Lykke Li: Fun, Interesting and Inspiring

The prospect of listening to Scandinavian music used to be just like the prospect of eating Scandinavian food to me. If I couldn't pronounce it, I wouldn't try it.

Some great works from the likes of Röyksopp, Plej and Hird have since cured me of my musical xenophobia. It's a good thing, too. Otherwise I would have overlooked Swede Lykke Li.

Lykke Li's full name is Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson. Hmmmm, I wonder why she shortened it?

Only 22, Lykke Li has enjoyed commercial and critical success from the beginning. The title track from her first EP, Little Bit, was nominated for best video at the Swedish Grammy Awards.

Of course that's like saying that a Volvo was nominated for Swedish Car of the Year — there's just not that much competition.

A word of warning is appropriate here for those readers who are curious as to what qualifies to be nominated for a Swedish Grammy. Her music is genius, but Lykke Li's videos are just plain weird. Don't believe me? Check out her hit I'm Good, I'm Gone.

This stream of consciousness makes Alice in Wonderland look like The Three Little Pigs.

Her current album, Youth Novels, was produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John fame. Yttling adds a stripped down, dark mood to music that has otherwise been described by some as electronic bubble gum pop.

That's not the most endearing description I've ever heard, but remember that outside the confines of my iList Paducah cubicle, music reviewers are snobs.

Stereogum calls Lykke Li a "chanteuse" (yes, I had to look it up in the dictionary, too) and compares her to Feist and Kylie Minogue. They go so far as to call her an "icier Lily Allen," but honestly, isn't everybody icier than Lily Allen?

I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to classify Lykke Li's music. Some is pop, some electronic. I genuinely like all of it. I always write reviews with the subject music playing. I can tell you that in the case of Lykke Li, the music almost writes the review for me. It's fun, interesting and inspiring.

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