Loney, Dear

Loney, Dear
Loney, Noir
(Sub Pop)
If you’ve had your fill of Sufjan Stevens, but are still addicted to smart, catchy alterna-pop, get this new disc by Swedish wunderkid Emil Svanangen, another talented multi-instrumentalist. Loney, Noir has all the brilliance and wonder of early Belle and Sebastian EPs combined with the dexterous arrangements reminiscent of Stevens and the Asthmatic Kitty. Opener “Sinister in a State of Hope” will grab you after the first few bars. “I Will Call You Lover Again” and “I Am John” are unapologetically charming if not flat-out joyous, as is the rising tide and handclaps of “Hard Days 1,2,3,4.” There isn’t a single toss-off in the lot, each song as irresistible as the last.
—Dave Hayden