By Chris Priore
Sarcastic Swedish indie-pop singer Jens Lekman released the follow-up to his 2007 Night Falls Over Kortedala on September 22. An Argument With Myself follows the style of his earlier work– think lounge singer meets Brian Wilson meets Belle and Sebastian. Lekman delivers smooth little hints of genius such as “and it took shape in the form of an image in the form of a living memory,” sprinkled throughout talk-sung verses on the title track, which — at least to me –seems to have been heavily influenced by Paul Simon’s, “You Can Call Me Al.” “A Promise” begins with the familiar Ooo-ing and Ahh-ing that are archetypical of Lekman’s music and segues into sounds of wonderful crooning and vibrant strings. “New Directions” plays off an alternating horns and guitar riff as well as a very sweet duet between Jens and a very twee female vocalist. Fans of anything from Jonathan Richman, Lou Reed and Paul Simon to the Beach Boys and Stephin Merritt, along with anyone who is a fan of very self-aware pop lyricism, will enjoy this new EP.
Check out An Argument With Myself below:
