Tove Styrke - Call My Name

"I'll be waiting over the border"

I am so proud of Sweden for embracing Tove Styrke. She was so obviously the highlight of her year of Swedish Idol, but my favorites don't always become the country's favorites. In this case, even though she finished third, she's carved out quite a nice little career for herself. Her debut (despite being uneven) spawned three hits, and now we're ready for round two. If this (I'm assuming it's the lead single?) is anything to go by, then I am very excited for the new album. She's gone just a bit rockier with this track. Gone are the icy, experimental electronics that characterized many of the older tracks. Instead, this is pure, BIG pop music. It's built on a repetitive hook but doesn't rest on it. In fact, the verses may be my favorite part. Like most Swedish pop songs, they just get it right.



Tove Styrke - Call My Name by NOiSEiT



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the first album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles of 2010: 45-41

45. The Dirty Disco - Sista!



One of my list’s newer bands, these guys burst on the scene in the best possible way with this rock/electro/glam/hybrid.

44. Hurts - Stay



The first of several songs on the countdown from the group formerly known as Daggers. This is a big, dramatic ballad done right.

43. Example - Last Ones Standing



It’s all about that thundering opening. He found a way to make what can be a niche sound into something stadium-filling. His best single.

42. Tove Styrke - White Light Moment



The Swedish Idol alum proves that she’s the coolest of the cool with this stately electro anthem. Best thing she’s done by far.

41. Marina & The Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot



So good it was released twice. This delicate, icy ballad pushes “quirky” to just the right level. I love it when it takes off at the end.

Tove Styrke - High And Low

"Where's the truth when I need it?"

Time for a belated Tove Styrke post. I had meant to write about this song a few weeks ago when I first heard the album, but it (wrongfully) got lost in the shuffle. As a whole, I've been a little underwhelmed by the album. It's perfectly nice, but the standouts are definitely the singles (especially the closing track). High And Low is my favorite non-single by a mile. It's got a subtle disco-sheen and one of the catchiest melodies on the album. It manages to be slinky and poppy and kind of cold at the same time. Tove's music isn't anything strikingly different than most electro-pop, but she's got the coolest aura about her. From the vocals to image to performance, she is way too cool to come from a reality show. Maybe that's why the album hasn't quite hit me the way I hoped it would. If it's possible, it might just be a little too cool.

Tove Styrke - High And Low by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Tove Styrke - White Light Moment

"I want a perfect moment"

Tove Styrke was hands down the best thing about Swedish Idol last year (exhibit a, exhibit b, etc) and now she's set to release what could be one of the best albums of the year. I loved her first single, Million Pieces, more and more as the Summer went on. And this new one? Wow. This is super impressive, especially when you consider that this is her first album. It combines the best elements of Robyn-esque Swedish pop, though the vocal delivery is all Tove's. She's a born star, plain and simple... and not the sort that shows like Idol usually discover. The chorus is just massive. Strangely, the track is the last selection from the album (you can hear clips here). It's a pretty ballsy move, and a testament to how consistent the album's bound to be. It's a shame that she's not getting more attention outside of Sweden because an artist with this much potential doesn't come around too often. We throw around the word "x-factor" all the time. Tove's definitely got it.

Tove Styrke - White Light Moment by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.