Customer Reviews

Body Talk Pt 2

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On Body Talk part 2, Robyn continues her three-part pop-electronic-hip-hop opus that she began with the stunning Body Talk part 1. Part 2 is a much more streamlined, consistent effort than part 1, which was sonically all over the map. The first seven tracks are all up-tempo tunes that could serve as a terrific soundtrack to a party. And yet even though the BPM are more consistent, there is still plenty of diversity in the tracks.

Robyn's strength is her ability to morph seamlessly through different genres. She can just as affectively pull off a sweet Eurodance tune ("Hang With Me"), an electronic dancefloor anthem ("We Dance To The Beat"), or duet convincingly with an America hip-hop star (U Should Know Better). On my favorite track, "Criminal Intent", Robyn sounds a bit like a PG-13 version of smutty electroclash icon Peaches, rapping seductively about her love of getting freaky on the dance floor.

In summary, Body Talk part 2 does nothing to change my opinion that Robyn is pound-for-pound the best current female pop musician out there.

I think Body Talk Part 2 is better than part 1. I see why they were released on 2 parts, because they are a little different from each other. I can't wait for her next release. I think this album is going to get Robyn somewhere. I don't think that many people were following her 10 years ago, like they are now. I think people accept this kind of music more now today, than before. I think she is great at what she does. This is one of my favorite albums of 2010. In My Eyes reminds me of Madonna, this is one of my favorite songs on this album.

Robin Miriam Carlsson (aka Robyn) is still dancing on her own. Yet, this time she's doing it in front of a packed U.S. audience at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California.

In time with the beats of "Dancing on My Own" (the lead single from Body Talk Pt 1), her arms swing wildly outward, defying the constrictions of her seemingly tight outfit. Robyn looks pumped as she crouches and darts under a railing before reeling back while the synths from the DJ booth, manned by Canadian house producer deadmau5, power up.

35 seconds. This is how long Robyn's televised performance lasts before MTV cuts to a commercial.

Surprising? Hardly. Despite putting out some of the best pop music this year, Robyn is still something of curio in the United States outside of the many music blogs, newspapers, and magazines that lavish her with praise.

Personally, I don't think Robyn minds. She's energetic and determined, seemingly less concerned with popularity than she is with experimenting with current pop music mores.

Body Talk, Pt. 2 may be lacking in variation and experimentation than its predecessor, but with that comes a stronger adherence to consistency. Compared to Pt. 1, the songs on Pt. 2 are eclectic, louder, and rapturous.

On "Hang With Me," the first single from Pt. 2, Robyn sings about the gulf between friendship and love, advising her object of affection that they can confide in her, but not to fall "recklessly, headlessly in love with [her]." If "Dancing on My Own" was Robyn as the girl standing unnoticed in the shadows of the discotheque, then "Hang" is the singer confidently asserting herself next to an unknown suitor. As a power anthem, "Hang" has a gentle, hypnotic quality to it.

At its heart, Pt. 2 is a pep rally, a friendly pick-me-up next to the wavering and hesitant Robyn of Pt. 1. There's the motherly Robyn on "In My Eyes": "Hey, little star, don't be afraid / We all fall apart and make mistakes." There's the busty, brash Robyn on the Diplo-produced "Criminal Intent": "Somebody alert the authorities, I got criminal intent / Conspiracy to engage in lewd and indecent acts and events." It's confident and (dare I say it ohmygodTyraBanks) fierce pop, strung together by what the New Yorker's Sasha Frere-Jones calls a "casual kind of feminism."

As strong as "Hang With Me" and the above tracks are on Pt. 2, it's "U Should Know Better" that begs to be played over and over again in a crowded college dorm on a Friday night. Along with Snoop Dogg (whom the singer collaborated with on a remix of "Sensual Seduction"), Robyn zooms around the globe, taking names and not thinking twice: she dances with the devil, she tells the Romans that they need a black Pope and "she'd better be a woman," and she gives the record industry a middle finger.

Mainly, they should all know better than to [well, y'know...] with her. It's a bold statement, but from the mouth of Robyn, I have no trouble believing it.

Why Robyn is not as popular as the over hyped Lady Gaga is just beyond my personal comprehension. Sure, she is Swedish and is ridiculously popular in her own region of the world, but here in the states she is only marginally appreciated. Hopefully, as my review title suggests, this three part album will change all of that. With the whole Dancehall craze lighting up around every corner, and artists like Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Santogold and M.I.A. benefiting from it, hopefully Robyn will reap the rich rewards she deserves.

Collectively, she stomps all over the aforementioned.

The first installment, `Body Talk Pt. 1', was pretty outstanding. After listening to this 2nd installment nearly non-stop since its release I can honestly say that it not quite as good, but it is only secondary by a small margin. The album is tightly woven and perfectly constructed to deliver the goods with nearly every song. Personally, `In My Eyes' is a tad generic, `We Dance to The Beat' lacks a little heart and `U Should Know Better' is a little uninspired, considering the collaboration with Snoop Dogg (the song is fun, but it just doesn't reach the heights it should have).

That said; the balance of the album is ridiculously amazing.

The `one-two-THREE' punch that comes from `Include Me Out', `Hang With Me' and `Love Kills' is just almost too much to handle in it's greatness. They all rely on that tinge of commercial pop-quality that Robyn understands how to layer effectively. Her delivery is smooth and enticing and her songs are incredibly catchy. I got these beautiful glimpses of her 90's work all over these songs (especially `Include Me Out') which added a nice splash of nostalgia to the offering. `Hang With Me' has a beautiful beat and a sweet sincerity within the vocal delivery. `Love Kills' adds that edginess that sets Robyn apart from her former self. It is brilliantly controlled, with a pulsating beat that will send shivers, and the way that Robyn sinks her teeth into the dark side of love is splendidly realized here.

`Criminal Intent' is a load of fun, cheeky and sensual in all the right areas. Personally, it's the best track on the album for all sorts of great reasons. It's edgy and controversial with a playfulness that makes it ridiculously enjoyable. Techno meets hip hop with flawless results.

And then we have `Indestructible', the unexpected album closer that begins with orchestral arrangements that set the pace for a more heartfelt ballad that is certainly separate from the bulk of the album but serves as a sincere and beautiful way to close the album, with lyrics that seem straight from the heart and a delivery that is pure and organic and sheds light on yet another layer of Robyn's brilliance.

Seriously, this girl DESERVES to be famous!

I cannot wait until she drops the 3rds installment. It has two big shoes to fill, but I'm pretty confident that it'll close out this album perfectly!

Swedish singer Robyn promised to unleash 3 EPs upon us this year, and so far we are at part 2 of her Body Talk trilogy.

Comprising 8 tracks like its predecessor, the shimmery electro "In my eyes" kicks things off, followed by the slower "Include me out" with jittery synths. "Hang with me" appeared as an acoustic ballad on "Body talk part 1". It appears here fleshed out with a stomping beat and swirling synths.

"Love kills" isn't the Giorgio Moroder/Freddy Mercury song but it might as well have come from Moroder's stable of hits. It is a dark and hypnotic synth Dance number which is the albums highlight.

"We dance to the beat" is an austere stomper with repetitive robotic vocals, similar to "Don't f*****g tell me what to do" from part 1. "Criminal intent" has booming bass, while the bouncy Glam Pop "U should know better" features Snoop Dogg and a generous dose of the "F" word. "California gurls" anyone? Fortunately it's better than that. Closing is the lone ballad, the violin-filled "Indestructible".

Two down, one to go...

Robyn Carlsson broke through in 1997 with the smash hits "Do You Know What it Takes" and 'Show Me Love." And although she released a couple of albums in the years that would follow, she was toiling in obscurity (especially in America) until about 2005, when she released "Robyn." Upon its 2008 re-release, it finally got its due as the first futuristic mainstream electro-pop album. Many others (Lady Gaga, Xtina, etc.) have tried hard to duplicate that sound since then, but nobody could top that revolutionary album.

So, Robyn - who does not turn out new albums at a fast pace - had much to live up to on the follow-up. As is typical with this eccentric starlet (she was wearing robo-glam outfits long before Gaga graduated high school), she chose to release the follow up album, "Body Talk," in a trilogy of short albums.

While the first in the trilogy offered some amazing dance pop (songs like "Fembot" and "Cry When You Get Older"), it is on this second album where things really get interesting. "Hang With Me" is hands down one of the best dance pop songs ever recorded. A handful of others (such as "Love Kills") are right up there with it. And the Snoop Dogg cameo even stretches his talents, making him sound like a rapper from the future. Robyn does not depend on professional songwriters (she wrote all of the music here), and she makes everyone around her a better musician. She is the perfect pop singer - she's Madonna without the raunch. She's Gaga without the bombastic self-importance. She has charisma and humor that shines through in her songs, which are very personal, especially for dance anthems. Since the heyday of Michael Jackson and Prince, not too many solo artists have been able to do what Robyn does, as well as she does it. Do yourself a favor - buy this album.

On my review for part 1 i really just ranted about getting the EPs and not the album. I didn't talk about how awesome the EP was so i will be reviewing part 1 and part 2 here!

Part 1
in this EP you get 8 great sons including an acoustic version of 'Hang With Me' which is basically a preview of the studio version on part 2. and you also get a BEAUTIFUL traditional Sweedish folk song 'Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa' this is such a beautiful song sung almost acapella with very little music behind it this song could be comared to 'Eclipse' on her self titled album.

Part 2
This is another Great EP Every song is filled with Robyn's Awesomness. 'U Should Know Better' is a duet with Snoop Dogg where every line says that someone 'knows better than to F*** with me' and snoop really is an asset that helps robyn's innocent voice sound more naughty. and you get anothe preview the acoustic version of 'Indestructible' which is on part 3.

both of these are are a must have for any music lover!

This second album in the Body Talk trilogy is filled all with killers and no fillers. The songs are in the same veins like the first part of the Body Talk album. This time around, it's even better! Actually both part 1 and part 2 are amazing. Now that I am speechless, I think I want to dance to the beat! Bye and thank you for reading!:)

Length:: 4:09 Mins

A friend recommended Robyn to me to hold me over between Lady Gaga records. I'm glad I was introduced to her, but she's phenomenal in her own right. My introduction to her was a serious discredit to her talent. She's definitely worthy of the success Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy, and Britney have seen.