Tove Lo's fourth album, Sunshine Kitty, offers a surprising progression for the Swedish synth-pop singer. Sure, she's no stranger to radio hits, but past songs like "Habits (Stay High)" or "Cool Girl," although catchy, felt like the product of a record label. She was situated somewhere in between Carly Rae Jepsen's tween bubblegum pop and Miley Cyrus's hypersexual shock value.
With Sunshine Kitty, she's starting to make a bit more sense. The album's first full-length track (after a short instrumental intro), "Glad He's Gone" is a feminist anthem that explores topics surrounding toxic masculinity. She's singing about a friend's shitty boyfriend, and it doesn't feel like a gimmicky after-school special; it feels relatable and raw.
"Bad as the Boys" is a breakup song about another woman, adding Tove Lo to the roster of queer pop stars that are challenging the classic hetero-normative narrative in most love songs. "Really Don't Like U" is a classic jealousy song that is hyper-aware of the anti-feminist connotations that surround the internal struggle of meeting your ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend.
Amplified by Kylie Minogue, "Really Don't Like U" is one of Sunshine Kitty's strongest tracks. The pairing is so perfect, since Sunshine Kitty as a whole really leans into the late '90s/ early 2000s synth-pop style and composition. "Really Don't Like U" takes you back to Minogue's classic hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head," a song no one wants to forget.
Fourteen tracks of synth-pop is bold, especially when two are men's names ("Mateo" and "Jacques" feel really repetitive). Although Sunshine Kitty could be shaved down a bit, this album feels like the first time Tove Lo is really situating herself on her own ground. It's sexy, raw, and honest — but above all, Sunshine Kitty is just really good dance music. Essentially, every song on this album would bring anyone to their feet.
(Universal)
With Sunshine Kitty, she's starting to make a bit more sense. The album's first full-length track (after a short instrumental intro), "Glad He's Gone" is a feminist anthem that explores topics surrounding toxic masculinity. She's singing about a friend's shitty boyfriend, and it doesn't feel like a gimmicky after-school special; it feels relatable and raw.
"Bad as the Boys" is a breakup song about another woman, adding Tove Lo to the roster of queer pop stars that are challenging the classic hetero-normative narrative in most love songs. "Really Don't Like U" is a classic jealousy song that is hyper-aware of the anti-feminist connotations that surround the internal struggle of meeting your ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend.
Amplified by Kylie Minogue, "Really Don't Like U" is one of Sunshine Kitty's strongest tracks. The pairing is so perfect, since Sunshine Kitty as a whole really leans into the late '90s/ early 2000s synth-pop style and composition. "Really Don't Like U" takes you back to Minogue's classic hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head," a song no one wants to forget.
Fourteen tracks of synth-pop is bold, especially when two are men's names ("Mateo" and "Jacques" feel really repetitive). Although Sunshine Kitty could be shaved down a bit, this album feels like the first time Tove Lo is really situating herself on her own ground. It's sexy, raw, and honest — but above all, Sunshine Kitty is just really good dance music. Essentially, every song on this album would bring anyone to their feet.