Hello reader,
Welcome back.
Today, we’re going to delve into Jens Lekman. The prolific but criminally underrated Swedish musician has been making indie pop based music for over two decades. I’m not sure why Jens gets overlooked by the masses in the US, but I am aware that his fans are diehards. If you like what you’ve heard by the end of this review, be an advocate yourself and spread the word.
In his teens Lekman began playing in cover bands, then as a solo artist under the name Rocky Dennis. Yes, inspired by the story of the teen of the same name in the 1985 movie Mask, the acclaimed film about a protagonist who had craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. In 2000 Lekman released his first EP under his own name. Within 3 years, Lekman had a studio deal with Secretly Canadian (releasing his music outside of Sweden), with Swedish based-label Service Records to release Lekman’s music within his home country. Since his studio debut in 2003, Lekman has released six studio albums, and seven EPs in addition to self-releasing three more EPs. The most recent releases were two studio albums both in 2022 The Cherry Trees Are Still in Blossom followed soon after by The Linden Trees Are Still in Blossom.
Which brings us three years forward to the present day. But not before we can close a chapter on the past. From the album’s press release saying that the album, “Songs For Other People’s Weddings was inspired by the acclaimed Swedish musician’s own surprising side career as a wedding singer, which came about by chance, after fans took his 2004 song “If You Ever Need a Stranger (To Sing at Your Wedding)” literally and invited him to perform at their nuptials.”
Songs For Other People’s Weddings out via the fabulous label Secretly Canadian on Friday September 12th for your listening pleasure. From the album’s press release, “Songs For Other People’s Weddings is a work of fiction about J, an unlucky-in-love musician who moonlights as a wedding singer. J gathers with couples before their big day to learn more about the intimate, strange things that brought them together, in order to write an original song to perform for them at their wedding. But despite J’s penchant for finding the perfect words for others, he can’t seem to do the same for his own love with his girlfriend, V. ‘Candy From a Stranger’ is the point in the story where the lovers meet for the first time, or do they?” Lekman asks.
Lekman continues, “The idea to make a narrative concept album (a rock opera?) felt forbidden. Which, for me, is usually a sign that I’m on the right path. While investigating the genre of narrative concept albums, I realized that one of my all-time favorite albums, Frank Sinatra’s Watertown, was in fact just that– a record that told a chronological story over the length of an LP. Having never been a fan of musicals or rock operas, this album served as inspiration. I wrote the album while the book was still being written and, at some points, I started imagining what happened between the book’s chapters. The book and the album eventually became intertwined but also found their own paths. The book provided the structure of the story, but the album sometimes snuck behind the scenes. Stories from the songs made their way into the book and vice versa.”
The album’s press release further elaborates, “Songs For Other People’s Weddings follows J and V’s relationship, changing musically as the couple navigates the ups and downs of love–with each new wedding providing its own sonic background. An orchestral, romantic collection, the album traverses through pastoral strings, dreamy pop, soft jazzy saxophone, and sad house beats. ‘The character of J cannot keep his own emotions out of his songs, and Jens underscores this in ways that will constantly surprise the listener. He is often joined by Matilda Sargren giving voice to V’s feelings and thoughts. Initially she was only meant to sing on the demos, but once she started vocalizing V, there was no question that she would be on the final album. If Jens and I have done our jobs, the novel and the album tell both sides of J and V’s story – and the tension comes from how these sides fit together,” said acclaimed author David Levithan.
Jens Lekman added, “While this story is very much about a relationship and how it’s reflected through the relationships and weddings of others, most of all I think it’s a love story about music and its value in a time when it’s been devalued and turned into content by tech companies. Its ability to soothe and connect and its role in the transitional moments of our lives such as weddings. It’s a love song to love songs.” I’m intrigued and eager to listen to the album, how about you?
Giving credit where it’s due. The performer and recording credits for Songs For Other People’s Weddings with track numbers listed:
- Jens Lekman: Lead vocals 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,13,16,17, Guitar 1,4,5,8,9,11,17, Bass 1,15,16, Piano 2,3,4,5,6,11,13,14, Programming 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, Electric guitar 3,6, Synthesizer 9,10,12,14,15,16, Accordion 13, and Melodica 13
- Daniel Fagerström: Programming 1,2,3,9,11,12,15,16, Synthesizer 1,3,6,10,12,15,16, Bass 2,3,4,11, Piano 2, Percussion 2,4,6,11,12, Vocals 3, Sampler 9, Tape loops 10, Drums 12, Harmonium 13, and Electric guitar 17
- Daniel Bengtsson: Grand piano 1, and 17
- Lina Molander: Violin 1 and Anna Möller: Violin 1,2,6, and 17
- Linnea Olsson: Cello 1,2,3,5,6,13,15, and 17
- Tor Sjödén: Drums 2 and Johan Hjalmarsson: Drums 3,4,6,7, and 9
- Isak Hedtjärn: both Clarinet and Saxophone on 2 and 3
- Stefan Sporsén: Trumpet 2,3, and 9
- Kristina Florell: Backing vocals 2,3, and on 13
- Hannah Smallbone: Piano 2, and 7
- Owen Pallett: Violin 2,5, and 15 and Annie Svedlund: Violin 3,4,6,7, and 13
- Markus Örn: Acoustic guitar 3, and 11
- Agnès Wiklund Pöntinen: Backing vocals 3,8,9,10,13,15, and 16
- Matilda Sargren: Lead vocals 4,7,12, and 15
- Rasmus Fleischer: Flute on 4
- Joakim Hultqvist: Saxophone 4,5,13, and 17 and Lea-Marie Sittler: Saxophone on 9
- Loulou Lamotte: Backing vocals 6,7,11,12, and 13
- Peter Oren: Chorus vocals on 7
- Edvin Edvinsson: Bass 7,9
- Axel Bauer: Rhodes 9 and 12 Additional Production 12, Programming 12, Synthesizer 12, Drums 12
- Klara Keller and Josefine Fagerström: Backing vocals on 9
- Sibille Attar: Autoharp 10 and 11
- Calle Malmgren: Drums 10 and Hampus Öhman-Frölund: Drums 11
- Erik Lydig: Bass 12 and 13
- Lina Molander: both Violin and Viola on 17
- Produced by Daniel Fagerström and Jens Lekman
- Mixed by Daniel Fagerström
- Recorded at Magix Playground, Studio Rymden, Studio Fabriken, Sockerbruket
- Engineers: Daniel Fagerström, Jens Lekman, Daniel Bengtsson, Johan Hjalmarsson
- Mastered by Gustav Brunn at All In Audio
And now for some hype for both your eyes and ears from Lekman’s YouTube channel!
The montage of weddings that Jens Lekman has performed in serves as the backdrop for the video to the song, “Candy From A Stranger”:
(All credits and rights to Jens Lekman)
The lyrical video for the lovely song “Wedding in Leipzig”:
(All credits and rights to Jens Lekman)
Overall, Songs For Other People’s Weddings is a very good album. Lekman continues to showcase his wit, songwriting and planning. This is not the first time that he’s nailed a concept album out of the park. Nor will it be the past. Lekman is a creative that is intentional in his album work, accomplishing what he set out to and then some often with wit and humor. I loved the nods to other musicians past and present and also popular culture media e.g. all of the Simpsons references within “Wedding in Leipzig.” The large group of musicians that were brought into one or multiple songs really added depth to the melodies and harmonies throughout the albums.
The core of the album’s melodies are based in piano with frequent usage of strings including but beyond guitars, incorporating percussion of various forms, programming and synth and a perfect influx of woodwinds. Beyond Lekman’s deeply layered involvement the next person to discuss creativity is Daniel Fagerström for his instrumentation but also his production, mixing and recording. The composition choices, the sound itself is better off because of him. Seems that he and Lekman worked well together. Another kudos to Matilda Sargren’s talented lead vocals on “I Want To Want You Again” and “You Have One Message” which allow her moments to shine in addition to her co-lead vocals with Jens on “Two Little Pigs” and “On a Pier, On the Hudson” which show how well Matilda’s and Jens’ deliveries and tones pair together. I hope in the future, they work together some more. Agnès Wiklund Pöntinen, Kristina Florell, Loulou Lamotte, Klara Keller and Josefine Fagerström’s incredible backing vocals deserve some recognition as well for what their voices added to the songs they sang on with Agnès being the most frequently heard backing vocalist on the album.
Some more moments that stand out while listening to this album are the grand pianos to start and close out the album. What a great concept and fantastic execution by pianist Daniel Bengtsson. The frequent inclusion of strings like piano and violins created some beautiful melodies throughout the album. Any melody with saxophone is a good one, but kudos to saxophonists Isak Hedtjärn, Joakim Hultqvist and Lea-Marie Sittler for affecting the groove and melodies. For example, “With You I Can Hear My Own Voice” is triumphant and jubilant, building in positivity with a melody that matches. One that will take you back in time, perhaps to the ’70s. As a listener, there’s a lot to like as a from start to finish.
That being said, Songs For Other People’s Weddings gets 4 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. After listening a few times, I feel this album fits well within the 4 Scum Drop territory relative to all new releases this year. More specifically closer to the top of that range. I love the origins and the concept and the execution of this album. The completion of this album seems to close a chapter for Lekman and many of his fans of nearly two decades of lore. You’ll love the songwriting, the melodies and their compositions and all of the musicians Lekman brings into the studio with him. I have no doubt pairing the book while listening is a wonderful experience further enhancing the music. I recommend that you add this album to your collection on the formats of your choosing. Though listening to the vinyl while dancing with your significant other or favorite person might provide an additional layer of bliss-ning experience.
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The listening process with Songs For Other People’s Weddings will take nearly 80 minutes from start to finish. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After a few listens, I found the songs in emboldened font below to be my own favorite songs on this album.
The Songs For Other People’s Weddings Track listing (song length)
- The First Lovesong (4:04)
- A Tuxedo Sewn For Two (5:00)
- Candy From a Stranger (3:45)
- Two Little Pigs (4:06)
- Speak To Me In Music (5:52)
- With You I Can Hear My Own Voice (4:10)
- I Want To Want You Again (5:13)
- GOT-JFK (3:48)
- Wedding In Brooklyn (3:49)
- For Skye (4:27)
- Increasingly Obsolete (4:46)
- On a Pier, On the Hudson (4:43)
- Wedding in Leipzig (10:33)
- LEJ-GOT (1:37)
- You Have One New Message (4:12)
- Just For One Moment (5:32)
- The Last Lovesong (4:46)
Total runtime: 79:13
Jens’ awesome website is linked here, Instagram, Facebook, and you can listen to his music on Bandcamp, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.
SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE’S WEDDINGS ALBUM NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
- NOV 8th – MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AMSTERDAM BAR & HALL
- NOV 9th – CHICAGO, IL – LINCOLN HALL
- NOV 10th – TORONTO, ON – THE GREAT HALL
- NOV 12th – BOSTON, MA – THE SINCLAIR
- NOV 13th – NORTHAMPTON, MA – IRON HORSE MUSIC HALL
- NOV 14th – PHILADELPHIA, PA – UNDERGROUND ARTS
- NOV 16th – BROOKLYN, NY – MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
- NOV 17th – WASHINGTON DC – UNION STAGE
- NOV 19th – DURHAM, NC – MOTORCO MUSIC HALL
- NOV 20th – ASHEVILLE, NC – REVIVAL
- NOV 21st – ATLANTA, GA – THE EARL
- NOV 22nd – NASHVILLE, TN – EXIT/IN
- NOV 24th – DALLAS, TX – DEEP ELLUM ART CO
- NOV 25th – AUSTIN, TX – MOHAWK
- NOV 28th – PHOENIX, AZ – CRESCENT BALLROOM
- NOV 29th – LOS ANGELES – LODGE ROOM
- NOV 30th – SAN FRANCISCO – THE INDEPENDENT
- DEC 2nd – PORTLAND, OR – ALADDIN THEATER
- DEC 3rd – SEATTLE, WA – NEUMOS
SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE’S WEDDINGS BOOK TOUR
(David Levithan will read from the book and Jens will play a couple of songs from it)
- SEPT 12th – SEATTLE, WA – UNIVERSITY BOOK STORE
- SEPT 15th – SAN FRANCISCO, CA – LITQUAKE
- SEPT 16th – CHICAGO, IL – ANDERSON’S
- SEPT 17th – MADISON, WI – WISCONSIN BOOK FESTIVAL
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site: scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions!
Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
