Robyn by Robyn (CD, May-2005, Konichiwa)

BMG tried to turn Robyn into Britney Spears, Jive didn't promote her work internationally and ultimately attempted to veto tracks she felt strongly about. She bought out her Jive contract and started a record label. While watching Chappelle's Show she saw a sketch featuring Wu Tang Clan member The RZA in which he used the line "Konnichiwa Bitches." She cracked up and decided to not only record a song entitled "Konniciwa Bitches" but to call her new venture "Konichiwa Records."
In this self entitled effort Robyn collaborates with The Teddy Bears and Kleerup respectively on tracks "Cobrastyle" (Which the Teddy Bears released previously with Mad Cobra) and "With Every Heartbeat" which appeared on a previous Kleerup album. The entire album seems an ecclectic mix of funky hip hop beats and baselines and electronic synthesizers. It's a rich mix of dance music, soulful balads and tongue in cheek humor. Tracks like "Handle Me" and "Bum Like You" show Robyn's playful side while demonstrating that she's a serious musician. Balads like "Anytime you Like" and "Eclipse" show her range as an artist and prove her versitility and growth as an artist. By far the BEST track on the album has to be "Be Mine" Be Mine starts on (the one/an upbeat) the way all Funk does and the base line is supported by chellos, violas and violins and the vocal blending is simply masterful. It's no wonder that Robyn feels it's admittedly the best song she's ever written.
Robyn calls the self entitled effort an album of "singles" and insist that there "isn't a bad track on it" and this reviewer will have to agree. Robyn proves yet again why she remains Sweden's top selling female artist and why this album sold so well in England and the rest of Europe.