Robin - Kaikki Ok

I've been thinking a lot lately about my MVPs of the year--those artists or bands that have been both prolific and incredibly consistent with the quality of their releases. Robin Packalen, who I've written about many times on the blog, is certainly on that list. His new album comes out later this week, less than a year from his last one. Having heard it, I can say if you've liked his stuff in the past, you'll love this one too. He's got an incredible team behind him, who have crafted a sound all his own--an addictive mixture of One Direction-style pop/rock, Euro and Afro rhythms and an increasingly prominent emphasis on hip hop and beat. That's not to sell Robin himself short. The guy's a bundle of youthful charisma, with a full-bodied voice that sounds older than he is. Kaikki Ok is a bonus track released with a magazine in Finland, and it's a shame it didn't find its way onto the album because it would have been a highlight. I love African influences in production, and the relentless beat here fits the bill. Add to that a sax interlude and a party atmosphere, and you have another in a string of very strong pop releases. Don't let the language barrier scare you away. It doesn't matter.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.