I realise that's a pretty bold claim in March, but, boy, do I like the new Jens Lekman LP, Life Will See You Now. I've had it on almost permanent rotation in the car all week (along with one other new album which I managed to fit on the same CD and I'll be mentioning here soon). Usually when I take a new album to the car, I give it time to grow: one spin, then back to something more familiar, revisiting it later. But this one, I've had to fight to get it out of the CD player.
10. Jens Lekman - How We Met, The Long Version
It's been 10 years since I bought a Jens Lekman album, no fault of the artist because I very much enjoyed 2007's Night Falls Over Kortedala; all the fault of my pathetic inability to keep up with all the artists I enjoy. Good pre-release buzz about this record reminded me about Jens, and I'm glad I plunged back in, because there's so much to enjoy here, starting with lead "singles" What's That Perfume You Wear? and Evening Prayer. I will warn you not to listen to any of the other tracks from the album on youtube though as someone has uploaded a bunch of them slowed-down for some reason... and they sound pretty ropey.
Discussing my love for the album with my pal Steve last week, I made the mistake of comparing it to recent John Grant masterpieces... knowing full well Steve isn't really into John Grant. Lyrically, there's certainly that same attention to quirky detail you'll find on a John Grant record (as Evening Prayer ably demonstrates) as well as an obvious love of upbeat, poppy electronica. But there's much more to love here even if you're not a John Grant devotee (a.k.a. you're clinically insane), from a gorgeous duet with Tracy Thorn, Hotwire The Ferris Wheel, which goes all Pearlfishers / Paddy McAloon towards the end (I should have led with that, shouldn't I, Steve?) to the main track I'm concentrating on today, which is the first song this year I've fallen head over heels for on first listen. I love the attention to detail here, how Jens speeds through the creation of the universe and the beginnings of life on earth... only to slow things right down at the moment he asks the girl he fancies to "borrow your bass guitar...not that I needed one". And just listen to the trumpets!
Seriously, if Life Will See You Now isn't near the top of my year end countdown for 2017, it will have been a truly amazing year for new music.
I see your hint of John Grant and raise you a touch of Father John Misty. I enjoyed all three of these tunes a great deal. 'Life Will See You Now' has been lurking on the list of new releases I need to check out and this post has succeeded in hoisting the album significantly closer to the top of that list. Good stuff Rol.
ReplyDeleteHappy to be of service.
DeleteYour praise has me very excited. My copy came in the mail on Friday, but I haven't listened to it yet. The one track I have heard is so different from his previous work that I have to tell you I was worried. I have been a fan from the beginning, and his song Rocky Dennis Farewell Song to the Blind Girl topped my list of best songs I did for the entire decade 2000-2009. I found out last night he is playing in my town this very night. I'm scrambling to see if I can make it.
ReplyDeleteHope you made it. I found out he's playing near me next month... but the tickets were long since sold out.
DeleteI've listened to three 2017 albums so far, and Lekman's is easily the strongest of them.
ReplyDeleteHow We Met, The Long Version is inventive in its mix of the epic and the minor. I'll be going back to the album as well.
Thanks to you, Chris - you were the one to originally bring it to my attention in your list of records you were looking forward to in 2017.
DeleteGlad I could help out!
ReplyDeleteOff to see him in Glasgow next month. Really looking forward to it. Must purchase his latest LP soon.
ReplyDeleteJealous.
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