Lykke Li, I Never Learn | Album Review

Swedish alternative-pop singer/songwriter Lykke Li  brilliantly captures heartbreak on her third studio album, I Never Learn.

Love and heartbreak are a universal topic, regardless of what place or walk of life you come from. Crafting the perfect or near-perfect heartbreak album, then, shouldn’t be a difficult task. Unfortunately, that is not the case, as making a truly distinct, thoughtfully crafted breakup album requires skill. Swedish alternative-pop singer Lykke Li luckily possesses the talents to craft that caliber of album, doing so exceptionally on I Never Learn. In the brief period of about 33 minutes, Lykke Li is able to produce one of the year’s very best albums. Though her heart is heavy throughout, the pain only affects the Lykke Li in a positive regard.

“I Never Learn”

“I Never Learn” opens the effort with a pronounced acoustic guitar driven sound. While the acoustic sound always dominates, as the cut progresses, more layers of production are added, making the overall sound grandiose. Among those additional layers, the strings are absolutely lush and chilling. Vocally, Lykke Li sounds awesome herself, with her signature sound amplified by sound vocal production that never lets her fight with the total production work. The titular track is a solid start by all means.

While “I Never Learn” is definitely a sound, enjoyable starting point, proceeding single “No Rest For The Wicked” is the cream of the crop – the main attraction. “No Rest For The Weekend” sounds much more pop/urban-leaning compared to the opener, making it more relatable to the mainstream audiences. Even though “No Rest For The Wicked” is accessible, the message is deeper.

“There’ll be no rest for the wicked / There’s no song for the choir / There’s no hope for the weary / If you let them win without a fight.”

Essentially, Lykke Li wants to fight for love.  She wants to return to good, harmonious times.

“Just Like A Dream”

“Just Like A Dream” truly follows a juggernaut in “No Rest For The Wicked,” but it’s no slouch itself. Li’s distinct voice once more gets a lift given its superb vocal production, easily rising above grand production in its own right (listen to how those crisp the percussion sounds). Even though Li is going through a break-up, she doesn’t want to let him go. She’s optimistic, despite reality

“…Darling I beg, come back to me…”

“Silver Line” opens with an infectious percussive groove – definitely a contrast to previous cuts. The songwriting is a selling point, exemplified by strong initiating lines like

“Don’t wake the dream / Don’t shake the axis / Be faith, I need it / Pray I believe it.”

“I’m your silver line, only you will find,” Li sings hauntingly on the chorus. “Silver line, I’ll save you every time.” Essentially, Li suggests she can ‘complete’ and ‘save’ her former lover. Things are particularly powerful during the iterations of “Don’t wake the dreamer.”

“Gunshot”

“Gunshot” opens with a simple, minimalist groove that serves a foreshadowing purpose and allows for development. The simplicity allows for the songwriting and Lykke Li to be the focus, particularly with such dark lyrics the likes of “I am longing for your poison / Like a cancer for its prey…” Obviously, by the time the ‘heartbreak’ shot g”goes through my head and back” upon the chorus, the arrangement has filled out and Lykke Li completely sells her relationship misfortunes. Still, one has to wonder. Can the dude she wants be a savior to her?

“…Carry me and my burden / I was dreaming about you honey / I was hoping you’d save me”

“Love Me Like I’m Not Made Out Of Stone” revives a guitar-driven sound, but also contains an air of tenderness. By the final chorus, Lykke Li sounds affected by the arduous experience of love.

“Even though it hurts, baby / Scars, love me when I fall / It breaks baby, this storm, really / every storm / love me like I’m not made of stone.”

Lykke Li wants real, genuine love; she desires to be treated the same in regards to ‘true love’, regardless whether she excels, falls short, or otherwise

“Love me when it storms / Love me when I fall / Every time it breaks / Every time it storms / Love me like I’m not made of stone.”

Whether or not Lykke Li is made of stone is debatable, but this song isn’t.

“Never Gonna Love Again”

On the beautiful, pop-sensible “Never Gonna Love Again,” Li vows that she’s gonna do just that – “never gonna love again.” As hurt as she is, her broken heart sounds incredibly enthusiastic. Perhaps it’s the major key or the gargantuan refrain. Even singing depressing lyrics such as, “Every time the rain falls, think of me / on a lonely high way / How can we turn around the heartache,” she accepts her lot in love.  Maybe it’s part of the grieving process, a ridiculous, oxymoronic ‘dark-optimism’, but there is a slight sense of celebration.

On“Heart of Steel,” Li struggles hardheartedness, given the lot she’s referenced regarding love. It’s obvious she wants to love, but she’s also afraid of heartbreak occurring once more.

“Oh my heart, don’t break the promise / Every time I pay the price / For a heart that can’t be broken…”

An excellent production feature of “Heart of Steel” is the enthusiastic, Herculean backing vocals. that play into the ‘tone poem’ of the track.

Unsurprisingly, yet appropriately, closing cut “Sleeping Alone” is incredibly moody. It fits into the love-oriented narrative of I Never Learn. Even though Li continues to struggle with the termination of love,  she also continues to show optimism, false or not.

“Someday, somehow / Somewhere down the line / If you save your heart for mine / We’ll meet again, we’ll meet again,”

she sings on one of the choruses. “Sleeping Alone” caps off a sensational LP sensationally.

Final Thoughts

Heartbreak is never enjoyable, but Lykke Li makes it alluring on I Never Learn. Incredibly mature, I Never Learn is consistent from start to finish. There is little to nitpick.

Gems: “No Rest For The Wicked,” “Just Like A Dream,” “Never Gonna Love Again” & “Heart of Steel”

Lykke Li • I Never Learn • Atlantic • Release: 5.6.14

Photo Credit: Atlantic