Robyn: Body Talk | Music Review

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Robyn
Body Talk
****

by Jonathan Keefe on November 21, 2010
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Robyn's Body Talk LP is one of the year's finest, most progressive pop albums, but it's also something of a minor letdown as a standalone project. By culling five songs apiece from the Body Talk Pt. 1 and Body Talk Pt. 2 EPs released earlier this year and supplementing them with five new tracks, the album smacks of sloppy seconds. While the new material will be available as Body Talk Pt. 3 in select markets, that almost everything is being lumped together here leaves the lingering impression that the series ran out of steam before it was finished.

What works in Body Talk's favor, then, is that it provides an overview of the project in its entirety, rather than placing the focus on any one particular segment. To that end, it's a testament to Robyn's truly forward-thinking take on contemporary pop music and to her rare ability to infuse chilly, futuristic soundscapes with genuine emotion and soul. On lead single "Indestructible," Klas Åhlund lays down a propulsive 4/4 beat that's driven by an endlessly looped arpeggio, as Robyn sings, "I'm gonna love you like I've never been hurt before/I'm gonna love you like I'm indestructible," punctuating her mission statement with a shout of "This is hardcore!" It's that tension between Robyn's lyrics and performances, which can border on emo when taken in isolation, and music that's entirely synthetic that makes "Indestructible" one of Robyn's best singles and that makes the whole of Body Talk tick.

"Indestructible" is easily the standout among the five new tracks here, but, as was the case with the lesser material on Body Talk Pt. 2, even second-tier Robyn songs are pretty damn tremendous. "Time Machine" continues to delve into the singer's fascination with technology in a fairly literal way ("All I want is a DeLorean/If I could go just like that/I'd be takin' it back" is not the most subtle chorus she's written), but the song is still noteworthy for reuniting the singer with producer Max Martin, who lays down his most exuberant, innovative track in years. Even if they seem relatively slight in comparison, "Get Myself Together" and "Stars 4-Ever" work in context alongside previously released cuts like "Fembot" and "Love Kills."

Body Talk impresses for its thematic focus and laser-precise editing. Other than Radiohead, few other artists have delved so deeply into the disconnection between modern technology and human experience, and Body Talk emerges as pop music's answer to the Ghost in the Shell series. At turns brokenhearted ("Dancing on My Own" is represented here by its radio version, but it's still an exquisite single) and angry ("Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do" still hits its marks as a survey of both modern ills and vices), Body Talk is a volatile record that takes pop and dance music to some incredibly tricky, complex places. Early in the album, Robyn sings, "I've got some news for you/Fembots have feelings too," and the remainder of Body Talk draws those feelings into a detailed blueprint.

Label: Interscope
Release Date: November 22, 2010

Comments

sbrentn on November 22, 2010, 12:58 PM

Robyn always stated from the beginning that the last album, the third, would be a full album with the best bits from the previous two and a new tracks. She has also released "Pt. 3" in America (with just the 5 new songs) through iTunes and other digital stores.

The writer of this article must be unaware of the campaignâ€”as it didn't lose steam, it followed through on it's promise.

vocalism on November 22, 2010, 01:11 PM

I'm a huge Robyn fan and I didn't get the memo that I should just save my money for the full-length. I thought it was going to be three EPs. The first I heard about it was last month when they announced the album.

sbrentn on November 22, 2010, 01:32 PM

yeah, she mentioned in an interview at the beginning of the campaign before she released "pt. 1". I think most sources just assumed that she would release a third physical exactly like the first two.

Jonathan Keefe on November 23, 2010, 09:45 AM

Everything that I had read about the Body Talk series over the last year, including the interview with Bon, indicated that Robyn planned to release three albums in 2010. So, in June, there was Pt. 1 with 8 new songs, then Pt. 2 in September with 7 new songs, and now, in November, there's Pt. 3, which has 4 new songs.

My point wasn't about what Robyn promised anyone, it was about how the sequence of EP releases was front-loaded in terms of both quantity and, except for "Indestructible," quality.

sbrentn on November 24, 2010, 01:21 AM

This is what I was referring to:

http://www.billboard.com/news/swedish-pop-sensation-robyn-brings-body-1004097696.story#/news/swedish-pop-sensation-robyn-brings-body-1004097696.story

What did you think of "Call Your Girlfriend?"

Jonathan Keefe on November 24, 2010, 05:30 PM

I had not read that particular article in Billboard, but, again, everything I had read about the sequence of the EPs / albums led me to believe that it would at least be more of an even distribution of new material. 8 is still greater than 7 is still greater than 4. As Jason implied in his comment, were I someone who had paid full price for the first two EPs, I would probably be at least a little annoyed about the marketing strategy here.

But the bottom line is that Robyn ended up releasing 19 pretty terrific songs this year, 15 of which are on this disc.

I like "Call Your Girlfriend" just fine. Of the 4 new songs, it's definitely the one I would single out as the strongest, though I didn't mention it specifically in the review. I can see why Pitchfork tagged it for their "Best New Music" feature. Now, whether or not it's stronger than "Cry When You Get Older," which didn't make the cut for the album, that would be up for some debate.

sbrentn on November 26, 2010, 11:23 AM

I was actually one of the people who bought both of her EPs in physical form (SO hard to find anywhere other than online) and it didn't really irritate me that she released a compilation album. I guess it's because I have the option to purchase an official Pt. 3 on iTunes or Amazon.

Maybe I'm so blinded by the quality of the tracks that it's not bothering me they decreased in number with each release? I'm not sure. But I do know that I'm just happy to have so many great songs since June.

And "Call Your Girlfriend", to me, is the best thing she's done since "Dancing On My Own." I also agree 100% about "Cry When you Get Older" getting cut (she still performed it in her set when I saw her in ATL)in favor of "Dancehall Queen", which I've never liked (It takes on a whole other life when performed live, though)

I liked your review, Jonathanâ€”thanks for responding to the comments!

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