Album Review: Tove Lo – “Queen of the Clouds”

If there is one thing that blogging about pop music has taught me, it’s that no country produces artists with a more creative and flexible approach to crafting perfectly executed pop music like Sweden. Swedish singer/songwriter Tove Lo is no exception to this rule.

Tove Lo, a graduate of Stockholm’s prestigious and rigorous Rytmus Music school, has already had a taste of success in America with her hit single “Habits (Stay High),” which has been certified RIAA gold and is now approaching platinum status in the United States. With the release of her debut album “Queen of the Clouds,” Tove Lo is poised to continue her rapid rise to pop stardom.

“Queen of the Clouds,” out September 30th via Island Records, features the emotionally charged ballad “Habits (Stay High)”, but that’s just the beginning. The record is not only packed full of radio friendly cuts, it also flirts effortlessly and brazenly with various musical styles to create a truly outstanding album.  If you are under the impression that “Habits (Stay High)” is the best thing that Tove Lo has to offer, “Queen of the Clouds” effectively obliterates that notion. Tove Lo’s debut is one of those rare albums that can be enjoyed on both a highly emotional or purely superficial level. That’s what makes it such a vivacious collection of songs. Over the slick production and sing-along choruses, you can sense the deep connection that Tove Lo has to the words she is singing. This intense connection is audible on every track found on “Queen of the Clouds.”

An exquisite example of Tove’s deep emotional connection comes in her chill-inducing performance on the song “The Way That I Am”. If there ever was a song where pop sensibility perfectly mixes with gritty emotion, here it is. The listener gets an almost voyeuristic glimpse into the mind of someone who has just fallen head over heels in love with someone. When Tove Lo declares, with a detectable feeling of uncertainty, “I’m falling in love, and I hope that you want me the way that I am,” it’s nothing short of captivating. It’s easy to relate to every word that falls from her mouth because we’ve all faced the troubling possibility of rejection by someone who we have grown to love. For me, what elevates the song to another level is the foreboding quality that lurks quietly below the surface threatening to surface at any moment. With each listen, you can experience the song in another way.

It is rare to find a young pop singer releasing music of this caliber. Thankfully, Tove Lo has chosen to bypass the gimmicky dance beats and cliché lyrics that audaciously litter some pop songs of today. “Queen of the Clouds”, is more than a magnificent pop album, it also serves as a testament to the ability of young artists to deliver fresh, exciting music. Fans of emotional songwriting, passionate vocals, and vibrant production need to sit up and pay very close attention to Tove Lo and “Queen of the Clouds.” We are witnessing the early work of a pop music phenomenon who is here to stay.

“Queen of the Clouds” will be released on September 30th via Island Records. You can pre-order the album right now on iTunes.