Current Obsession = Lykke Li
I’ve been meaning to make this post ever since Euro 2008 started and I watched my Swedish brethren (I was this close to having a Swedish first name, apparently “Torsten”…whew) play like bitches and fail to advance past the 1st round. A little bit before that, The Fader featured a great article on indie-pop’s next big thing, Swedish singer Lykke Li (pronounced “lickee lee”). I’d heard bits and pieces of her music before (shout to The Exactly for being one of the first hip-hop sites to feature her), but that article inspired me to check her out in full. She released her debut album earlier this year, Youth Novels, and as expected, she’s dope as hell. Y’all need to get familiar.
Sweden’s been a surprising hot spot for quality pop music over the years (this was my jam back in middle school, I ain’t ashamed), thanks in part to a refreshing respect the Swedes have for the genre. In essence, it’s a lot less disposable over there than we treat it here, and Lykke displays that in her music. While the on the surface, it embodies that traditional playful pop vibe, there’s also a deeper emotional level in the way she sings about heartbreak and disappointment. She’s not outwardly sexy like our stars aim to be, but there’s something sultry about her style and her voice when she sings lines like “…and for you I keep my legs apart/and forget about my tainted heart.” Damn…and that’s just on the single, “Little Bit.” Perhaps it’s the Scandinavian blond thing, but I feel like her stuff sounds like what Scarlett Johansson wishes she could make (when she’s not covering Tom Waits). Anyway, peep her first two videos and download the mp3’s:
Lykke Li – “I’m Good, I’m Gone”
You have to love Swedish people…I mean, really.
Hit the jump to watch some other ridiculously cool performances and download a ton of bonus tracks/remixes. I’ll toss in a few of my favorite cuts off Youth Novels too. I don’t want to post the whole thing, but if you want to check it out, shoot me an email and you might get a present back in return. DJHyphen@gmail.com.
Here are two more of my favorite songs off the album:
Lykke Li – “Hanging High”
Lykke Li – “Let It Fall”
Two awesome acoustic performances of “I’m Good, I’m Gone,” the first in a bathroom, the second in a taxi. I think I may like her live voice even better than when it’s recorded:
And a third here. Finally, all sorts of bonus tracks and remixes:
Lykke Li – “Tonight”
Lykke Li – “Tonight (Alternate Version)”
Lykke Li – “Everybody But Me”
Lykke Li – “Everybody But Me (Christoffer Remix)”
Lykke Li – “Everybody But Me (diskJokke Remix)”
Lykke Li – A Little Bit (Matas Berlin Remix)”
Lykke Li – “I’m Good, I’m Gone (Black Kids Remix)”
Lykke Li – “I’m Good, I’m Gone (Chuck Brody Remix)”
Lykke Li – “I’m Good, I’m Gone (Fred Falke Remix)”
Lykke Li – “I’m Good, I’m Gone (Metronomy Remix)”
Lykke Li – “I’m Good, I’m Gone (Sumo Re-Edit)”
Kleerup ft. Lykke Li – “Until I Bleed”
Download all bonus tracks in one file here.
If you know of any other songs featuring her, holler @ me.
Tags: indie, little bit, Lykke Li, sweden, swedish pop, youth novels
At first I didn’t think she was the girl I was gonna fall in love with. She’s not gorgeous, and I wasn’t feeling her voice all that much.
Then I watched the video of her in the cab going acoustic, and damn, I fell in love. Feeling her voice wayyy more live than recorded.
mega fresh post!
Glad y’all are diggin her. Mike, I agree…I think I like her live voice more than the studio stuff…which is rare
I read all the buzz about her and now I understand. The performance in the bathroom is amazing. Like it alot. Her voice is really good LIVE. thanks for sharing.
[…] and it definitely lived up to my high expectations. If you’re unfamiliar with her, peep this post from a while back. As for the concert, let’s […]
Little Bit (Suck Shaft Remix)
http://fairtilizer.com/track/18133