 02:21 (thirteen years ago) link

Okay, that didn't take long: http://soundcloud.com/robyn/sets/indestructible

Not in the same league as Dancing on My Own or the redux version of Hang With Me, but still cool.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 16:27 (thirteen years ago) link

Yesterday @ Studio Brussel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wATmk1F4BLk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU-Hd3EoAn0

― StanM, Thursday, 14 October 2010 16:52 (thirteen years ago) link

Awesome thanks!

― more than ever convinced ilxor is a sock (ilxor), Thursday, 14 October 2010 17:15 (thirteen years ago) link

Agree re: Diplo but that Snoop track is the highlight of Side B, are you kidding?

― more than ever convinced ilxor is a sock (ilxor)

I completely agree with this, It might actually be my favourite song from this era.

This is what I'm hoping part three will look like,

Don't Tell Me What To Fucking Do
Fembot
Dancing On My own
Cry When You Get Older
None Of Dem
In My Eyes
Include Me Out
Hang With Me
Love Kills
U Should Know Better
Indestructible (New Version)

Plus another four new songs.

― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 14 October 2010 18:38 (thirteen years ago) link

I hope the single version of Dancing on My Own is included rather than the ep version.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 14 October 2010 18:45 (thirteen years ago) link

In My Eyes
Include Me Out
Hang With Me
Love Kills

This is a phenomenal four-track run, possibly my favorite of 2010.

― more than ever convinced ilxor is a sock (ilxor), Thursday, 14 October 2010 18:49 (thirteen years ago) link

Funny, cause this would be mine:

Don't Tell Me What To Fucking Do
Fembot
Dancing On My own
Cry When You Get Older

― Indexed, Thursday, 14 October 2010 20:07 (thirteen years ago) link

The final track listing for part 3 looks like this

1. Fembot
2. Don´t fucking tell me what to do
3. Dancing on my own
4. Indestructible
5. Time Machine
6. Love kills
7. Hang with me
8. Call your girlfriend
9. None of dem
10. We dance to the beat
11. U should know better
12. Dance hall queen
13. Get myself together
14. In my eyes
15. Stars 4-ever

Having Dance Hall Queen instead of Cry When You Get Older is a terrible decision and it doesn't really need to have Don't Tell me What to fucking do and We Dance to the Beat as they are pretty similar. It's still going to be an album of the contender for me but it's not perfect.

― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 20 October 2010 15:12 (thirteen years ago) link

don't get the including songs from previous two thing at all

― sock lobster (blueski), Wednesday, 20 October 2010 15:15 (thirteen years ago) link

That piano version of "Dancing On My Own" is gorgeous - cheers, StanM.

Having Dance Hall Queen instead of Cry When You Get Older

This is a fucking travesty, CWYGO is the second best track on Pt.1!

― Bill A, Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:24 (thirteen years ago) link

This is a fucking travesty, CWYGO is the second best track on Pt.1!

I don't hate Dance Hall Queen but yes

and it doesn't really need to have Don't Tell me What to fucking do and We Dance to the Beat as they are pretty similar.

Absolutely. The first half of Part 2 is pretty flat for me (only bought it last week though), so when Dance To The Beat starts it's like "whee, now this is going to be like the first half of Part 1"

― boxes of mint aeros I have eaten in a week (sic), Wednesday, 20 October 2010 22:17 (thirteen years ago) link

Looks like I'll only need to download the few new tracks instead of buying part three.....

― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Thursday, 21 October 2010 01:15 (thirteen years ago) link

I really was hoping I wouldn't have to pay for material twice to finish off this trilogy, ugh.

― "I am a fairly respected poster." (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 21 October 2010 03:12 (thirteen years ago) link

you'd think they would wait until the thing is actually complete before repackaging it.

― skip, Thursday, 21 October 2010 03:30 (thirteen years ago) link

I think the tracklisting is pretty good. I only would have swapped None of Dem & Love Kills for Cry When You Get Older & Include Me Out.

― Michael F Gill, Saturday, 23 October 2010 17:40 (thirteen years ago) link

Given the length of the first two albums, I figure there might be enough space on one CD for all tracks. At least if only one version of each song is included.

― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Saturday, 23 October 2010 19:20 (thirteen years ago) link

you'd think they would wait until the thing is actually complete before repackaging it.

Actually, if you look at the cover art, this isn't being called "Pt. 3" at all. Just Body Talk. I'd bet this is how it was always intended.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 23 October 2010 19:33 (thirteen years ago) link

Yeah this is Body Talk the album, which includes some stuff from parts 1 and 2 and some new stuff. Which is basically what we all said she should be doing right? I'm actually not a very big fan of Cry When You get Older so I think this is (almost) perfect.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Monday, 25 October 2010 10:00 (thirteen years ago) link

i am also a little confused by the inclusion of both "don't fucking tell me what to do" and "we dance to the beat" as they serve essentially the same purpose

― teledyldonix, Monday, 25 October 2010 17:53 (thirteen years ago) link

The strong suggestion from early reports was that it would be three mini-albums.

http://pitchfork.com/news/38179-robyn-talks-ambitious-2010-plans/
http://pitchfork.com/news/38039-robyn-plans-three-albums-for-2010/

Pitchfork: How did you come up with the plan to release three albums across one year?

Robyn: ... It's not a new idea-- a lot of people put out less-planned releases that are not that long, sometimes they're called EPs. But these releases are not EPs. They're albums with enough songs to make them feel like real bodies of work. They are shorter than usual, but still closer to ten songs than five.

― skip, Monday, 25 October 2010 19:21 (thirteen years ago) link

that interview also specifically says that she wasn't sure what would happen with the third one:

Right now I'm finishing the first one, which is going to come out in June. I'm already working on the second album so I hope that'll come out sometime after the summer. Then later on maybe another release. Let's see how far we get.

― boxes of mint aeros I have eaten in a week (sic), Monday, 25 October 2010 23:55 (thirteen years ago) link

which is why I said strong suggestion. Nowhere has Part 3 been discussed as a de facto compilation or even as something not titled Part 3.

― skip, Tuesday, 26 October 2010 00:09 (thirteen years ago) link

Robyn iirc

― boxes of mint aeros I have eaten in a week (sic), Tuesday, 26 October 2010 00:39 (thirteen years ago) link

Of course, "Robyn plans two EPs for 2010" is a far less eye-catching headline than "Robyn plans three albums for 2010" so it's easy to see why they sold it that way.

― skip, Tuesday, 26 October 2010 02:16 (thirteen years ago) link

I guess she's changed her mind? If you're implying this was a cunning plan to hornswoggle her fans I really doubt it. IDK, I think it's good to have the best stuff collected in one place.

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 26 October 2010 12:28 (thirteen years ago) link

robyn hittin the stateside PR hard with appearance on tonight's "gossip girl"

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Monday, 1 November 2010 17:50 (thirteen years ago) link

much much prefer the orchestral version of 'Indestructible'

― sock lobster (blueski), Monday, 1 November 2010 18:11 (thirteen years ago) link

very slightly prefer orchestral Indestructible; massively prefer acoustic Hang With Me, the drums really plod on the second version

― Ain't Gonna Play "Fist City" (sic), Monday, 1 November 2010 23:39 (thirteen years ago) link

Part 3 is out there. Think it's a bad rip though.

― Number None, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 18:39 (thirteen years ago) link

all the new songs are web ripped outside the new single (192), all the older songs are 320. i will wait.

― World Series champion San Francisco Giants (Bee OK), Thursday, 11 November 2010 03:49 (thirteen years ago) link

the new songs are good! not sure if this is true, but wikipedia sez that one of them is produced by max martin. does that make this her first time working with him since the "do you know (what it takes)"/"show me love" days?

― teledyldonix, Thursday, 11 November 2010 07:20 (thirteen years ago) link

Yeah, "Call Your Girlfriend" is a Max Martin thing. It's not my favorite of the newest ones (that's "Stars 4-Ever"), but it's really nice.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 11 November 2010 07:35 (thirteen years ago) link

Oh wait, I was wrong. "Time Machine" is the Max Martin track. meh.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 11 November 2010 18:17 (thirteen years ago) link

btw, she's performing on Jimmy Fallon's show tonight.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 11 November 2010 18:18 (thirteen years ago) link

buy a ticket from god! or allah! or something...

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/tix/2054748205.html

― corned beef swag (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 11 November 2010 19:56 (thirteen years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ketX6HITIDU

I really like the idea of this video, although I feel shallow for being so distracted by her teeth.

― get the fuck out of my mouth (boxedjoy), Friday, 19 November 2010 13:20 (thirteen years ago) link

body talk pt. 1 - 8 news songs, $8.00

body talk pt. 2 - 8 new songs, $8.00

body talk - 10 previously released songs, 5 news songs, $15.00

^^ feel like the pricing model kinda sticks it to fans who've bought the first two already?

― ilxor, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 01:30 (thirteen years ago) link

You can buy it on Amazon MP3 for #3.99 this week, though, so get to it.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 01:45 (thirteen years ago) link

i don't like mp3 though, i like physical product :(

― ilxor, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:07 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm waiting for it to be boxed up with some bonus tracks.

― skip, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:10 (thirteen years ago) link

Okay then, I guess you should've decided early on whether you really wanted those eps or not when there was absolutely no way this wasn't going to be collected on an album proper. Also, where do new releases cost $15?

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:12 (thirteen years ago) link

it's $14 + change on amazon, $16 or so at local stores... i avg'd it out in my head

― ilxor, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:15 (thirteen years ago) link

not to mention, there are some FANTASTIC tracks on those EPs that didn't make the cut for the album proper

― ilxor, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:16 (thirteen years ago) link

Your aversion to mp3 is the problem, then, because you could've bought those individually.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:16 (thirteen years ago) link

Back in the dark ages before the internet, I had to buy whole albums I already owned on Japanese import just to get ONE song I didn't have. You've got it easy.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:17 (thirteen years ago) link

Actually I will probably pick up the 5 track mini album released this week, and then burn a version with the main album in correct sequence, and then adding as many as possible of the EP tracks to the CD. (Like, for instance, the acoustic "Indestructible" will not make the cut unless there is space for everything)

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 19:58 (thirteen years ago) link

(mp3 is just a reserve solution. Even 320 is not the same quality as CD. Nothing can ever replace CD)

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 20:00 (thirteen years ago) link

lossless?

― in a merzbow world, how is kanye ambitious?? (ilxor), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 20:06 (thirteen years ago) link

I think lossless can. At the moment when even the kids realize that using 10 times the space of an mp3 to have lossless sound is indeed worth it.

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 20:11 (thirteen years ago) link

I can tell the difference between a cd and mp3s, but I DO NOT CARE. I'd rather have 3000 songs on my iPod than 300.

― Lightning Is For Babies (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 20:14 (thirteen years ago) link

― in a merzbow world, how is kanye ambitious?? (ilxor), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 20:22 (thirteen years ago) link

when even the kids realize that using 10 times the space of an mp3 to have lossless sound is indeed worth it.

not worth it, not gonna happen. eventually a lossless format will be the default format in online stores, but most people won't bother to replace 320 rips with flac or similar unless its free or super cheap and convenient to do so (for thousands of downloaded songs).

― Noel 1 Kanye 10.0 (blueski), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 20:28 (thirteen years ago) link

Actually I will probably pick up the 5 track mini album released this week,

the what?

― i'm assuming that it's tity boi, host of the mixtape (sic), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 23:00 (thirteen years ago) link

i think that's called solipsism

― KC & the sunshine banned (outdoor_miner), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 23:06 (thirteen years ago) link

I can tell the difference between a cd and mp3s, but I DO NOT CARE. I'd rather have 3000 songs on my iPod than 300.

I appreciate perfect audio and estreme dynamics way too much to think like that.

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:07 (thirteen years ago) link

extreme even

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:07 (thirteen years ago) link

Okay, so you're walking around town or in the park or whatever, otherwise enjoying your afternoon, and your fine tuned audiophile sensibilites will be offended if you're listening to an mp3 ripped in -v0 rather than a flac file with full dynamic range? Christ.

― Lightning Is For Babies (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:15 (thirteen years ago) link

The problem is rather that those who are into mp3 tend to listen to mp3s at home as well. Even on their home stereo sets.

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:17 (thirteen years ago) link

So, basically, what is needed is that all audio players have space for 100.000 mp3s or 10.000 flac's, as nobody will usually have more than 10.000 files anyway.

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:18 (thirteen years ago) link

Anyway...

I've changed my tune (literally). I'm now completely enamored with "Call Your Girlfriend". "Stars 4-Ever" suffers from diminishing returns, but "Call Your Girlfriend" just grows and grows with beauty.

― Lightning Is For Babies (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:23 (thirteen years ago) link

still curious about

the what?
― i'm assuming that it's tity boi, host of the mixtape (sic), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 10:00 (Yesterday)

― i'm assuming that it's tity boi, host of the mixtape (sic), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:29 (thirteen years ago) link

There is a Pt. 3, but I don't think it's being released in physical form (at least in the US).

http://www.amazon.com/Body-Talk-Pt-3/dp/B004BLMG5G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290609076&sr=8-1

― Lightning Is For Babies (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:32 (thirteen years ago) link

The Pt 3 EP has been released on CD here.

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Wednesday, 24 November 2010 14:38 (thirteen years ago) link

ooooh! Norway only!? or is it import from Sweden? her official webshop thingy only has Part 1, but is handled by a UK merch company anyway...

any Scando-types who can post the cheapest and most English-comprehensible webshop link win passionate gratitude from the southern hemisphere

― i'm assuming that it's tity boi, host of the mixtape (sic), Thursday, 25 November 2010 00:15 (thirteen years ago) link

she's on Leno tonight btw

― Gukbe, Thursday, 25 November 2010 00:20 (thirteen years ago) link

ooooh! Norway only!? or is it import from Sweden?

Pretty sure it's official here too. And possibly in some other European countries, maybe?

I guess you don't get it much cheaper than at CDOn.com, which is a Swedish store, but the price there is not impressive. Usually CD's are cheaper there than in the shop, but this item is actually cheaper at Platekompaniet, which also has an online store, but refuses to ship outside Norway for some reason.

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Thursday, 25 November 2010 00:32 (thirteen years ago) link

aaaaargh, CDON.com doesn't ship outside of the EU either :( I was all excited about getting to include The Knife's Hannah Med H for €3.33 too...

― i'm assuming that it's tity boi, host of the mixtape (sic), Monday, 29 November 2010 06:54 (thirteen years ago) link

Thanks for the recommendation though, Geir.

― i'm assuming that it's tity boi, host of the mixtape (sic), Monday, 29 November 2010 06:54 (thirteen years ago) link

My guess is they don't consider it worth it, as the market outside the EU will probably be very limited. After all, CDs usually cost twice as much within EU as outside EU.

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Monday, 29 November 2010 09:47 (thirteen years ago) link

Found out on Wikipedia that the "Part 3" CD is also available from amazon.de. Apparently also released in Germany.

Btw. just made myself a complete "Body Talk". The 15 tracks from the "main" CD in correct running order, and then adding the four non-acoustic additional tracks at the end with a 6 second break. Perfect. :)

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Monday, 29 November 2010 20:12 (thirteen years ago) link

Super cool and relevant new video for Dancehall Queen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlAV2-eawaQ

I do like it but this kind of stuff almost makes fun of itself.

― skip, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 01:07 (thirteen years ago) link

"Songs You Wouldn't Be Surprised to Hear on a Re-Release of 'Rocksteady' by No Doubt"

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 10:12 (thirteen years ago) link

As much as I love "Call Your Girlfriend," the final album is somewhat of a messy and samey listen, front-to-back. It desperately needs a good reordering and a few more dynamic changes. Hearing "Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do" and "In My Eyes" outside of the number one slot just doesn't sound right.

Personally, I would have kept the first three from Pt 1 as the first three tracks, and I would have re-recorded the intro to "In My Eyes." The whole "Konichiwa Records" thing sounds like it was supposed to be an introduction to an album...and now it's the second to last track.

Lastly, I'm pretty disappointed that "Cry When You Get Older" didn't make the final cut. I don't know what you could 'cut,' but with the album going over an hour already, why not throw it on there? In which case I would have also made "Hang With Me (Acoustic)" the closer...

― Indexed, Wednesday, 1 December 2010 15:22 (thirteen years ago) link

The whole "Konichiwa Records" thing sounds like it was supposed to be an introduction to an album...and now it's the second to last track.

― Indexed, Wednesday, December 1, 2010 3:22 PM (21 minutes ago)

I just listened to this properly for the first time and thought exactly the same thing. The ordering isn't perfect but it still makes a good listen.

Cry When you Get Older is also the track I'm missing the most from the first two parts. Having Dance Hall Queen instead is a really bad decision but I feel it was probably chosen as it's a different style of song to all the others, it does change the mood for a bit but it's just not very good.

― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 1 December 2010 15:50 (thirteen years ago) link

Not really feeling it, the whole record. Kind of sad.

― thomp, Wednesday, 1 December 2010 16:13 (thirteen years ago) link

Noticed that Body Talk is now on Spotify. The new tracks seem good on initial listens, esp. "Time Machine". Not sure if it's the compression on Spotify, but the chorus on "Get Myself Together" has a shitty crackly snare sound which is killing my love for it. Does it sound like this on CD/lossless?

Also echoing the generally underwhelmed vibe for the final "album" - the selection and order of tracks seems tossed together. Doesn't in any way detract from the EPs though, which are easily in my top 5 most played stuff this year.

― Bill A, Wednesday, 8 December 2010 11:25 (thirteen years ago) link

Pt. 3 is the best one yet, to my ears. Most of it is smart dance-dolly trash.

― look at it, pwn3d, made u look at my peen/vadge (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 December 2010 12:12 (thirteen years ago) link

It's come closest to forcing me to think, "I understand why indie kids like her."

― look at it, pwn3d, made u look at my peen/vadge (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 December 2010 12:12 (thirteen years ago) link

Love Kills maybe favourite track of the whole lot

but she really really must drop these arpeggiated synth patterns forever now

― modrić in paradise (blueski), Wednesday, 8 December 2010 14:36 (thirteen years ago) link

cant believe she left "cry when u get older" and "include me out" off the final album, those were two of the best EP songs, but hey, maybe it gives fans a reason to go check 'em out in reverse (for those who buy the full album first)

― i genuinely thought when i first joined that he was the admin (ilxor), Wednesday, 8 December 2010 14:53 (thirteen years ago) link

Yeah, "Include Me Out" was the one I was most disappointed not to see on the full length.

― Lightning Is For Babies (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 8 December 2010 14:54 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm enjoying the full album a lot now, it could well end being my favourite album of the year.

I never realised just how great None Of Dem is, the last minute is just amazing. We Dance to the Beat has grown on me a lot, I didn't rate it on part 2. Out of the new songs Call Your Girlfriend is easily my favourite.

If you ignore Dancehall Queen I think the second half is a lot stronger. The Snoop track is still my favourite song from the whole project.

― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 8 December 2010 23:18 (thirteen years ago) link

one month passes...

Having Dance Hall Queen instead of Cry When You Get Older is a terrible decision

I am so down with Robyn, people. But in all seriousness, how could she leave Cry When You Get Older off the Body Talk album? That could be the hook of the year, fer crying out loud. Geez Louise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 14 January 2011 19:27 (thirteen years ago) link

same reason she left off "include me out" from pt. 2 -- gotta give fans an incentive to go hear the other great tracks on the EPs!

― ilxor, Friday, 14 January 2011 19:31 (thirteen years ago) link

I haven't even heard part 2 yet. I'm new to Robyn and trying to wrap my head around the idea that my favorite music of 2010 is basically disco. (I'm old and rockist)

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 14 January 2011 19:41 (thirteen years ago) link

think of it like madonna. her run of '80s albums is rockist approved, right?

― ilxor, Friday, 14 January 2011 19:52 (thirteen years ago) link

that, or MJ Off the Wall/Thriller, maybe?

― ilxor, Friday, 14 January 2011 19:52 (thirteen years ago) link

I like at least 3 songs from Body Talk pt 1 more than any Madonna song.

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 14 January 2011 19:58 (thirteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

Robyn Is Here is one of very few fond memories of the late 90s. begins with a bang....

― door to door legume salesman (San Te), Wednesday, 9 February 2011 03:22 (thirteen years ago) link

two months pass...

Revisited Pt 3 this week because I don't think I ever gave it a proper chance, and I'm really glad I did. Call Your Girlfriend and Time Machine are killing it.

I think what I really like about the best parts of the album is that her vocal melodies are very traditional and not "formulaic" as such, but quite obvious, and she's got a very conventional pop singer voice, but the music itself borrows straight from more obtuse dance music from recent times. The synth arpeggi are a bit over-used but an imaginary 12" instrumental of most of the songs on this could work in a muscular techno set, and this duality in the music really works with her persona. Robyn herself comes across as such a three-dimensional character, managing to seem both tough and self-assured yet vulnerable and wounded without it ever seeming false to who she paints herself as, and the music echoes that - neither so fluffy as to suggest vacuousness or so challenging as to indicate unapproachability.

― o0o00h really? (boxedjoy), Saturday, 9 April 2011 12:50 (thirteen years ago) link

"Call Your Girlfriend" is to my ears the best thing she's ever recorded.

― Hey Look More Than Five Years Has Passed And You Have A C (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 9 April 2011 12:54 (thirteen years ago) link

two months pass...

Wow, she busts out the Electric Slide! Killing the "Edge of Glory" clip for entertainment value.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6ImxY6hnfA

― Spinspin Sugah, Thursday, 7 July 2011 21:45 (twelve years ago) link

That album is great. That song is great. That video is great. She is great.

This is a new found this for me, this Robyn love, and I'm sorta head over heels tbh.

― my ponies hate you (ENBB), Thursday, 7 July 2011 21:48 (twelve years ago) link

This and Dancing on my Own get me so amped.

― my ponies hate you (ENBB), Thursday, 7 July 2011 21:49 (twelve years ago) link

Yeah, she's the best in my book. I'm glad she went with this as a single and the clip is like some awesome figure skating meets Pleasure Principle thing that just amplifies the song even more.

― Spinspin Sugah, Thursday, 7 July 2011 21:56 (twelve years ago) link

I think she's hot in the Dancing on my Own video

― Muttley vs. Mumbly (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 7 July 2011 22:08 (twelve years ago) link

two years pass...

Robyn and Royksopp are releasing a mini album together next month.

http://pitchfork.com/news/54757-robyn-and-royksopp-announce-new-mini-album-do-it-again-share-monument-preview/

The Girl & The Robot is one of my favourite songs of recent years so I'm very excited for this.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 14 April 2014 19:50 (ten years ago) link

Great artwork. Interesting to see a couple of songs on there almost ten minutes long.

http://boomkat.com/downloads/981464-r-yksopp-robyn-do-it-again

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 14 April 2014 19:52 (ten years ago) link

pretty excited about this, could be very nice. the clip sounds good too.

― dyl, Monday, 14 April 2014 19:56 (ten years ago) link

the new john newman "stay with me" is "hang with me" slowed down to funereal pace and bullshit gospel accompaniment

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:26 (ten years ago) link

sorry my mistake, the newman song is actually ripping off "won't back down" by tom petty...

wrong thread

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:28 (ten years ago) link

it's also by sam smith rather than newman i think

― all is fair in love and womp (monotony), Thursday, 17 April 2014 02:28 (ten years ago) link

lol yes

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 17 April 2014 09:33 (ten years ago) link

New single is fantastic.

http://nymphaeax.tumblr.com/post/83509940902/royksopp-robyn-do-it-again

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 22 April 2014 16:03 (ten years ago) link

Just realized that there will be no ill-conceived Diplo productions on the mini-album. Yay!

― Herbie Handcock (Murgatroid), Tuesday, 22 April 2014 16:26 (ten years ago) link

New single is fantastic.

http://nymphaeax.tumblr.com/post/83509940902/royksopp-robyn-do-it-again

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, April 22, 2014 9:03 AM (28 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is not real, by the way. Some Popjustice forum poster decided to put together the already-released snippets of the song.

― Herbie Handcock (Murgatroid), Tuesday, 22 April 2014 16:34 (ten years ago) link

Oh right. I thought it was more or less the full song. Sounds promising then. Apparently it comes out on Monday so not long to until we hear it properly.

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 22 April 2014 16:40 (ten years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSqqolW78Oo

― all is fair in love and womp (monotony), Saturday, 26 April 2014 03:58 (nine years ago) link

Love the bridge.

― Herbie Handcock (Murgatroid), Saturday, 26 April 2014 04:42 (nine years ago) link

Curious about the song at the end.

― Herbie Handcock (Murgatroid), Saturday, 26 April 2014 04:45 (nine years ago) link

Lyrically it's not the most inspiring song but the music I love everything else about it. The last minute sounds so great and gives me Pet Shop Boys vibes.

― Kitchen Person, Saturday, 26 April 2014 14:09 (nine years ago) link

it's the sort of scandibanger that should've been all over the icona pop album(s)

― all is fair in love and womp (monotony), Saturday, 26 April 2014 15:06 (nine years ago) link

the way she sings "ah-gain" repeatedly kinda reminds me of hyph mngo

― all is fair in love and womp (monotony), Saturday, 26 April 2014 15:07 (nine years ago) link

this is pretty nice

― dyl, Saturday, 26 April 2014 15:42 (nine years ago) link

Lyric video.

http://youtu.be/HIG7PVa8SS8

This is already on iTunes. No idea if this going to be a hit or not.

― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 30 April 2014 14:43 (nine years ago) link

The "We should not be friends" bit is where the song really gets amazing.

― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 30 April 2014 14:45 (nine years ago) link

seems like basically anything can be a hit in the UK these days so who knows.

the bridge is really something - the tremor in robyn's voice, the way everything just seems to endlessly rise and rise

― ginuwine's cousin (monotony), Wednesday, 30 April 2014 23:46 (nine years ago) link

Pretty dope. I'm a longtime fan of Girl and The Robot and this ain't on that level but it's worth a dozen listens easy.

― sitting on a claud all day gotta make your butt numb (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 1 May 2014 12:59 (nine years ago) link

i'm going with a big nnnnnnopes on this one :/

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:11 (nine years ago) link

It's....okay? It's like she listened to Femme Fatale two months ago and decided to reproduce it.

― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:12 (nine years ago) link

Oh shit yeah, I've been thinking it reminds me of something since I heard it. Just realised it's I Wanna Go.

Still really like it though.

― Kitchen Person, Friday, 2 May 2014 00:12 (nine years ago) link

i guess there are some femme fatale-y production tricks on display but i heard it as a sped-up synthesis of "with every heartbeat" and "indestructible"

― ginuwine's cousin (monotony), Friday, 2 May 2014 00:33 (nine years ago) link

new one's okay. hard to live up to this, though, which i've been listening to a lot over the past few days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TlwcQn5eBI

still one of the best pop songs of the last 10 years.

― Daniel, Esq 2, Friday, 2 May 2014 00:39 (nine years ago) link

Yeah I agree. Along with The Girl & The Robot, With Every Heartbeat, Be Mine, Who's That Girl, Dream On and Call Your Girlfriend she's going to have one amazing singles collection one day.

― Kitchen Person, Friday, 2 May 2014 00:47 (nine years ago) link

lol @ pitchfork naming this best new track

― dyl, Friday, 2 May 2014 01:02 (nine years ago) link

nothing will beat Dancing on My Own, so we just have to deal, embrace the new even tho we know the truth.

― obliquity of the ecliptic (rrrobyn), Friday, 2 May 2014 01:14 (nine years ago) link

the EP should be interesting. A couple of the tracks are almost 10 mins long

― ginuwine's cousin (monotony), Friday, 2 May 2014 01:19 (nine years ago) link

I thought "Hang With Me" was a great single too.

― LeRooLeRoo, Friday, 2 May 2014 04:40 (nine years ago) link

Hang With Me is so underappreciated, I think - that's my favorite Body Talk song

― Walter Galt, Friday, 2 May 2014 09:30 (nine years ago) link

^^^

― Number None, Friday, 2 May 2014 09:38 (nine years ago) link

"hang w/me" not QUITE as good as the non-electro version of "bum like you" imo but that's some pretty fine hair splitting

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Friday, 2 May 2014 09:41 (nine years ago) link

nothing will beat Dancing on My Own, so we just have to deal, embrace the new even tho we know the truth.
― obliquity of the ecliptic (rrrobyn), Thursday, May 1, 2014

yeah, this is truth. love her performance of that song from the letterman show, without reservation.

― Daniel, Esq 2, Friday, 2 May 2014 10:38 (nine years ago) link

Non-electro Bum Like You totally the most underappreciated and best S/T song!

― Walter Galt, Friday, 2 May 2014 10:49 (nine years ago) link

electro bum like you v duff

― conrad, Friday, 2 May 2014 11:04 (nine years ago) link

otm

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Friday, 2 May 2014 11:35 (nine years ago) link

hang with me is my fav body talk song too

― dyl, Friday, 2 May 2014 12:00 (nine years ago) link

Also hate what they did to Bum Like You on the reissue. It was probably my favourite song on there originally.

― Kitchen Person, Friday, 2 May 2014 14:48 (nine years ago) link

for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xFHR4lIbzA

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Friday, 2 May 2014 15:16 (nine years ago) link

the second verse is just FFFFFFUUUUCK so good, so all-time, the way she says "that's all right" off-mic, everything

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Friday, 2 May 2014 15:17 (nine years ago) link

hadn't heard that new bum like you version. wow that's disappointing.

― wat is teh waht (s.clover), Friday, 2 May 2014 16:14 (nine years ago) link

they also similarly ruined robotboy altho i'm not sure anyone on earth other than me cares about that song

― dyl, Friday, 2 May 2014 16:45 (nine years ago) link

love the original "Bum Like You" (and "Hang WIth Me") love

― sean gramophone, Friday, 2 May 2014 16:59 (nine years ago) link

You can't actually buy the old Bum Like You anywhere anymore, right? Like, it's not on iTunes or any 'in print' CD pressings or anything.

― Walter Galt, Friday, 2 May 2014 17:00 (nine years ago) link

nope. i found a copy of the swedish version of the album for that + the original robotboy

― dyl, Friday, 2 May 2014 21:53 (nine years ago) link

You can still get the Swedish version on Amazon pretty cheaply.

― Kitchen Person, Friday, 2 May 2014 22:20 (nine years ago) link

this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Robyn/dp/B0009SQ5FC/ref=sr_1_54?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1399213950&sr=1-54

the CD sleeve is pretty cool on this one, every page has exactly the same photo except her face has been subtly photoshopped to look like a slightly different person on each page, freaked me out for awhile

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Sunday, 4 May 2014 14:33 (nine years ago) link

Have Amazon always done that thing where they tell you exactly when you bought a product? I just clicked on that Amazon link and it said You purchased this item on 2 May 2006. It's kind of cool.

― Kitchen Person, Sunday, 4 May 2014 19:09 (nine years ago) link

Also Do It Again in at number 75. It's a hit!

― Kitchen Person, Sunday, 4 May 2014 19:16 (nine years ago) link

two weeks pass...

http://www.npr.org/2014/05/22/314366082/first-listen-royksopp-robyn-do-it-again

― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 22 May 2014 14:31 (nine years ago) link

An instrumental track? Come on.

― Herbie Handcock (Murgatroid), Thursday, 22 May 2014 16:01 (nine years ago) link

it's one of the better tracks tbh

― dyl, Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:18 (nine years ago) link

Most disappointing thing about this is that Robyn has confirmed in promo interviews that she still hasn't started writing her own album yet.

― ginuwine's cousin (monotony), Thursday, 22 May 2014 23:04 (nine years ago) link

first listen fuck you what did I pre-order for

― rage against martin sheen (sic), Thursday, 22 May 2014 23:10 (nine years ago) link

Really, you think it's that bad? I like it. It is disappointing that Robyn doesn't appear on the last track but it sounds pretty solid to me.

― Kitchen Person, Friday, 23 May 2014 00:03 (nine years ago) link

Most disappointing thing about this is that Robyn has confirmed in promo interviews that she still hasn't started writing her own album yet.

― ginuwine's cousin (monotony)

Oh yeah, this was heartbreaking to read.

― Kitchen Person, Friday, 23 May 2014 00:03 (nine years ago) link

Klas wrote more than Robyn on the Body Talk EPs IIRC, she's just not a prolific songwriter

― rage against martin sheen (sic), Friday, 23 May 2014 01:12 (nine years ago) link

Really wish Monument ended after six minutes instead of almost. I think it's quite a beautiful song but it just goes on too long.

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 27 May 2014 02:44 (nine years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB27jQkO0Cs

pretty sweet performance of one of the best songs of all time

― Treeship, Tuesday, 27 May 2014 03:10 (nine years ago) link

Arrived in Australia today. The booklet smells GREAT.

(7 out of 12 arms on the spider broken, though :( )

― rage against martin sheen (sic), Friday, 30 May 2014 08:27 (nine years ago) link

This is awesome.
Monument on repeat.

― Look at this joke I've recognised, do you recognise it as well? (forksclovetofu), Friday, 30 May 2014 15:07 (nine years ago) link

Unfortunately it's a bore to me. She's just not the kind of singer from whom I expect to stand still through electrotrance.

― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 30 May 2014 15:16 (nine years ago) link

Have you hated Royksopp in the past?

(I like that this is its own thing, not like either artist's other work nor their past collabs)

― rage against martin sheen (sic), Friday, 30 May 2014 15:32 (nine years ago) link

1) I love how Robyn essentially feels like a guest on this, the same way various ringers would show up on Massive Attack albums.

2) This album gives off the same sad robot vibe as the last Daft Punk.

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 30 May 2014 19:08 (nine years ago) link

If you took all the best songs from the Body Talk Eps and put them on one record it would be one of the albums of the decade fer sure. They tried that but messed it up by inexplicably leaving Cry When You Get Older off .

This new one is not in the same universe in terms of catchy tunes. Maybe it will sink in on further listens.

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 30 May 2014 19:23 (nine years ago) link

Different animal, really.

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 30 May 2014 19:45 (nine years ago) link

Monument is stunningly dull but Sayit's Run Lola Run meets Computer World slant is really something special IMO

― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 9 June 2014 21:59 (nine years ago) link

Do It Again is fine but not really terribly special to my ears

― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 9 June 2014 22:04 (nine years ago) link

i love monument!

― Look at this joke I've recognised, do you recognise it as well? (forksclovetofu), Monday, 9 June 2014 22:17 (nine years ago) link

robyn's songs have always had gothy/weirdo loner undertones to me, monument just seems like a more explicit embrace of that aspect

― clouds, Monday, 9 June 2014 22:35 (nine years ago) link

but it's sooooo looooong and nothing happens!

― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 9 June 2014 23:34 (nine years ago) link

I feel like stuff totally happens! It's a journey. Those saxophones (?) in the middle section!

― Walter Galt, Tuesday, 10 June 2014 00:11 (nine years ago) link

zzzzzzzaxaphone

― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Tuesday, 10 June 2014 10:34 (nine years ago) link

You mean SeXXXaphone

― Walter Galt, Tuesday, 10 June 2014 10:40 (nine years ago) link

I have been playing lots of music in my car. Sometimes the kids are with me. They rrrrreally love Robyn. (Fell asleep to Fugazi and El-P).

― nathom, Tuesday, 10 June 2014 18:40 (nine years ago) link

what's supposed to happen? like if u expect a big glittery crescendo that's more yr expectations and not the music y'know? xxp

― clouds, Wednesday, 11 June 2014 13:16 (nine years ago) link

What's supposed to happen is the song stops at minute 5 or 6 not minute 22

― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Wednesday, 11 June 2014 20:56 (nine years ago) link

two weeks pass...

On Jimmy Kimmel last night

http://youtu.be/ADp6vtyindY

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 14:30 (nine years ago) link

^ that was Do It Again, here is Monument 'on' Kimmel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InVu3BrYbIc

what a terrible choice to do on a big stage in full daylight in front of non-fans btw

― boney tassel (sic), Thursday, 3 July 2014 07:50 (nine years ago) link

what a terrible choice to do ~~on a big stage in full daylight in front of non-fans~~ btw

― DERE is no DERE DERE (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 3 July 2014 14:44 (nine years ago) link

They barely even edit it down.

― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 3 July 2014 14:50 (nine years ago) link

Um, that video aside, is her live show pretty good? I was on a whim thinking about buying tix, not a huge fan or anything but we've been feeling the urge to go see a concert that's a little larger and poppier and dancier than our normal fare.

― 'arry Goldman (Hurting 2), Thursday, 3 July 2014 14:58 (nine years ago) link

losing battle on my part i guess but i LOVE monument

― Look at this joke I've recognised, do you recognise it as well? (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 3 July 2014 16:43 (nine years ago) link

stevie.

we get it.

you hate "monument".

jeez.

― clouds, Thursday, 3 July 2014 22:33 (nine years ago) link

last time I saw her (which was about four years ago) she was amazing and totally won over a fairly sceptical festival crowd. Just a really fun show

― Number None, Thursday, 3 July 2014 22:34 (nine years ago) link

Yeah she is fantastic live.

― boney tassel (sic), Thursday, 3 July 2014 22:49 (nine years ago) link

(realises she hasn't been here for six and a half years, cries)

― boney tassel (sic), Friday, 4 July 2014 00:06 (nine years ago) link

three weeks pass...

24 minutes of Royksopp (or is it?) + Robyn live :

http://concert.arte.tv/de/melt-2014-royksopp-robyn

― StanM, Saturday, 26 July 2014 18:43 (nine years ago) link

They also do this song, with that great audience participation bit after about 50 seconds :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7yMqVnrDNs

― StanM, Saturday, 26 July 2014 20:29 (nine years ago) link

I got shivers when it got to the first chorus. Amazing.

― Kitchen Person, Sunday, 27 July 2014 01:46 (nine years ago) link

two weeks pass...

New video with Under the Skin vibes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c-RbGZBnBI&feature=youtu.be

― Your Ribs are My Ladder, Tuesday, 12 August 2014 15:18 (nine years ago) link

So that's her boyfriend (he directed this video - there's a link to the behind the scenes at the end)

― StanM, Tuesday, 12 August 2014 15:41 (nine years ago) link

i like the video

― go ahead. make vid where u rap about this new TMNT movie. (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 12 August 2014 22:41 (nine years ago) link

new remix of Monument, is it lively enough for Stevie D?

― boney tassel (sic), Saturday, 16 August 2014 14:45 (nine years ago) link

really like the video and the song is clearly the best from this project

― dyl, Saturday, 16 August 2014 17:00 (nine years ago) link

new remix of Monument, is it lively enough for Stevie D?

yes \(^o^)/

― DERE is no DERE DERE (Stevie D(eux)), Tuesday, 19 August 2014 11:11 (nine years ago) link

http://www.popjustice.com/thenews/robyns-said-some-things-about-a-new-ep/130111/

new EP might be on the way - but more importantly, Christian Falk died?!?!?!? :'(

― uxorious gazumping (monotony), Wednesday, 20 August 2014 21:47 (nine years ago) link

This is flippant next to that news but actually I am kind of desperate for that behind the scenes with Robyn's boyfriend/director to be a parody otherwise it's like, how could you, Robyn, how could you cheat on me this way? How could you cheat on me with Garth Algar?

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 20 August 2014 23:18 (nine years ago) link

show was fun yesterday but way too much Royksopp...

― skip, Friday, 22 August 2014 18:51 (nine years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL8cdjFcLKM

― Clay, Thursday, 4 September 2014 08:14 (nine years ago) link

one month passes...

http://www.npr.org/2014/10/12/354284791/first-listen-master-mix-red-hot-arthur-russell

Arthur Russell can be a vexing subject for tribute, for all the many reasons he was peculiar and unique. Few other expressive cellists have proven to be especially good with disco, as he was, and the same applies even more the other way around. Add his capacity — from the 1970s until his death in 1992 — for expressive synth-pop, free-flowing folk and even airs of country music, and the makings of a truly inimitable character are born.

Count it as a feat, then, that Master Mix: Red Hot + Arthur Russell pays tribute by throwing more at Russell's musical persona than a musical persona would seem suited to withstand. Assembled as a benefit for the Red Hot Organization's ongoing fight against AIDS (which counts Russell among its victims), the double-length collection gathers figures from indiedom and outsider-music circles of various kinds. José González starts stirringly with a spacey take on "This Is How We Walk On The Moon" that captures the wavering, quavering grain of Russell's singing voice while wandering through sonic flights of fancy that sound out-there and bizarre, but also totally natural. A haunting short bit by the mystical keyboard tickler Lonnie Holley follows before the mood shifts abruptly into one of disco exaltation, by way of Robyn's bright, joyful, intensely horn-strewn cover of "Tell You (Today)."

― Indexed, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 14:16 (nine years ago) link

Yes, came here to post about that--her track is deelightful! The whole thing's really good (although Hot Chip should pump up the volume, esp. if 11 minutes plus, by far the longest, I think; feels it, anyway)(and Banhart is a bit murmury for "Losing My Taste For The Night Life," but esp. considering it's him, not bad). Good range and cohesion, tho my personal faves are disco prisms: versions by Scissor Sisters, Vega Intl., and Robyn.

― dow, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 19:18 (nine years ago) link

I really like the Jose Gonzalez cover even thought he does nothing particularly innovative with it.

― boxedjoy, Thursday, 16 October 2014 09:01 (nine years ago) link

seven months pass...

Can anyone recommend some good remixes of Robyn songs?

― Nico, Tuesday, 26 May 2015 07:55 (eight years ago) link

Rex The Dog mix of Who's That Girl

― ( who ALSO my boss and his sister!) (sic), Tuesday, 26 May 2015 13:16 (eight years ago) link

i prefer the Feed Me remix of Call Your Girlfriend to the original.

― like a giraffe of nah (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 26 May 2015 14:22 (eight years ago) link

be mine (ocelot mthrfckrs remix)
with every heartbeat (tong & spoon wonderland remix)

― dyl, Tuesday, 26 May 2015 17:08 (eight years ago) link

two months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttkWIoOr3Mg

― where the sterls have no name (s.clover), Sunday, 26 July 2015 01:02 (eight years ago) link

also omg this playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsPJLPqM2vE7uID4RMF8SMPeQ1HnUcr9L

― where the sterls have no name (s.clover), Sunday, 26 July 2015 01:11 (eight years ago) link

eleven months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRZSCImu_Ls

― j.o. seasoning (how's life), Wednesday, 13 July 2016 16:11 (seven years ago) link

two months pass...

Well, this is clearly one of the best things ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGTHHxTt9jQ

No idea if it's been mentioned on ILM someplace yet.

― MikoMcha, Saturday, 17 September 2016 14:47 (seven years ago) link

it's awesome, as is the indestructible remix by the black madonna

― Michael F Gill, Saturday, 17 September 2016 18:07 (seven years ago) link

Those are both fantastic, thanks. (christ, that lonely yearning synth line in that GAS remix...)

― willem, Saturday, 17 September 2016 21:40 (seven years ago) link

thank you! the number of views tho Dxx

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Saturday, 17 September 2016 21:57 (seven years ago) link

Robyn + Wolfgang Voigt is the greatest "why didn't I think of that / this was made just for me" collaboration since S'Express + Philip Glass. It's so great.

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 17 September 2016 23:08 (seven years ago) link

was listening to Body Talk on the train the other day, still rocks

― Sharkie, Saturday, 17 September 2016 23:35 (seven years ago) link

Youtube number of views? The spotify playlist is the one she links to on her homepage: http://robyn.com/
and it's all here as well: https://soundcloud.com/robyn/sets/rmx-rbn

all 10 tracks = 1 hour = 1 CD too?

― StanM, Sunday, 18 September 2016 16:54 (seven years ago) link

duh. should have scrolled down, spotify is 23 tracks already (2 every week still?)

― StanM, Sunday, 18 September 2016 16:55 (seven years ago) link

three months pass...

That new Mr. Tophat EP featuring Robyn is too good

― Everything Moves Towards The Sun (Ross), Monday, 16 January 2017 02:59 (seven years ago) link

kind of wish she'd stop faffing around with these electronic collaboration EPs and get on with the next proper album

― monotony, Monday, 16 January 2017 03:38 (seven years ago) link

yup

― Number None, Monday, 16 January 2017 07:48 (seven years ago) link

two months pass...

it's happening

https://soundcloud.com/snookercrunk/robyn

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Friday, 24 March 2017 16:04 (seven years ago) link

one year passes...

... very slowly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhGoRj3fn7s

― StanM, Tuesday, 3 July 2018 17:34 (five years ago) link

last ep with tophat was dope

― Ross, Tuesday, 3 July 2018 18:03 (five years ago) link

three weeks pass...

https://www.stereogum.com/2007113/new-robyn-single-missing-u-out-next-week/news/

new music coming at last!

― ufo, Wednesday, 25 July 2018 07:11 (five years ago) link

it's leaked - and it goes hard

― monotony, Thursday, 26 July 2018 11:50 (five years ago) link

wow - after 8 years and all those not-amazing dance EPs i really did not have confidence she still had the impulses i fell in love with way back when but... this is wonderful!

― sean gramophone, Thursday, 26 July 2018 14:09 (five years ago) link

look i don't wanna take full credit for this solely because my six-week-old daughter's middle name is 'robyn' but i think i deserve say 75% of the credit

― a Stupendous Leg of Granite (bizarro gazzara), Thursday, 26 July 2018 14:13 (five years ago) link

This is a brilliant return. I'm so relieved!

Hope the album announcement comes soon.

― kitchen person, Thursday, 26 July 2018 14:37 (five years ago) link

she's still as good as ever, super excited for this album between this and Honey

― ufo, Thursday, 26 July 2018 15:54 (five years ago) link

can somebody link goddamn it

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 26 July 2018 16:11 (five years ago) link

please please please

― Allen (etaeoe), Thursday, 26 July 2018 16:15 (five years ago) link

need this

― Allen (etaeoe), Thursday, 26 July 2018 16:16 (five years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqtpFQRjuOU

this might work but is blocked in some places

― ufo, Thursday, 26 July 2018 16:20 (five years ago) link

blocked 4 me :(

i will VPN it tonight

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 26 July 2018 16:31 (five years ago) link

I like this, but also it drives me crazy the same way With Every Heartbeat did. It's all build without the explosive payoff. I need some goddamn snare and not just kick and high hat.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 27 July 2018 00:44 (five years ago) link

the not-amazing dance eps were still very solid!

― dyl, Friday, 27 July 2018 04:00 (five years ago) link

It's streaming here. I like it (the synths especially) but think I prefer Honey - https://newhothiphop.co/robyn-missing-u/amp

― bobot, Friday, 27 July 2018 09:11 (five years ago) link

i absolutely love the top hat ep - especially disco devato (sp)

― Ross, Friday, 27 July 2018 17:10 (five years ago) link

hm ok this is cute but also feels really contrived and self-canonizing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICiyddrnqdw

― the masseduction of lauryn hill (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 30 July 2018 22:38 (five years ago) link

Five years from Robyn to the Body Talk EPs felt like an eternity. Her cancelling both solo tours and the Royksopp tour to Australia might be contributing, but eight years since Body Talk just feels like "I wonder if those EPs that never got CD releases were any good?"

― 16, 35, DCP, Go! (sic), Monday, 30 July 2018 22:58 (five years ago) link

but monument tho

that is a bop

― transcendental headache (Ross), Tuesday, 31 July 2018 21:02 (five years ago) link

non-film version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o5BHH9U2Mg

― aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Wednesday, 1 August 2018 18:59 (five years ago) link

brilliant stuff

― bunny slopes, Wednesday, 1 August 2018 19:47 (five years ago) link

'a bop' now simply refers to any good track regardless of how it sounds? gigi masin's latest album is full of bops

― dyl, Thursday, 2 August 2018 04:01 (five years ago) link

love this

― nxd, Saturday, 4 August 2018 10:31 (five years ago) link

'a bop' now simply refers to any good track regardless of how it sounds? gigi masin's latest album is full of bops

yeah this needs to stop

― Number None, Monday, 6 August 2018 09:10 (five years ago) link

Here is the way I started my day: with Robyn on Ibiza

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzj5kMgfmc4

― dow, Monday, 6 August 2018 14:05 (five years ago) link

On or in? It's an island right?

― dow, Monday, 6 August 2018 14:06 (five years ago) link

oh i like the added percussion on "missing u" there

― dyl, Monday, 6 August 2018 16:44 (five years ago) link

yes at the strongest crowd reaction being for "with every heartbeat" <3 inferior rewrite "dancing on my own" could never

― dyl, Monday, 6 August 2018 16:56 (five years ago) link

only heard the term bop recently when it was used on the bicep thread..did not realize it was oversaturated, will recede

― Ross, Tuesday, 7 August 2018 16:37 (five years ago) link

im confused why one of the tracks from the tophat EP is missing, and instead replaced by disco devato..was there other songs from these sessions released elsewhere

― Ross, Tuesday, 7 August 2018 16:37 (five years ago) link

missing from what?

― 16, 35, DCP, Go! (sic), Tuesday, 7 August 2018 17:45 (five years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzj5kMgfmc4

― StanM, Sunday, 19 August 2018 13:30 (five years ago) link

Dancing on my own
Missing U
Call your Girlfriend
With every Heartbeat

― StanM, Sunday, 19 August 2018 13:31 (five years ago) link

Robyn

― 16, 35, DCP, Go! (sic), Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:14 (five years ago) link

duh. soz.

― StanM, Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:40 (five years ago) link

worth repeating

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:59 (five years ago) link

duh. soz.

― StanM, Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:06 (five years ago) link

🤨

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:50 (five years ago) link

one month passes...

https://pitchfork.com/news/robyn-announces-new-album-honey/

― kitchen person, Wednesday, 19 September 2018 15:19 (five years ago) link

Can’t wait

― Ross, Wednesday, 19 September 2018 15:22 (five years ago) link

Really interesting interview with her

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/arts/music/robyn-honey-interview.html

― kitchen person, Saturday, 22 September 2018 15:08 (five years ago) link

it doesn't mention royksopp at all, weirdly (?)

― StanM, Saturday, 22 September 2018 16:32 (five years ago) link

Really weird:

Then [after supporting Coldplay in 2012] she all but vanished.

except for touring solo in the rest of 2012, playing a hometown stadium show in 2013, touring internationally with Royksopp in 2014 and 2015, and releasing half a dozen EPs and singles (plus appearing on a Neneh Cherry record) between 2014 and 2016.

They do say "There was a collaborative EP here, a gig there" after a huge photo of her, but to suggest that ...not putting out studio album after studio album in what amounts to one single calendar year was "the unthinkable" is bonkers, especially when it took her five years to co-write 13 songs before that, and Robyn has only ever released one studio album in the US, and that was in 1995.

― Bitty Gingham Sheet (sic), Saturday, 22 September 2018 18:08 (five years ago) link

(wait, it's a video embed, not a photo, but it still takes up a full "page" of screen.)

― Bitty Gingham Sheet (sic), Saturday, 22 September 2018 18:30 (five years ago) link

yeah, I don't get their layout either - is this a mobile/tablet view or something?

― StanM, Saturday, 22 September 2018 18:49 (five years ago) link

Honey tracklist:
1. Missing U
2. Human Being ft. Zhala
3. Because It's In The Music
4. Baby Forgive Me
5. Send to Robin Immediately
6. Honey
7. Between The Lines
8. Beach 2K20
9. Ever Again

(Robin?)

― willem, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 07:50 (five years ago) link

happy to know from that NYT profile that the rest of the album won't sound much like Missing U, which was ok but kind of a boring retread of everything she's done better before.

― Roz, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 08:23 (five years ago) link

xp well, her name is Robin

― niels, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 08:28 (five years ago) link

Her real name is Robin, so that might be not a typo

― Betting Eighty Hams (sic), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 08:28 (five years ago) link

i really like "missing u" but it did worry me some b/c it's not much of a step forward stylistically

― dyl, Wednesday, 26 September 2018 01:52 (five years ago) link

Title track is finally out, and it's great.

― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Wednesday, 26 September 2018 18:36 (five years ago) link

this is fantastic!

and did the La Bagatelle Magique EP really get no discussion here when it came out a few years back? i still really like it

― ufo, Wednesday, 26 September 2018 19:00 (five years ago) link

the mailing list message is so polite!

"If you want to, you can pre-order my album Honey now <3 "

― StanM, Wednesday, 26 September 2018 20:14 (five years ago) link

the mailing list message is so polite!

"If you want to, you can pre-order my album Honey now <3 "

― StanM, Wednesday, 26 September 2018 20:14 (five years ago) link

the mailing list message is so polite!

"If you want to, you can pre-order my album Honey now <3 "

― StanM, Wednesday, 26 September 2018 20:14 (five years ago) link

:-/

― StanM, Wednesday, 26 September 2018 20:14 (five years ago) link

It's not that polite to ask tell us three times, Robyn. We get it.

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 26 September 2018 20:16 (five years ago) link

Honey is so gorgeous. That bass sounds so incredible and warm on headphones. Then those little Moments In Love vocal affects appear and I'm done. I really liked Missing U, but this blows it away.

― kitchen person, Thursday, 27 September 2018 01:22 (five years ago) link

i just looked this up on YouTube and it is great.

have i told this story? i met her a few years back, she was in Los Angeles and she was telling me that she was trying to lay down some tracks with Snoop Dog, not sure if she did this on purpose but she left behind a CD with some tracks that they were trying to record. so i actually have a CD with some unfinished tracks with Snoop Dog, i believe the song did come out but i have like five different rough mixes of it.

― Bee OK, Thursday, 27 September 2018 01:31 (five years ago) link

is "u should know better" the last robyn/snoop collab to have been released?

― dyl, Thursday, 27 September 2018 02:04 (five years ago) link

okay "honey" definitely restores my optimism that the album will not only be good but also cover some unexpected territory for her

― dyl, Thursday, 27 September 2018 02:12 (five years ago) link

I keep on expecting Adam Driver's voice over top of it.

― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Thursday, 27 September 2018 06:23 (five years ago) link

"Honey" is so gorgeous, much better than "missing u"

― Roz, Friday, 28 September 2018 14:06 (five years ago) link

three weeks pass...

recently relistened to everything she's done from the self-titled onwards and was a little surprised to find my favourite of her releases these days is by far Love Is Free

seems like there's a good chance of Honey besting that though, looking forward to hearing it in a few hours

― ufo, Thursday, 25 October 2018 10:45 (five years ago) link

Here she's going through the album track by track at p'fork: https://pitchfork.com/features/song-by-song/robyn-breaks-down-every-song-on-her-new-album-honey/

― willem, Thursday, 25 October 2018 11:49 (five years ago) link

this is definitely her best and most interesting album! much closer to the Love Is Free EP than anything else she's done

― ufo, Thursday, 25 October 2018 13:06 (five years ago) link

where are you listening to this?

― evol j, Thursday, 25 October 2018 13:32 (five years ago) link

in australia

― ufo, Thursday, 25 October 2018 13:38 (five years ago) link

that is brilliant, if I have an aussie Spotify account do I get early access to all releases?

― niels, Thursday, 25 October 2018 13:39 (five years ago) link

aw, i want to live in the future where new Robyn albums are out.

― evol j, Thursday, 25 October 2018 15:58 (five years ago) link

this is one of my favorite tracks on the album https://www.adultswim.com/music/singles-2018/12

― maura, Thursday, 25 October 2018 20:07 (five years ago) link

Because It's In The Music is so beautiful. One of the best things she's ever done.

― kitchen person, Thursday, 25 October 2018 22:23 (five years ago) link

extremely disappointed that a flamenco solo was left off of Because It's in the Music

― ufo, Friday, 26 October 2018 04:46 (five years ago) link

"baby forgive me" is extraordinary

not really feeling "because it's in the music"?? it wants to be a big, lush donna summer number but the arrangement/instrumentation just isn't there imo.

lol @ actual "french kiss" in "send to robin immediately". is lil louis getting paid?

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Friday, 26 October 2018 08:40 (five years ago) link

yeah, he's credited

― Number None, Friday, 26 October 2018 08:43 (five years ago) link

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Friday, 26 October 2018 08:59 (five years ago) link

not really feeling "because it's in the music"?? it wants to be a big, lush donna summer number but the arrangement/instrumentation just isn't there imo.

for me it is like a patrice rushen song reduced to synth + drum machine + strings. it is completely awesome

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 26 October 2018 15:34 (five years ago) link

also, wow, this is the best robyn album

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 26 October 2018 15:34 (five years ago) link

love it, "ever again" is a beaut of a closer

― nxd, Friday, 26 October 2018 15:35 (five years ago) link

the whole thing is late night beach party vibes which is probably my favourite vibe music can have

― ufo, Friday, 26 October 2018 15:38 (five years ago) link

this is just so gorgeously paced, i can't get over it

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 26 October 2018 15:46 (five years ago) link

baby forgive me > send to robin immediately > honey IS SOO GOOOOOD

― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Friday, 26 October 2018 15:55 (five years ago) link

otm

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 26 October 2018 15:56 (five years ago) link

The only two songs that leave me cold are "Beack2k20" and "Missing U."

― You like queer? I like queer. Still like queer. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 October 2018 15:56 (five years ago) link

NEVER GONNA BE BROKEN HEARTED
EVER AGAIN

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 26 October 2018 16:00 (five years ago) link

damn this is good, "send to robin immediately" sounds like it could fit on the mr twin sister album

― fred-a van vleet (voodoo chili), Friday, 26 October 2018 16:48 (five years ago) link

Her whole approach to this kind of reminds me of the last two Róisín Murphy albums. Instead of going for an easy win repeating Body Talk/Overpowered, they've made albums based on deep vibes/atmosphere as apposed to big choruses.

― kitchen person, Friday, 26 October 2018 17:11 (five years ago) link

I miss those tbh

― You like queer? I like queer. Still like queer. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 October 2018 17:50 (five years ago) link

you always do

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 26 October 2018 17:59 (five years ago) link

but also it's not exactly parallel, the hooks on this album are huge anyway

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 26 October 2018 18:01 (five years ago) link

*shrug* what can I say? Certain dance voices require big choruses, so I adjust expectations. But this album has good hooks.

― You like queer? I like queer. Still like queer. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 October 2018 18:01 (five years ago) link

i've never loved her tbh but this is awesome

― macropuente (map), Friday, 26 October 2018 18:28 (five years ago) link

ugh now we have to wait another eight years

― mookieproof, Friday, 26 October 2018 19:01 (five years ago) link

Love this. Ever Again sounds like the hit to me.

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 26 October 2018 21:14 (five years ago) link

baby forgive me > send to robin immediately > honey IS SOO GOOOOOD

― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Friday, October 26, 2018 10:55 AM (seven hours ago)

― Karl Malone, Saturday, 27 October 2018 00:19 (five years ago) link

love this album. though all I can do right now is pay "Beach2k20" and DRAM's "Cha Cha" on a loop

― maffew12, Saturday, 27 October 2018 01:29 (five years ago) link

her previous albums had a few fantastic singles each but also a fair amount of filler and don't really hold up that well as albums imo but this one is such a delight the whole way through

― ufo, Saturday, 27 October 2018 02:56 (five years ago) link

This is decent - I like it the further it travels away from the sad arpeggiated disco she's made her name doing and the back half is a lot more interesting than anything she's ever done. I was really enjoying "Ever Again" until the bosh trance part, the drums at that bit are distractingly terrible

― boxedjoy, Sunday, 28 October 2018 09:32 (five years ago) link

Because It's In The Music is so beautiful. One of the best things she's ever done.

yep

― geoffreyess, Sunday, 28 October 2018 15:13 (five years ago) link

i'm liking this. it's more subtle than her typical approach over the course of her career -- a good thing since the massive emotional crests in her prior work were getting predictable. and it works! i need to revisit those ep's from the last few years too.

― dyl, Sunday, 28 October 2018 15:26 (five years ago) link

"send to robin immediately" is so good, enough that the name doesn't even bother me.

(I don't think I've used my yearly allotment of Kate Bush comparisons, so some of her ad-libs remind me, strikingly, of The Sensual World/The Red Shoes. I wish I could pinpoint exactly which song; it's either "Rocket's Tail" or "And So Is Love")

― aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Sunday, 28 October 2018 18:31 (five years ago) link

also like how it's very deliberately, stubbornly sequenced as an album; each track flows into/calls back to the next

― aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Sunday, 28 October 2018 18:32 (five years ago) link

This is a wonderful album.

― Trϵϵship, Sunday, 28 October 2018 19:30 (five years ago) link

yes the sequencing is excellent + the fairly short runtime makes it cohesive, suite-like. contrast this with body talk which had lots of great tracks but was basically impossible to put into as good a sequence as its material seemed to deserve (i tried!)

― dyl, Sunday, 28 October 2018 19:47 (five years ago) link

this is an outrageously good album

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 28 October 2018 22:28 (five years ago) link

maura weighs in: https://www.spin.com/2018/10/robyn-honey-review/

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 28 October 2018 22:29 (five years ago) link

I burst out laughing at the genius of the Lil Louis sample.

This is her best album aye.. wasn't expecting it at all.

― piscesx, Monday, 29 October 2018 01:47 (five years ago) link

between the lines is such a cool track

― Trϵϵship, Monday, 29 October 2018 02:53 (five years ago) link

Oh wow first time hearing this and the production is amazing throughout. Feel it’s too weird and subtle to be a the massive pop hit it deserves to be, unfortunately.

― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Wednesday, 31 October 2018 01:26 (five years ago) link

great album. listened to the whole thing 1.5 times stuck on the train home today.

― akm, Wednesday, 31 October 2018 03:07 (five years ago) link

It's so well suited to the warmth of her vocals.

― Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Wednesday, 31 October 2018 17:18 (five years ago) link

Brilliant album, loving the 90s NY/deee-lite/pal joey vibes of Beach2k20. And the French Kiss sample is superbly deployed

― i know kore-eda (or something), Thursday, 1 November 2018 11:48 (five years ago) link

(I don't think I've used my yearly allotment of Kate Bush comparisons, so some of her ad-libs remind me, strikingly, of The Sensual World/The Red Shoes. I wish I could pinpoint exactly which song; it's either "Rocket's Tail" or "And So Is Love")

i'm thinking aerial was an influence on this album

― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Monday, 5 November 2018 18:02 (five years ago) link

She did a "music that inspired the album" playlist on Spotify. The Sensual World is on it

― Number None, Monday, 5 November 2018 19:07 (five years ago) link

three months pass...

Last night's show was a traet, as they say.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 19:45 (five years ago) link

Somehow missed that she was touring! Perhaps because the new album ... had no impact?

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 19:52 (five years ago) link

GASP

― maffew12, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 21:01 (five years ago) link

i was late in getting tix for her show, which sold out in L.A. immediately. didn't want to pay a couple hundred, though it was briefly tempting. everyone i know who went to see her the other night said it was one of the best they'd seen in awhile.

― omar little, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 21:03 (five years ago) link

Somehow missed that she was touring! Perhaps because the new album ... had no impact?

The presales crashed for days due to demand and tickets sold out in an hour or two. Why would they then spend money on advertising for months afterward?

― steven, soda jerk (sic), Tuesday, 26 February 2019 21:07 (five years ago) link

yeah i missed the London tix, they sold out in a nanosecond

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 26 February 2019 21:34 (five years ago) link

i think there's still MSG tix available but i dunno. She can pack a house!

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Tuesday, 26 February 2019 21:40 (five years ago) link

That extended transition between 'Be Mine' and 'Because It's In The Music' had me practically in tears omg

― KevRus, Wednesday, 27 February 2019 04:06 (five years ago) link

Nice review and overview (referencing the LA show):

https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/robyns-emotional-catharsis.html

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 27 February 2019 06:03 (five years ago) link

And a report on last night up here:

https://www.kqed.org/pop/109670/robyns-honey-tour-this-timeline-will-make-you-feel-like-you-were-there

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 27 February 2019 06:03 (five years ago) link

I’ll be seeing her at Primavera Sound this year!

― josh winters (josh), Wednesday, 27 February 2019 17:32 (five years ago) link

Your parents wouldn’t look at a photograph of Robyn and recognize her signature snaggletooth

wtf

― steven, soda jerk (sic), Wednesday, 27 February 2019 18:14 (five years ago) link

that's a terribly written report

― akm, Thursday, 28 February 2019 15:25 (five years ago) link

It's fantastic how big she is in the UK now, i mean.. 2 nights at Ally Pally is crazy, it seems just a few years back i was watching her in the basement of the University bar.

― piscesx, Thursday, 28 February 2019 15:36 (five years ago) link

it was significantly more than a few years ago :)

― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 28 February 2019 16:27 (five years ago) link

I know right.. 2008 it turns out. She covered Buffalo Stance! No memory of this.

― piscesx, Thursday, 28 February 2019 17:05 (five years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9w3Mo_S3ZE

looks like she's closing her current shows with this remix of "Who Do You Love" which i'd never heard before and is really fantastic

― ufo, Friday, 8 March 2019 02:03 (five years ago) link

Speaking of Robyn and Kindness

Almost exactly five years ago Kindness asked me to write with them on something beautiful they were working on and we wrote a song called Cry Everything together which is finally ready and released.https://t.co/7zF2Wcbznk pic.twitter.com/neDC8DqfCp
— Robyn (@robynkonichiwa) March 8, 2019

I’m so glad to be a part of this record with Todd Rundgren and Fabiana Palladino. Mostly I just want to say congratulations to Kindness on the release of this amazing piece of music that has that special feeling that makes me love your work so much. Now it’s out in the world 💜
— Robyn (@robynkonichiwa) March 8, 2019

― Roz, Friday, 8 March 2019 11:09 (five years ago) link

thanks for the heads up there; queuing up

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Friday, 8 March 2019 16:58 (five years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFdPnRSfeZ8

― StanM, Sunday, 10 March 2019 16:37 (five years ago) link

lol, i am very jealous; would've enjoyed that

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 10 March 2019 19:07 (five years ago) link

that would have stressed me out

― dyl, Sunday, 10 March 2019 19:17 (five years ago) link

i will remain forever pressed that "dancing on my own" is the clear favorite among american robyn fans

― dyl, Sunday, 10 March 2019 19:18 (five years ago) link

looks fucking awful

― jolene club remix (BradNelson), Sunday, 10 March 2019 19:37 (five years ago) link

you guys are fun

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 10 March 2019 21:25 (five years ago) link

I saw Robyn live for the first time this week and it was emotional. Nicely picked setlist where the new songs slotted in with her older material very smoothly. She's such a star.

― kitchen person, Sunday, 10 March 2019 21:28 (five years ago) link

that would have stressed me out

― dyl, Sunday, March 10, 2019 3:17 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah, I love Robyn and regret not getting tickets to this show, but not everyone on the subway loves Robyn and/or wants to be loudly sung at during their commute home (especially since it's "call your girlfriend"; sure hope no one who happened to be on the E train got dumped recently only to hear 500 randos singing the "dumping people rules" song at them)

― theorizing your yells (katherine), Sunday, 10 March 2019 21:43 (five years ago) link

It’s “Dancing On Your Own” they’re singing though, as noted above, not “Call Your Girlfriend”. (I’m all for people having a good time btw, both in or outside the subway)

― breastcrawl, Sunday, 10 March 2019 21:54 (five years ago) link

“...On My Own” even

― breastcrawl, Sunday, 10 March 2019 21:55 (five years ago) link

It’s “Dancing On Your Own” they’re singing though, as noted above, not “Call Your Girlfriend”. (I’m all for people having a good time btw, both in or outside the subway)

huh, the one upthread must have been a different video -- I could have sworn I saw someone post one the night of where it was "Call Your Girlfriend"

― theorizing your yells (katherine), Sunday, 10 March 2019 22:45 (five years ago) link

I thought it was nice

but if I encountered them irl I'd want to murder them all

― Number None, Sunday, 10 March 2019 22:50 (five years ago) link

four weeks pass...

She's coming back:

7/17/19 Philadelphia, PA @ The Mann Center
7/19/19 Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
7/21/19 Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
7/25/19 San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
7/27/19 Inglewood, CA @ The Forum

Tickets on sale Friday, 10 am.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 8 April 2019 16:20 (five years ago) link

She was incredible when I saw her in Toronto.

― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Monday, 8 April 2019 17:33 (five years ago) link

Seeing her on Friday night!

― Benson and the Jets (ENBB), Wednesday, 10 April 2019 09:22 (five years ago) link

Something coming from us tomorrow ✨ @blackmadonnachi pic.twitter.com/082xhY3TmL
— Robyn (@robynkonichiwa) April 18, 2019

― groovypanda, Thursday, 18 April 2019 20:58 (five years ago) link

oh yeah i'm into that

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Thursday, 18 April 2019 22:15 (five years ago) link

two weeks pass...

(sort of) on this cut from the first part of Mr Tophat's bonkers prog epic Dusk to Dawn, unveiling over the next 6 weeks. Part I alone is over an hour long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhe23aMD2OI

― Jeff W, Monday, 6 May 2019 15:00 (four years ago) link

oh wow didn't know there would be that much. Part one is great!

― maffew12, Monday, 6 May 2019 15:14 (four years ago) link

ooooh

― maura, Monday, 6 May 2019 20:22 (four years ago) link

lol at the moment it goes full on castlevania

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Monday, 6 May 2019 21:09 (four years ago) link

more details on the three-part album - no more Robyn, but other collaborators of hers in future parts

― blokes you can't rust (sic), Monday, 6 May 2019 21:13 (four years ago) link

two months pass...

Surprised no reports from the latest dates. Meantime, only just noticed this exists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts0vYOVRkj8

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 21 July 2019 15:41 (four years ago) link

Seems like she’s sticking with the same setlist.

― KevRus, Sunday, 21 July 2019 19:04 (four years ago) link

No need to mess with perfection.

― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Sunday, 21 July 2019 19:26 (four years ago) link

I was about to say, I have no problem with that.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 21 July 2019 21:45 (four years ago) link

Same tbh

― KevRus, Sunday, 21 July 2019 22:10 (four years ago) link

watching her on the p4k festival stream and her live show sounds really, really good. hope she manages to make it over here

― ufo, Monday, 22 July 2019 02:18 (four years ago) link

her band is really fantastic and have managed to very effectively translate the songs to a looser live sound, and a lot of the songs transition seamlessly together, and the reworks of older tracks are wonderful too

― ufo, Monday, 22 July 2019 02:42 (four years ago) link

Oh, I can report the Barclays show was absolutely fantastic!!

― Evan, Monday, 22 July 2019 17:54 (four years ago) link

her band was ESG! https://www.instagram.com/p/B0MipAigiNW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

― monotony, Tuesday, 23 July 2019 00:02 (four years ago) link

no they were just opening for her at barclays

― ufo, Tuesday, 23 July 2019 01:27 (four years ago) link

She was quite good, and I admire her avoidance of the bangers: she played a long deep house playlist in essence.

― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 23 July 2019 01:38 (four years ago) link

xp oh lol i totally misinterpreted that post then

― monotony, Tuesday, 23 July 2019 02:46 (four years ago) link

xpost -- yeah that was my read of the show I saw earlier in the year, a constant flow.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 23 July 2019 03:03 (four years ago) link

SF show greatness of course. Might even have liked it better than Oakland.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 July 2019 06:01 (four years ago) link

one month passes...

Has anyone else been following the Honey remixes that have been dropping every now and then?

― winters (josh), Friday, 20 September 2019 06:10 (four years ago) link

Not all of them but I really liked Yaeji's Beach2k20 remix, and the Black Madonna remix.

― Roz, Friday, 20 September 2019 09:41 (four years ago) link

My favs are the Kim Ann Foxman remix of “Honey” and the Black Madonna one for “Between The Lines”, but I haven’t heard the ones that came after the latter. I’m most curious about the Preditah and Yaeji remixes.

― breastcrawl, Friday, 20 September 2019 12:32 (four years ago) link

one month passes...

The Young Marco remix of "Baby Forgive Me" is unsurprisingly great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0JwBSwr9Bs

― Number None, Saturday, 9 November 2019 14:20 (four years ago) link

^^ was just about to post that. It’s gorgeous.

― Roz, Saturday, 9 November 2019 14:48 (four years ago) link

two months pass...

last night a google notification popped up on my phone with only a track list and the text NEW MUSIC FROM ROBYN 'ONE' (2020)

after some fruitless googling I finally found https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/robyn7

>:(

― conrad, Thursday, 9 January 2020 12:29 (four years ago) link

she did something with her hair, I think

― StanM, Thursday, 9 January 2020 12:39 (four years ago) link

five months pass...

this is great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-8Wr48CNxo

― Roz, Sunday, 21 June 2020 07:30 (three years ago) link

i was gonna say she should release an ironic remix of "beach 2k20" but apparently there's no shortage of ppl who actually think beachgoing is a good idea

― dyl, Sunday, 21 June 2020 17:37 (three years ago) link

the Yaeji remix of Beach2k20 was just released on 12" with a new Louie Vega remix yesterday, but I don't know how ironic it is

― an, uh, razor of love (sic), Monday, 22 June 2020 10:18 (three years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ErkfOrHwug

― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Friday, 3 July 2020 16:45 (three years ago) link

oh my god at remixes by Avalon Emerson AND Floorplan, this album truly is a gift that continues to give

― vision joanna newsom (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 6 July 2020 16:09 (three years ago) link

i wish i liked that floorplan remix more

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Monday, 6 July 2020 16:38 (three years ago) link

I love that Floorplan remix. The clicktracky feel reminds me of those South African house tracks from ten years ago that I’ve been digging recently.

― No mean feat. DaBaby (breastcrawl), Friday, 10 July 2020 12:23 (three years ago) link

i like the floorplan remix, the sax lick makes it pop for me, otherwise a little hood-by-numbers

avalon emerson remix is clearly on another level though

the rest of the remixes (i think there were 6? 8? total) did not sound great to me but i barely touched them so ymmv

― carin' (map), Friday, 10 July 2020 21:32 (three years ago) link

three weeks pass...

Hello.

5/8 🧩 pic.twitter.com/NUCkztq7AS
— Robyn (@robynkonichiwa) August 3, 2020

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 3 August 2020 16:15 (three years ago) link

took me a second to determine that suggested August 5 and not "Part 5 of 8"

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Monday, 3 August 2020 16:17 (three years ago) link

woo sounds potentially good

― dyl, Monday, 3 August 2020 16:18 (three years ago) link

oh damn

― Give me a Chad Smith-type feel (map), Monday, 3 August 2020 16:33 (three years ago) link

I thought she was rating her song 5 out of 8.

― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 3 August 2020 16:37 (three years ago) link

I thought she was clarifying that this was simply five-eights of the full track

― vision joanna newsom (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 3 August 2020 17:22 (three years ago) link

I think you are not Europeans

― No mean feat. DaBaby (breastcrawl), Tuesday, 4 August 2020 16:40 (three years ago) link

how dare you

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Tuesday, 4 August 2020 16:41 (three years ago) link

https://a.wattpad.com/cover/223083531-352-k230359.jpg

― No mean feat. DaBaby (breastcrawl), Tuesday, 4 August 2020 17:50 (three years ago) link

I guess it's a song she's featured in with Channel Tres (who is v fun live when I saw him open for Robyn)

― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Tuesday, 4 August 2020 23:43 (three years ago) link

I mean I shouldn't say "I guess" since she literally posted about the song on social media

― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Tuesday, 4 August 2020 23:43 (three years ago) link

ayo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6olJF2LPRM

― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 5 August 2020 18:38 (three years ago) link

this rules

― ufo, Wednesday, 5 August 2020 21:00 (three years ago) link

It's fine, doesn't nearly reach the heights of either Robyn or Channel Tres at their best but whatever

bigger question is who is this SG Lewis guy that I've literally never heard of until 24 hours ago, wikipedia says he's been around for like 2-3 years now? where have I been

― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Thursday, 6 August 2020 00:35 (three years ago) link

i wondered the same after "experience" (victoria monét, khalid and him) came out. still haven't sought out much of his other work but he must be pretty good!

― dyl, Friday, 7 August 2020 03:03 (three years ago) link

one year passes...

apologies if already posted but i just saw this for the first time and i’m basically a mess now

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMR9M1RNd/

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 13 September 2021 19:43 (two years ago) link

ugh i need new robyn

― Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Monday, 13 September 2021 19:48 (two years ago) link

that was cool, glad they did the whole song and not just part. What was that from?

― akm, Monday, 13 September 2021 19:54 (two years ago) link

that was my question too. apparently maya rudolph had a show with martin short?? it lasted 6 episodes.

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 13 September 2021 21:26 (two years ago) link

That sounds like plenty.

― a hallan shaker loon (dowd), Wednesday, 15 September 2021 14:22 (two years ago) link

lol

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 15 September 2021 16:17 (two years ago) link

For some reason I never checked out the album she did with Röyksopp until recently. It's really good! It was like a getting a surprise new Robyn album.

― Cow_Art, Wednesday, 15 September 2021 16:37 (two years ago) link

four weeks pass...

A new guest appearance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTvaGqZg-rs

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 14 October 2021 02:27 (two years ago) link

🎤🎶 "I'm in the corner..." 🎶 pic.twitter.com/a0IVnVJa5e
— Josh Kantor (@jtkantor) October 13, 2021

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 14 October 2021 02:33 (two years ago) link

context for people who don't care about baseball
https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-adopt-new-postseason-song-for-2021

― When Young Sheldon began to rap (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 October 2021 20:52 (two years ago) link

here is a video of the boston red sox singing “dancing on my own” pic.twitter.com/2wtPGMC20Q
— 🎃🍂 maggie graber 🍁💀 (@magraber) October 12, 2021

― When Young Sheldon began to rap (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 October 2021 20:52 (two years ago) link

It's not quite We Are Family

― ✖, Friday, 15 October 2021 20:56 (two years ago) link

One time, years ago, I requested "Dancing on My Own" at karaoke and it wasn't until I was on stage and the music started that I realized they were playing a karaoke version of the sad cover, not the original...

― glenn mcdonald, Friday, 15 October 2021 21:17 (two years ago) link

There's an NYT article about it as well that I found really charming.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/15/sports/baseball/red-sox-dancing-on-my-own.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Sports

― Lily Dale, Saturday, 16 October 2021 00:36 (two years ago) link

it really bums me out that the first link that pops up when you google "Dancing on My Own" is the stupid cover and not Robyn

― Roz, Saturday, 16 October 2021 06:25 (two years ago) link

i host karaoke and a few weeks ago someone requested dancing on my own and left the artist blank, so I assumed the Robyn version. When it started up she stomped a foot and yelled over to me “no not the dumb remix, the original!” and that was the day I learned about the famous cover version

― Clay, Saturday, 16 October 2021 07:54 (two years ago) link

I remember hearing local radio playing a poppers o'clock remix of the sad cover and feeling it was possibly the most redundant piece of music ever - just play the original!

― hamicle, Saturday, 16 October 2021 10:26 (two years ago) link

eight months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdF2kxdpom4

on the new Louie Vega album, giving what I think might be one of her best performances ever

― boxedjoy, Sunday, 10 July 2022 21:15 (one year ago) link

Always liked this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL8cdjFcLKM

― dow, Monday, 11 July 2022 03:40 (one year ago) link

one year passes...

honey has aged really well. i know it's only 5 years old but it kinda feels like a lifetime ago.

― ꙮ (map), Tuesday, 18 July 2023 16:39 (nine months ago) link

Check out the Song Exploder on the title song. Great to hear the patient, slow evolution of the track into one of her best.

― Psychocandy Apple Grey (Pyschocandles), Tuesday, 18 July 2023 19:11 (nine months ago) link

two months pass...

Honey remains one of the best albums ever.

― omar little, Friday, 6 October 2023 16:14 (six months ago) link

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