ALBUM REVIEW: Tove Lo fights for love on ‘Dirt Femme’

Tove Lo, Dirt Femme, Tove Lo Dirt Femme

Tove Lo, “Dirt Femme.”

On Dirt Femme, her fifth album, Swedish pop songstress Tove Lo delivers another strong collection of synth-infused pop anthems. This time out, she digs deeper into femininity more broadly, writing songs of vulnerability. Now married, she’s said that she feels she can be rough around the edges without having to show more masculine traits—which she says she did before, to feel like she fit in. This album is the first that Tove Lo has released on her own label, another freeing aspect to her creative process.

Dirt Femme
Tove Lo
Pretty Swede, Oct. 14
7/10

Dirt Femme’s dozen tracks are slick and well-crafted, with tight arrangements and explosive melodies. Cascading synths open the record on “No One Dies From Love,” co-written with longtime collaborator Ludvig Söderberg in Malibu. The song leans heavy into dancehall grooves with a full dance break to close it out.



The journey to the dance floor continues on “2 Die 4,” a natural companion to the opening track but with an poppy sense of urgency. The sparse synth has an infectiousness to it that makes the song an instant earworm.

“Suburbia” is a lyrically interesting song about the mental back and forth of settling down to the suburbs, the singer trying to reconcile what her future might look like.

“You are the love of my life/ But I can’t be no Stepford wife,” she sings.

The mood comes down for the bass-heavy balladry of “True Romance,” written to match the storyline of the ’90s movie of the same name. The song is a good change of pace from the highly produced tracks that open the record; it is more nuanced and atmospheric. This space lets her voice shine through.

She tackles teenage eating disorders on “Grapefruit,” singing of the struggles of counting calories and body positivity. It’s a poignant message and the song works well, even if the lyrics are occasionally a little too on the nose.



The record features a handful of collaborations, including Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit on folky pop jam “Cute and Cruel.” One could envision what the big beats and loops would sound like if they were present, but here they’re stripped away; just some of the synths remaining. Tove Lo taps English musician SG Lewis for the triumphant “Call On Me” and beat-forward “Pineapple Slice.” The former is one of the album’s best moments. It’s urgent and memorable, featuring an explosive arrangement and excellent delivery.

Rapper Channel Tres joins in on “Attention Whore,” another instant classic with a disco-centric beat and a memorable hook. He offers a deep baritone spoken-word verse. This one will thrive in dance halls.

“I’m to Blame” takes things in an entirely different direction. With a light percussive loop, this ’70s-inspired acoustic cut brings a different flavor to the album.

“Kick In the Head,” meanwhile, is a radio-ready pop banger, heavy on percussion with an in-the-pocket vocal occasionally turning to darker melodies and a low delivery.

“It’s easier to sleep than let go of my dreams,” Tove Lo sings.

Closer “How Long” provides an apt bookend, bringing the record back to where it started with an anthemic and introspective pop hook. Most fans should find a lot to like on Dirt Femme because there’s plenty of stylistic variance to go around.



Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald.

No Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *