Sara Lunden
Sweet sweet sweet the beat
Lobotom Records
I'm usually able to decide how I feel about a recording after just one or two plays, but this record by Swedish singer/performance artist Sara Lunden stumped me. It took four full spins to get a handle on it, and I've concluded it's a slightly above-average work that requires just the right level of attention to reveal its strengths. Sara offers melancholy ballads and occasionally quirky pop tunes (utilizing guitar and synth) with love and loneliness as primary topics, and there's no denying that her voice oozes sincerity. But it doesn't really grab you most of the time. The arrangements are underwhelming, often demo-quality, and although her chords are generally nice, she rarely makes a creative splash. "One night" and "You" are decent tunes that show potential; with a good producer or half a dozen more stellar tracks, Ms. Lunden could up her creative ante. But much of this record dissipates too quickly in the memory, covering territory others have mined more successfully.
- Kevin Renick