Jens Lekman - "When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog"

In a chat conversation while listening to Jens Lekman for the first time, I made the following comments:

""you are the light" is like a smiths song covered by a lounge singer"

"if richard cheese had a better voice and played for indie kids, and covered the smiths, that would be jens lekman."

And while, as the album progresses, it becomes apparent that Lekman has more in common with the Smiths themselves than a Richard Cheese (especially on tracks like the haunting "Silvia" and the moody melancholy of "The Cold Swedish Winter"). Lekman sort of sneaks up on you. The second track on the album almost sweeps by before you realize he's singing "Happy Birthday," and then "You Are the Light" is a surprisingly upbeat tune about getting arrested.

It's entirely refreshing to hear an artist who is more than just what they seem like on the surface.

**** out of *****
4 out of 5