How will Tove Lo’s just-released new album ‘Lady Wood’ fare in David’s latest album review?
Will she be sending flowers or wishing a pox upon his house?
Tove Lo rocketed onto the charts and into our lives back in 2015 with the smash hit ‘Stay High’ and brought attention to her broody Swede-pop style.
Featuring on another stellar track this year with Nick Jonas (the super-sexy ‘Close’) it’s obvious she has a lot of talent and a knack for a good pop tune.
Album number one was a mixed affair, but what does album two (curiously called ‘Lady Wood’) bring to the table?
Let’s start with the good stuff; there are some cracking pop tunes here. Split into two “chapters,” the first half is about experiencing the highs of life, the second features the lows.
‘True Disaster’ is a standout for its slinky synths, ’80s-tinged arrangements and strong vocals.
Another beautiful track with a message we could all relate to is ‘Imaginary Friend’. There’s something tragic and stunning about the juxtaposition this song presents and I am a major fan.
What doesn’t work very well is the lack of radio friendly hits. To get the fan base the modern pop star needs to experience mainstream success, it’s not enough to have one or two good tracks with the rest as album filler.
‘Lady Wood’ has this problem, which is a shame because I feel like she deserves so much more. Now, this doesn’t mean the songs here aren’t good, but they just don’t offer Tove Lo many options to expand her audience.
When I listen to an album, I think about the scenario where I might put it on to enjoy it. When I listen to ‘Lady Wood’, the only situation I would but it on is as background music while I work or clean.
Neither of these scenarios is deserving of someone as talented as Tove Lo.
VERDICT : 3/5.
MUST LISTEN : True Disaster, Vibes, Imaginary Friend.
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