Music
Lykke Li, I Never Learn Lykke Li has described her third album, I Never Learn,asthe final install- mentinatrilogy, but the lonelywoman atthe centerof thenew setis almost unrecognizable compared with the honeydew -voiced pixie who arrived with 2008's Youth Novels. Back then, the Swedish singer- songwriter embodied the joy of possibility, both professionally and personally. Lisangabout flir- tationon songslike "Little Bit" and "Dance, Dance, Dance" in acharmingly timid voice, with sparse, tweeindie-popasher chosen medium,yether quirky curiosity hinted that she could expand her sound (and audience) in several different directions. Li fulfilledsomeof this promise with her bigger,moreconfident 2011sophomore album, Wounded Rhymes, whichwasprimedtobe her mainstream coronation, but it nevertruly caught hold. The nine self -described "power ballads" of I Never Learn, however, mostly abandonany attempt to turnLi intoalate -bloomingpop star.Her brightly colored early singlesare adistantmemory:Li isnow28, coping withadevastating recent breakup, and synthesizing that sorrowintoaglorious bummer of athird album. Liwrote mostof I Never Learnonpiano and acoustic guitar, fragile delivery has blossomed intoanearthytonethat recalls with the clear intention of strippingawaythe denseness ofPJ Harvey in its emotional honesty. Working with Bjorn Yttling Wounded Rhymes and presenting her heartbreak in themost and Greg Kurstinonthis album,aswellasself -producing for the unclutteredmannerimaginable. Throughout the first time, Li channels this newfound singing strength album, Li's pleas for reconciliationarepaired with into bareversesthat burst into swelling hooks. On echoing guitar chords, each syllable foregrounded "Gunshot," the productionturns on adime after the and lingering. "Even though it hurts,eventhough it haunting firstverseandopens upintoafull-throated scars,lovemewhen itstorms,lovemewhen I fall," chorus;asimilar transitionoccursin "No Rest for the she singsonthe ghostly single "Love Me Like I'm Wicked," which thrivesonits instantly hummable Not Made ofStone," the cracks in her voice matching harmonies. Beneath the album's unhappinessare pop the sounds of sliding fingersonher guitar strings. smarts,and Lican nowslice throughajuicy hook bet- The album is foundedon apile of bleak metaphors, PRODUCERS: Bjorn Yttling, terthanever. and Li often describes herselfasdreaming in the lyr- Greg Kurstin, Lykke Li I Never Learn isabrave album-it couldverywell ics, yearning for fantasy and dreading the wake-up LABEL: LL Recordings/ alienatemorefans than it brings in. But Li'ssong- Atlantic Records call. On the devastating lastsong,"Sleeping Alone," writing is exquisite in its vulnerability; she hasnever evenslumber can'tcureher heartache-she dimly RELEASE DATE: May 6 soundedmore sureof her aesthetic than she does in hopes that "someway,somehow, somewhere down hermostmiserablemoment.Like Beyonce's self -titled the line," she'llcrosspaths with theonewho usedto see heroffLP lastyear,this isa"grown -woman" album, butonefocusedon toher dream world. the sobering end of youth rather than the blissful beginnings of The progression of Li's vocalpower overthecourseof heradulthood. Beyoncewasdrunk in love; Li,onthe other hand, is three albums has been remarkable: What beganas abreathy, suffering from the hangover. -Jason Lipshutz
34 BILLBOARD I MAY 3. 2014