The Keys To Open Paradise

Icona Pop “All Night”

The funny thing about Icona Pop’s debut album is that pretty much every song sounds as though the girls have to stop themselves from breaking into the chorus of “I Love It.” And a lot of the time, I just wish they would. I feel a little conflicted about their songs – I enjoy them just fine on a superficial level, it’s basically the type of excited, vaguely punkish dance pop I’ve been championing for over a decade. But because of that, I know a lot of better songs in that vein, so their songs have to be exceptionally catchy and joyous, like “I Love It” and “All Night,” to fully register with me. It’s also odd that on a record that’s meant to be so rowdy and party-ready can often feel so restrained. They never really go as all-out as Ke$ha, who does a very similar thing but with far more pizazz, bigger hooks, and an utter lack of shame.

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