Robyn has definately grown with us! Definately the same GREAT voice, she still has the ATTITUDE and style , but she's got a lot more. She's got soul, diversity, and she's got the ability to REALLY write some good songs! The end of almost every song has these amazing 'bridges' a good change of pace that doesn't seem out of place. You'll get samples of the songs on her sight but when you actually buy it, and you really should you'll be pleasantly surprised that the good songs are great! Its so worth the import costs. Get it guys, thank me later!1. Keep this Fire Burning- This song is great song with great lyrics you'll love it. 10/10
2. Don't Stop the Music- A great dance(/hiphop/rock) song about overcoming obstacles, very empowering! Has a great chance at being an anthem. 8/10
3. O Baby- I love this song, its a ballad with a perfect groove to it, the lyrics are simple but oh so heartfelt. Showcases her voice really well. 10/10
4. Blow My Mind- This is a [really good] song! I guess this song sounds kinda techno pop, its a mid-tempo song with a nice beat to it. These are the kinds of lyrics Christina and Britney really wanna sing. Robyn's voice in this song is very thin, whispery and kinda soft child-like, it goes really well with the song. Also the song has this sillyness in the background, its very quirky. 9/10
5. Should Have Known- This song starts out with the sound of the wheel as it slows from wheel of fortune, it's so great! The background music sounds very simplistic in the beginning, almost not there, then it gets very lush. I love, love, love the background music in this song. The lyrics are very straight foward in the song and you can absolutely FEEL the emotion. Also she says the f word a few times, and that to me is all the reason to buy this cd!!! j/k 10/10
6. Moonlight- This song is the song of tranquility. Her voice soothes. The chorus is perfect for feelings of love. 10/10
7. Breakdown Intermission- Okay this song is strange. Its as techno as you can get also rocks a bit. But it is a breakdown intermission a far cry from the other songs. Still I like it, I just have to be in the mood to listen it. Great to dance, and boogie to! 7/10
8. Ain't No Thing- Funky, R&B song. This is a real dance song something that could've been a hit for her had she released it back in the day. This is a song that's not about the lyrics it just has a great sound that you can't not be happy listening to it, and when the singing is over the music keeps going back and forth like the theme song of a clumsy clown. You just gotta hear it. 9/10
9. Big City- This is a real R&B song, with very surprising lyrics. I don't know what to say besides this is just a GREAT song. It could a hit if it was released here I'm sure, #1 radio single kinda thing. 10/10
10. Psycho- Okay this song is called Pycho and that is how it sounds it can be kinda scary to listen to at night. But it's a great hard-edged dance song. Great lyrics too, its funny, and she uses profanity, and sarcasm. 9/10
11. Still Your Girl- This is the best song on this cd. Hiphop, Soul, R&B. She has a great flow during the hooks, her voice shines! I love the lyrics, the background vocals, the music, the feeling you get when listening to this song. Its great! This song is truly addictive. 10/10
12. The Hidden Track- Its an old swedish song and I don't speak the language at all, but that didn't stop me from LOVING this song and singing along. I actually made lyrics according to what English words sounded close to what she was singing and it made since! This song is great for her strong yet soothing voice and although I don't know what it says the feelings of longing and hope, and bliss help me when I'm down and out. Besides the music is so empowering and energetic along with her voice. It builds up so perfectly to the explosive ending! You WILL want to sing-along! 10/10
Overall its a mix of rock, hip hop, r&b, dance, pop, and that calming, wave like music. More importantly the album as a whole strings together very well, it fits, and has an overall ambience to it and that means you can put it in and never have to switch songs as long as you're not in an overly ecstatic or overly miserable mood and only wanna listen to songs that reflect exactly what you're feeling. Go out there and get it.
Why is "Don't Stop The Music" so good? I had my doubts after visiting Robyn's BMG/Jive website and watching the videos for two songs off this disc. Gee whiz...whoever produced them ought to be shot or something. The title cut video ought to be named "Robyn Can Walk On Walls" -- but she's definitely too old at 24 to be playing Alice In Wonderland. The other video -- for "Keep This Fire Burning -- is a little better but it has some guy who looks like the "after" picture of Scott Weiland, if you know what I mean. If this video is supposed to be a dream sequence Robyn ought to be on medication. Or more medication. Add to it the lofty price of an import CD and I ought to be on medication, too, for buying it.
Except for one thing: the core of this album is by far her best work. Robyn works with some of the best producers in the R&B genre but this effort is much more her own work than her first two CDs. She also works with some of Sweden's best musicians and that's much more evident here, too. "Blow My Mind" and "Moonlight" add a beautiful touch of New Age to her pop style. I think they're also an indication of the direction she wants to take her career in her next production. If she does it'll be a sea change. Anything like these two tunes and she'll have the most ethereal yet subtly whimsical album since "Yellow Submarine."
But there's still a lot of the "old" Robyn to appreciate, too. It is, after all, a dance album. [After ABBA, it's like dance CDs are now required by Swedish law!] "Keep This Fire Burning" is actually a good tune despite the bad video but if you want to dance, try "Big City." And if you dance way too much, there 's "Psycho." Our Girl has a dark side to her that attracts I-don't-know-what but telling these guys off must be the highlight of her life. She also borrows a couple of bars from "Lady Marmalade" that make "Psycho" kick like a stiletto heel.
Of course I'm 105 years old and maybe I'll be the only one to appreciate a Big Band standard from the 40's called "Regntunga Skyar" ("Rain-Soaked Skies"). Alice 'Babs' Nilsson is a legend in Sweden and Robyn's voice is a fitting tribute to her. And I'll definitely be the first in line to buy an entire CD of Robyn as cabaret singer. I should live so long, but Robyn definitely has 60 years of experience in a 24 year-old voice.
