- Audio CD (13 Aug 2007)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: CD
- Label: Konichiwa
- ASIN: B000NOKESQ
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 193,980 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Robin Carlsson--better known as Robyn, the diminutive Swedish fireball who scored a hit with 1997’s "Show Me Love"--has slowly but surely made her mark as an international R & B queen. Robyn, her fourth album, is arguably her strongest statement to date, jam-packed with sassy, streetwise lyrics and an array of novel beats and songs. Tracks like "Be Mine" and the playful, upbeat "Konichiwa Bitches" are instant, immaculate pop gems, while "With Every Heartbeat"--which boasts a Royksopp-esque melancholy, sidereal bleeps and rousing strings--is much more dance than R & B. "Who's That Girl" (produced by The Knife) rides an infectious electroclash groove; "Crash and Burn Girl" is a cheerful take on disco; while "Bum Like Me" and "Should Have Known" (which owes a conspicuous debt to Prince) are shiny slower jams that warn against getting hurt by time-wasting men. With the exception of "Eclipse" and "Anytime You Like", Robyn is a delightfully upbeat album, cementing Robyn’s reputation as a kick-ass pop diva with some seriously deadly Ninja moves. --Danny McKenna
Review
To internet music geeks everywhere Robyn needs absolutely no introduction. Queen of the blogosphere in 2006, the self-titled Robyn has been imported from Sweden and analysed time and time again. But then again even the casual music fan probably knows who she is - after all her big 1998 hit "Show Me Love" is a stalwart of every 1990s compilation, and little did we know Beverley Knight's "Keep The Fire Burning" is a Robyn classic.
Now almost 10 years after her original success, Robyn finally returns to the UK celebrating her new found independence as CEO of Konichiwa Records with the fierce "Konichiwa Bitches". Like Peaches, but more goofy, it's the first of two rap-laden tracks on the album, the second being a sweet cover of fellow Swedes Teddybears STHLM track "Cobrastyle".
Where Robyn's skills really lie is in creating the perfect bittersweet love song. "Be Mine!" (complete with exclamation mark to warm a pop fan's heart) is emotionally choking. An agitated cello and an urgent drumbeat accompany the description of a feeling we can all relate to - loving someone who doesn't love you back. Building until a devasting spoken-word breakdown, 'I just miss you... that's all.' - breaks your heart.
There's no time to wipe the tears away with the sublime "With Every Heartbeat" following. Produced by Kleerup (former member of Teddybears and the drummer in Robyn's live band), if we could hear no other song but this for the rest of our life, we would be content. Our fingers reach to touch the lasers as euphoric yet melancholy strings swell and Robyn defiantly promises to 'never look back'.
The fact that we've not even left room to comment on how the mighty Knife produced the glistening steel-drum ridden "Who's That Girl", the perkiness of the cute "Bum Like Me" or how Jamelia would kill for a ballad as elegant as "Handle Me" shows quite how magnificent Robyn is. Whether the British public end up welcoming her back is quite a different matter, but if you're after pop with feeling - you won't want to miss this. --Talia Kraines
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The chances are that most of you are here due to the massive success of With every Heartbeat, the single getting rotation play on Radio. But don't be fooled. This is no dance/trance lite album as the etheral single suggests.
Robyn isn't afraid to break out the dirty side, and most of this album is an example of just what Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas wished she was. With an Electro Rap tinge to many of the tracks this comes as a refreshing surprise. The single sits well within the album, and it is nice to see that she didn't repeat the same formula ad nauseum throughout.
Overall this is a nicely paced album, she obviously has a good voice but can also cut her tempo down to a rap/talk. This suits the bouncy beats that run throughout the record and ensure you will be moving in some way regardless.
This will doubtless be a massively successful venture if the people into the single buy this release. Deservedly so, a great dance album from a considerible talent. Just don't be fooled by the tender single, the bonus track is Chas and Dave meets the White Stripes singing about the joys of giving hand pleasure to someone in a variety of venues!
Robyn isn't afraid to break out the dirty side, and most of this album is an example of just what Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas wished she was. With an Electro Rap tinge to many of the tracks this comes as a refreshing surprise. The single sits well within the album, and it is nice to see that she didn't repeat the same formula ad nauseum throughout.
Overall this is a nicely paced album, she obviously has a good voice but can also cut her tempo down to a rap/talk. This suits the bouncy beats that run throughout the record and ensure you will be moving in some way regardless.
This will doubtless be a massively successful venture if the people into the single buy this release. Deservedly so, a great dance album from a considerible talent. Just don't be fooled by the tender single, the bonus track is Chas and Dave meets the White Stripes singing about the joys of giving hand pleasure to someone in a variety of venues!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've been wanting this CD for a while. I had trouble finding one even after this 3rd version of it's release (The Island Records Group, with U.K. bonus track "Jack U Off"). If you can find one, GET IT! I love it. I've been a fan of Robyn since her U.S. debut "do you know what it takes" aired on R&B & Hip Hop Radio. Only one criticism: "Handle Me" is cencored. I didn't expect that, since "Should Have Known" contains the "F" word. I do know that "Handle Me" will be the next single released, so HOPEFULLY they will include the ORIGINAL unedited version on there for people that are not offended easily. I'll be sure to get it too, because it's a great song as well.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Yes, it's the same Robyn who had a few cute (and pretty memorable) hits in the late 90s. Somehow she got elbowed from our airwaves in favour of Britney, Christina et al, and you'd be forgiven for forgetting she ever existed. Which would be a bit of a shame really.
I hold up my hand, as an alleged "grown up" and lover of music with proper guitars, etc - I like this record. Quite a lot. I don't like *every* track without exception, but a number of songs, especially the tearstained angst of "Be Mine" and the frenetic "With Every Heartbeat", are nothing short of fantastic. "Bum Like You" is the best song (or perhaps the *only* song) I've ever heard about falling for a tramp (unless I'm taking her too literally) and "Robot Boy" falls just the right side of cutesy - which is a lot more than can be said of Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape" single.
Refreshing to hear a female singer warbling about something other than "I love him/he's a pig/I can't get over him" etc (although she seems to do these equally well, to be fair - see "Eclipse").
It would seem Radio 1 are now playing "Heartbeat", so I'm expecting to hear a lot more people wondering aloud, as I did; "haven't I seen that girl before somewhere? She looks awfully familiar..."
And, for the record, am I the only one who thinks she occasionally sounds a little like Kate Bush on helium? Which isn't a bad thing in any way... Listen to the beginning of "Heartbeat" and you'll hear it.
Buy it - you maybe won't like every song. I'm finding "Who's That Girl" a little too reminiscent of the Madonna track of the same name (and that wasn't exactly Madge's pinacle of excellence - although I probably shouldn't admit to being old enough to remember it!) and I'm not particular taken with the down-wit-the-ho's rapping on "Bitches", but hey, if Ms Furtado can get away with it then it's worth a go... My feeling is that she's maybe trying a number of different styles to find out what works best and much respect to her for that.
I hold up my hand, as an alleged "grown up" and lover of music with proper guitars, etc - I like this record. Quite a lot. I don't like *every* track without exception, but a number of songs, especially the tearstained angst of "Be Mine" and the frenetic "With Every Heartbeat", are nothing short of fantastic. "Bum Like You" is the best song (or perhaps the *only* song) I've ever heard about falling for a tramp (unless I'm taking her too literally) and "Robot Boy" falls just the right side of cutesy - which is a lot more than can be said of Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape" single.
Refreshing to hear a female singer warbling about something other than "I love him/he's a pig/I can't get over him" etc (although she seems to do these equally well, to be fair - see "Eclipse").
It would seem Radio 1 are now playing "Heartbeat", so I'm expecting to hear a lot more people wondering aloud, as I did; "haven't I seen that girl before somewhere? She looks awfully familiar..."
And, for the record, am I the only one who thinks she occasionally sounds a little like Kate Bush on helium? Which isn't a bad thing in any way... Listen to the beginning of "Heartbeat" and you'll hear it.
Buy it - you maybe won't like every song. I'm finding "Who's That Girl" a little too reminiscent of the Madonna track of the same name (and that wasn't exactly Madge's pinacle of excellence - although I probably shouldn't admit to being old enough to remember it!) and I'm not particular taken with the down-wit-the-ho's rapping on "Bitches", but hey, if Ms Furtado can get away with it then it's worth a go... My feeling is that she's maybe trying a number of different styles to find out what works best and much respect to her for that.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Surprised!
I bought this album on the strength of hearing the acoustic version of one of the tracks, as promo soundtrack for a television 'crime season'. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Araniadea
The return of Robyn
Buying an album off the back of a number one single is quite risky. However with Robyn's album, "Robyn", I'm pleased to say the risk paid off when I bought this. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Mr. TB Reeks
Robyn
Got CD because I liked some of the tracks from the charts..
but not the nice surprise of: wow all the rest is fab too... Read more
but not the nice surprise of: wow all the rest is fab too... Read more
Published on 29 May 2009 by N. Maxwell
~Robyn~
Recently purchased Robyn's amazingly successful self titled album from Amazon and i have been nothing but bewildered with her magic. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2009 by S. J. Pinder
Terrible!!!
I had heard 'With Every Heartbeat' and thought it was an ok song. Then just before Woolworths shut this CD was at a fiver plus 50% discount. A bargain i thought, how wrong i was! Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2009 by Kevin
Not what I was expecting
I bought this album because I love With Every Heartbeat and Handle Me but I am a bit disappointed because most of the other tracks are a bit boring in my opinion and are rap more... Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2008 by G. Knott
Elfin Achievement
The plaudits are already stacked high and Robyn has every right to be both pleased and proud. Her new album is a veritable jewel box of slick, accomplished, 21st century synth... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2008 by The Wolf
The closest to perfect I've encountered in a while.
I wasn't expecting much from this album to be honest, I bought it because of how much I loved "Be Mine". However, the rest of the album is AMAZING. Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2008 by Jakee
Miss Direction
I am very disappointed. With Every Heartbeat is a classic pop song. No matter how many times I've heard it, it can still bring a smile to my face. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2008 by Patrick O'keeffe
Best all rounder since Savage Garden & Roxette
This is the best all-round perfectly balanced album I've heard since the Savage Garden albums!
Published on 9 Jan 2008 by R. Watson
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