Lykke Li: Wounded Rhymes Review

Artist: Lykke Li
Album: Wounded Rhymes
Label: LL Recordings

Lykke Li’s sophomore album, Wounded Rhymes, is an excellent step in the right direction for this blooming artist. Starting out strong on her first album, Youth Novels, Li had really set the bar high, but she has managed to surpass all expectations and then some. Throughout Wounded Rhymes, the tone switches from funky to sassy, from enchanting to somber. Threaded through all of that is the recurring theme of love. Love developing from lust, dysfunctional love, unrequited love, and unconditional love. Oh yeah, and don’t forget about sexy love.

The album starts out with an eclectic, funky beat, filled with bongos and tambourines in the songs “Youth Knows No Pain” and “I Follow Rivers”. “Love Out of Lust” is sweeping and epic with dreamy whistling and Lykke’s breathy, distinctive voice. “Unrequited Love”, “Rich Kid Blues”, and “Sadness is a Blessing” sound like a positive throw back to a time of sock hops and malt shops, complete with some shoo-ops scattered in “Unrequited Love”.

“Get Some” is an in your face, unapologetic look at carnal desires, and if I’m being honest, one of my favorite tracks. The album winds down with the sad, melancholy sounds of “I Know Places”, “Jerome”*, and “Silent My Song”, which may have the most powerful lyrics to it; “you silent my song.”

There is so much to this album and so much to find and appreciate after multiple listenings. Lykke Li is captivating and this listener can’t wait for her next project.

Rating: