release date: Apr. 27, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,81]
producer: Klas Åhlund
label: Konichiwa Records - nationality: Sweden
Track highlights: 2. "Who's That Girl?" - 3. "Handle Me" - 5. "Be Mine!" - 9. "Konichiwa Bitches" - 10. "Bum Like You" - 12. "Should Have Known" - 13. "Anytime You Like"
4th studio album by Robyn and her first on her self-established label Konichiwa Records. After feeling the restricting record label policy interfering in her artistic work on two albums and unwilling to be promoted as a stereotype in the US, she left Jive Records in 2003. Apparently, she became inspired by the Swedish duo The Knife and its decision to release material on their own label. She paid her way out with Jive Records, with whom she had signed for before BMG took over, and in early 2005 she was able to found her own record label and ready to restart her musical career.
The self-titled album marks her biggest stylistic move. She has moved away from the contemporary r&b sound to her own mix of electropop and dance-pop with influences from hip hop and various electronic styles. Also with regards to her usual co-songwriters, she seeks out new partnerships. The most influential other artist on the album is guitarist, songwriter and producer Klas Åhlund (from the Swedish rock band Teddybears), who has co-written 8 out of 13 tracks. Alexander Kronlund has co-written two tracks, and The Knife has co-written and produced track #2.
The album was originally only released in Sweden and it had two singles accompanying the release, "Be Mine!" and "Who's That Girl", where the former peaked at #3 on the singles chart list in Sweden and reached #10 in the UK. The album completely restarts Robyn's career with positive reviews and at the 2006 Swedish Grammis Award show, "Be Mine!" won for Best Song, the album won the prize for Best Album and Robyn was awarded the prize for Best Female Artist.
Three more singles were released from the album in 2006.
Robyn is easily her so far best album to date.
Recommendable.
*[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, Blender, NME, Spin 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]
*reviews of her 2007 album.
