Robyn Albums (3)
'Don't Stop the Music'
Release Date 11/18/2003
Tracks 10
Label BMG International
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
After spreading her artistic wings with mixed success on 1999's My Truth, Robyn returns to more commercial fare on Don't Stop the Music. Once again she co-writes every song on the record, excluding a hidden rendition of Swedish standard "Regntunga Skyar," but the album is generally less introspective and more upbeat than her previous effort. Some fans may bemoan this as a backwards step, but truth be told Don't Stop the Music is a much stronger record for it. Robyn has a great ear for a pop hook, and this album is filled with them. In many ways it represents a culmination of the best elements of her first two albums, Robyn Is Here and My Truth. It has the strong melodies and instant pop appeal of the best songs on her debut, combined with the lyrical intelligence and consistency of her second full-length. There's a definite R&B flavor in places, particularly on the driving beats of the lead single "Keep This Fire Burning." Other tracks, such as the sugary ballad "O Baby" and the title track are closer to the pop sound she was initially famous for. The bitter "Should Have Known" is also notable for its liberal use of the word f*ck, although its use heightens the emotional punch of the song rather than sounding crass. Although once again she failed to recapture much of her audience outside Scandinavia, several songs here were appropriated by other artists. Girl group Play covered the title track on their third album, while U.K. soul diva Beverley Knight hit the U.K. Top Twenty with a cover of "Keep This Fire Burning." Robyn's own versions are generally superior, though. Robyn is the rare pop singer whose material seems to get stronger with each release. ~ John Lucas, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Despite a string of big hits and platinum sales for her debut, Robyn's sophomore effort was never even released in America. Her U.S. record company feared that the record would fail to connect with pop radio, and Robyn, who co-wrote every track, refused to compromise her artistic vision. In the resultant struggle the album was lost, although it was another hit in her native Sweden. Listening to the record, you can understand why the record company was nervous. At the same time, though, it's hardly a radical departure from Robyn Is Here. Indeed, in many ways it's a step forward. While that album was bogged down in filler and samey production, this album is much more organic and mature. There are no truly weak moments. There is a greater focus on the lyrics, which are generally intelligent and introspective. This is not to say that Robyn transformed herself into Lisa Loeb; lead single "Play" is as playful a song as she's ever recorded. Other highlights include the funky "Main Thing" and the distinctive, minimal "Electric." The main problem with the album is that the hooks just aren't as instant or irresistible as those of "Show Me Love" and "Do You Know?" It takes several listens for the songs to really sink in, which could have spelled death among the fast, disposable sounds of pop radio in 1999. Also, the album has a uniformity of sound that can make some songs drift in and out without really making any impression. Record executives may also have been nervous about songs such as "Giving You Back" and "88 Days," which deal with Robyn's guilt over a youthful abortion. Not a commercial blockbuster then, nor a perfect listen, but this album does mark an important step forward for Robyn as an artist, and should be of interest to any fans of her later work. ~ John Lucas, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Robyn's debut album, Robyn Is Here, isn't particularly deep, but it is well-executed Eurotrash dance-pop. The Swedish teenager has an appealingly thin voice, and her producers and songwriters have a knack for crafting hooky dance-pop that sounds as if it was made in 1990, not 1997. Half of the album rides by on mediocre songs and first-rate production, but when Robyn is given a good song -- as on "Show Me Love" and the dynamite "Do You Know (What It Takes)" -- Robyn is Here is as good as mainstream dance-pop gets. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
