CREDIT: ISLAND RECORDS
Whether the song is about sex, getting high or about life in general, Lady Wood is a catchy, relatable album.

Tove Lo, the Swedish singer songwriter behind the dark and hard hitting “Habits (Stay High)” returned with her sophomore album Lady Wood on Oct 28.

Staying true to her grungy and vice-driven persona, Lady Wood focuses on all kinds of highs from drugs to love.

The dark tech-house production on Lady Wood is fairly consistent throughout and provides a spacious backdrop that allows the listener to focus on Tove Lo’s lyrics. Although not as bare-bones as a Lorde track, much of Lady Wood’s instrumentals seem almost like they are watching from the sideline, not bringing much but a beat to bob along to.

Tove Lo has declared the album to be a concept piece about chasing highs and what comes after. The first half, introduced by the instrumental track “Fairy Dust – Chapter I”, looks at the mildly self-destructive nature of chasing the highs. It’s not that the singer is unaware of the repercussions, she just tends to throw caution to the wind as seen in “True Disaster” where she sings “Come on, I know I’m gonna get hurt… Come on, zero f**ks about it”. The beginning of Lady Wood is quite liberating in this way and Tove Lo radiates sheer confidence. One of the first lines on the album is literally “I’m fine as f**k”.

Tove Lo isn’t the first female pop star to make an album as provocative as Lady Wood but she does it with a kind of self-assured authenticity that isn’t often found in modern pop. That, coupled with her ability to spew lines like “Yeah you give me wood, give me lady wood”, while staying about as causal as possible has given Tove Lo a decent claim to the term edgy.

The second half of the album, noted by “Fire Fade – Chapter II” opens with Tove Lo talking about feeling lost and alludes to a more somber mindset. Songs like “Don’t Talk About it” and “Flashes” focus on the difficulty that comes with fame from an insider’s perspective. Whether commenting on shady conduct that’s kept under wraps or the fake smiles she wears for the paparazzi, Tove Lo’s autobiographical lyrics make this song relatable to the listener.

Overall, Lady Wood’s saving grace is Tove Lo’s vocal delivery and her confidence in broaching any topic she feels like. Whether she’s singing about sex clubs or doomed loved, Tove Lo’s voice commands attention and turns anything into a potential pop anthem. The instrumental production tends to blend together on Lady Wood as much of it seems to be washed over with reverbs and bass rhythms. Sure, it’s nice to see an artist that doesn’t have to rely on 40 producers to make their music passable but it’s a shame that Tove Lo didn’t take more risks with her backing tracks. Regardless of what could have been, Lady Wood is well suited for the club and I look forward to the remixes that will inevitably sprout like weeds.

Rating: 3 out of 5