This is the new album from Swedish songstress Anna Ternheim, this time produced by Bjorn of PBJ fame (who also produced Lykke Li’s debut album Youth Novels). I first saw Anna Ternheim opening for El Perro Del Mar and Lykke Li at Schuba’s over a year ago, and I was instantly impressed with her genuine presence and prideful songs. She was one of those few people you see who really explains where the songs came from and then belts them out with all the feeling you can imagine (a la VH1 Storytellers or something but more genuine).

Anyway, I wasn’t really too familiar with her material beyond that. A real genuine singer/songwriter feel as she stood up there with her acoustic guitar and you could really feel every lyric as she sang it. Now bring to that mix the understated minimalist electro-production of Bjorn Yttling (as he did with Lykke Li) and it combines to have a lot of similarities to the Lykke Li record, but with a decidedly more singer-songwriter vibe. Some songs are more chilled out electro-jams (”What Have I Done” & “Let It Rain”) and more acoustic singer-songwriter songs (”Off The Road” & “Summer Rain”). There are also songs that combine both worlds together such as with “No, I Don’t Remember”, and sometimes even including strings/classical elements such as with the trashcan drums/strings mix on the great “Damaged Ones”.

Though the record is not as instantly hip and gratifying as Lykke Li’s record, it is something a little more fleshed out, a little slower, a little more passionate and genuine sounding. It may not be for everybody, and to be sure this is a different album, but it is definitely worth a chance to check out as Anna certainly brings some heartfelt songs to the table and Bjorn has done a great job of bringing out some unique arrangements and production out of them. This is also a more conventional kind of record, but I think the presentation and sincerity is what makes it noteworthy. If you enjoyed Lykke Li’s album and you also enjoy more folk-y singer/songwriter material as well then this is a great combination of both.

BV Rate: 74

Anna Ternheim – Damaged Ones – From Leaving on a Mayday