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Queen of the Clouds [LP] [Bonus Tracks]
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Barnes and Noble
Queen of the Clouds [LP] [Bonus Tracks]
Current price: $17.99
Barnes and Noble
Queen of the Clouds [LP] [Bonus Tracks]
Current price: $17.99
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Size: CD
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Swedish singer/songwriter
followed her hit single "Habits (Stay High)" -- a disarmingly vulnerable recounting of all the shocking things she does to numb a painful breakup -- with
, a debut album that falls somewhere between
's sugar rush hedonism and
's moody confessions. A good friend of
's
(and co-writer of the group's "Ready for the Weekend"), like
,
originally thought she'd have a better chance at a pop career by penning songs for others than in the spotlight herself. However, her songwriting background ensures that
has plenty of hooks, as well as a high-concept approach: she organizes pop's eternal concerns of lust, love, and heartbreak into a set of songs that breaks the span of an entire relationship into thirds. While the spoken-word snippets that introduce each part of the album aren't strictly necessary, the format gives
more emotional resonance and balance as it spans seize-the-moment highs such as the fizzy,
-esque "Timebomb," the openness of "The Way That I Am," and the loss of "Thousand Miles."
also proves her electro-pop has a similar range with songs that range from bouncy ("Not on Drugs") to sleek (the EDM moves of "Run on Love"). However, it's
's frankness that makes her truly distinctive. "Habits (Stay High)," with its tales of going to sex clubs and gorging on Twinkies, is still
' standout, although "Moments," where she admits "On the good days I am charming as f*ck," is a close second. By owning her mistakes, she turns them into strengths -- and delivers a winning first album in the process. ~ Heather Phares