Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 3 (2010) [6/10]

Swedish pop rebel Robyn released 3 albums this year. Body Talk Pt. 1 is going to appear on my Best of the Year list in a couple weeks. Parts 1 and 2 were 8 songs each and then she released Body Talk which had 5 tracks off each of those plus 5 new tracks. This is a review of those 5 new tracks available on iTunes as Pt. 3. As with Pt. 2, Pt. 3 does not match the first installment of the Body Talk trilogy in either scope or cohesiveness, but it does not disappoint in that it collects another 5 great pop tracks, full of swagger as only Robyn can deliver.

These tracks are the poppiest of the bunch, straight-up tunes with pumped up beats. "Indestructible" is a song of seizing the moment on a dance floor as she says "I'm gunna love you like I've never been hurt before." "Time Machine" is a song of regret. Love songs and songs of confusion and hurt. Classic pop stuff.

And then there's "Call Your Girlfriend," easily the best track of the bunch. The melody and structure catches you up and you feel like Robyn is reassuring a friend that everything will be ok and that she'll move on...and then you realize...Robyn is telling a guy who she is stealing how to break up with his gf. It's vicious. But...so deceptively sweet and catchy. This is why I love Robyn. She screws with your perceptions of what a pop song can be.

And that's just the lyrics.

Musically, yes, fairly straightforward dance floor beats. But it's more alive than most of what's on the radio. Beats oscillate and shimmer with more texture than your run-of-the-mill fist pump music. And, thank goodness, there's a heck of a lot more melody. Lines carry, they build, they resolve. This is music. Not just pop hooks with filler. It's not all mind blowing by any means, but it's certainly refreshing.

"Call Your Girlfriend" really makes Pt. 3, the rest is just solid pop, but sometimes solid pop is what you need right? If you had to pick one part - Pt. 1 is definitely the way to go. And while Pt. 3 doesn't have any disappointing tracks like Pt. 2 did, it lacks some of the swagger as well (Duet with Snoop on "U Should Know Better" anyone?). Regardless, all-in-all it's been an impressive year for Robyn.

Summary: Pop Pop Swagga Pop

Rating: [6/10]

Best Track: Call Your Girlfriend