{"id":2558,"date":"2010-07-14T13:30:50","date_gmt":"2010-07-14T17:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=2558"},"modified":"2010-07-14T13:30:50","modified_gmt":"2010-07-14T17:30:50","slug":"robyns-body-talk-part-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=2558","title":{"rendered":"Robyn’s Body Talk: Part One"},"content":{"rendered":"

Readers may remember two years ago I reviewed Madonna\u2019s \u201cHard Candy\u201d album. In that review I discussed the always evolving role of music producers in an artist\u2019s album and stated<\/a>, \u201cMadonna wants you to dance, even if it means sacrificing herself on the altar of the producer.\u201d I didn\u2019t think it was a bad thing, and I still don\u2019t. However, I just got done listening to Robyn\u2019s new album \u201cBody Talk Pt. 1\u201d and I have to say, despite working with some big name producers, I feel as if the producers were sacrificed on the altar of Robyn\u2019s pop music vision. Of course, what else would you expect from a pop music star who on her previous album said she\u2019s \u201cgonna\u2019 make your balls bounce like a game of ping pong\u201d?<\/p>\n

Now before I launch into all the details of why I love this album, because I do love it, I first have a little beef with Robyn. Her new album \u201cBody Talk Pt. 1\u201d is one of three albums she will be releasing this year. It has only 8 tracks. In doing some poking around on line I see that this is all by design. It looks like the plan is that the three \u201cBody Talk\u201d albums are part of this rolling, evolving plan where she tours with the new songs, while testing out even newer stuff on the road, while leaking some tracks on line, to come together for an album, continually repeating until all three albums are out. It\u2019s genius. This is the out of the box thinking that is going to save pop music. While labels are in a panic wondering how to engage a new technology savvy generation, Robyn is out there with Konichiwa Records doing it. If I think it\u2019s so gosh darn awesome, what is there to complain about? Robyn, meet me in the next paragraph\u2026.<\/p>\n

Robyn, ROBYN, I love you! You kick so much ass it is not to be believed. So I need to ask, why are you torturing me? TORTURING ME! While you\u2019re out there shooting adrenaline into a tired music paradigm with your live shows and leaked internet tracks, I\u2019m stuck in the United States. Yes, AMERICA. You know, where you\u2019re barely touring, where much of your online stuff is blocked. While Europe is out there partying their way through your year of \u201cBody Talk\u201d I\u2019m stuck in the U.S. with an album with only 8 songs! I can\u2019t imagine it\u2019s personal. You were 100% adorable in your appearance on \u201cThe Daily Show\u201d a year or so ago. So why, oh why must you hurt me so?<\/p>\n

With that out of the way, let\u2019s take a look at \u201cBody Talk Pt. 1\u201d. I was hoping that the new album would open with a new version of \u201c Curriculum Vitae<\/a>\u201d but alas, there is no one there to remind us that Robyn \u201cis listed in section 202 of the United Nations Security Act of 1979 as being too hot to wear tight sweaters in international airspace.\u201d The opening song is \u201cDon\u2019t F**king Tell Me What to Do\u201d. It\u2019s a quirky song where Robyn lists off things that are killing her over a techno beat but then tells you \u201cdon\u2019t f**king tell me what to do.\u201d It\u2019s an all right track but personally I would love to hear what some remixers could chop it up into. (Robyn did do a neat Twitter contest where you tweeted what was killing you and it may end up in the music video for the song. See? Engaging through new technology.) Next up is \u201cFembot\u201d which has a catchy 80\u2019s breaking beat and insanely clever lyrics, \u201cMy superbrain is a binary. Circuitry and mainframe tin-foil hair, I’m sipping propane topped with a cherry. In fact I’m a very scientifically advanced hot mama, Artificially discreet no drama, Digitally chic titanium mama. I’ve got some news for you, Fembots have feelings too. You split my heart in two. Now what you gonna\u2019 do?\u201d You know at some point a producer was like, you want to do a song about you being some sort of sex robot? And Robyn was like, don\u2019t MAKE me, make your balls bounce like a game of ping pong. Lyrically speaking she, or someone she works with, is way up on their tech talk because you groove while she sings about CPUs, calculators, and space cadets.<\/p>\n

After that this mini album really hits its stride with \u201cDancing on My Own\u201d. This is every thing you want from a pop song: driving beats, broken hearts, anthemic choruses, and the angelic bridge leading you into the banging drum to chorus. Check it out here (please note, I LOVE the song, I\u2019m pretty whatever about the video):<\/p>\n