A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.
Jens Lekman - I Know What Love Isn't
Jens Lekman isn't about to take my advice. He doesn't want feedback and why should he? He has proven his musical acumen over the years and on I Know What Love Isn't he makes a case for musical genius. From the opening piano number that seems to set the scene but then doesn't, as the album quickly changes up. It goes on to include an air of adult contemporary with the sax - though he doesn't go full Kenny G on us like Destroyer did on last year's Kaputt. Amidst the varied and lovely instrumentation, keying on piano but also featuring violin and brushed percussion, he has no problem dropping lines without hesitation like "it's just some dirt on your shoulder" and "someone should make a pamphlet called 'So You Think You're in Love with Jennifer'". He even has the nerve to bookend it by titling both the opening and the closing tracks the exact same thing. You'd think the title track would be a morose, downbeat affair that tugs at the heartstrings but it rolls out with a surprising spring in its step, a tambourine and a xylophone. Apparently I am the one who doesn't know what music is, or is supposed to be. While bucking conventions Jens has included a number of faux pas and yet has still crafted a wonderfully textured record that takes a sly, offbeat approach to heartbreak that completely works. Kudos.
Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.
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