Jens Lekman - I Know What Love Isn't

Jens Lekman
I Know What Love Isn't
Secretly Canadian (2012)
By Jacob Worthing

Swedish artist Jens Lekman has always been known for his unique style that makes him recognizable as soon as his songs are played. His free sound is centered on him and his acoustic guitar, but the feeling he creates varies consistently. Lekman has the ability to create wonderful works of music, as he has proven before with such songs as “Black Cab” or “Your Arms Around Me,” and his new album doesn’t fall short of his reputation for colorful songs with enlightening lyrics that take the listener for a ride.

I Know What Love Isn’t is a perfect show of Lekman’s strengths as an artist. The album showcases how his smooth and fluent style turns songs from music into stories. Many of the songs on the album take the listener through many different emotions, ultimately turning the whole album into a single experience around the theme of love and hardships. No one song overpowers or overshadows the others, and each song keeps the flow of the album steady.

As the album progresses, the sound of the songs almost symbolically takes you through the feelings of a love gone sour. The journey starts off with the playful tones of “I Know What Love Isn’t” and continues with the hints of longing in “Every Little Hair Knows Your Name” before moving on to a phase of recognition in the songs “The World Moves On” and “The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love.” The album ends with another song titled “Every Little Hair Knows Your Name,” which emphasizes the journey of a bad relationship. The song is a piano version of the earlier song and it has a weird vibe to it; for some, it may be the sweet ending to a beautiful album, while others may see it as something more real, like the permanent end to a relationship.

Overall, the album is beautifully organized and every song seems like a part of the story. Personally, I find each song satisfying by itself but even better as a whole album. I feel that the songs “I Know What Love Isn’t” and “The World Moves On” will be well-received because of how well Lekman conveys his message through his playful style. I love this album and would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of meaningful music due to how effectively it expresses, advertently or inadvertently, the feelings of love. The album is a great experience for any listener, because it is more than just an album -- it is an aid for understanding an important aspect of life.