Lykke Li: Wounded Rhymes

Label: Atlantic

Did we misjudge Swedish popstar Lykke Li based on just the videos from her debut, Youth Novels? While we go back to check, give her sophomore effort, Wounded Rhymes, a good listen. Opening track "Youth Knows No Pain" sounds like a winning marriage of Tune-Yards inventiveness and the Raveonettes' swaggering sexiness. Whether or not Ms. Li has been digging into the American glowave (or is it "chillworm"?) scene, "I Follow Rivers" seems to suggest she's aware of what's going on out in the indie world -- and isn't content to merely ape it. Diversity is at hand here as well: "Unrequited Love" is an honest-to-goodness indie-ballad with country overtones (maybe a slight texture in her voice?) for you to hold hands to, while "Sadness Is a Blessing" is perhaps the one millionth song to make you think "Phil Spector girl-pop!" but she makes it her own through rich and convincing vocal work.