Sunday, April 06, 2008
The Universe of Jens
Last night I went to Jens Lekman's concert at Webster Hall with David. Jens - and that's pronounced 'yens' - is a uniquely quirky singer/songwriter from Sweden who's won critical acclaim for his add combination of soaring melodicism and lyrics that are alternately sweet and dark. Here he is:
![DSC03249](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2391817901_d367372700_b.jpg)
Jens doesn't skimp on instrumentation - he was joined on stage by a violinist, a cellist, and two horn players, as well as a bass player, a drummer, and his own intimate guitar playing... Here are the players, captured as best as I could...
![DSC03236](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/2391817153_453acbc9ee_b.jpg)
Here's a live clip of his lovely, cheeky 'You Are The Light'...
A dynamic red blur of Jens strumming and horn players blowing..
![DSC03251](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2391819421_9218c30b7e_b.jpg)
His brilliant lyrics are so organic that it's sometimes hard to believe he's Swedish, though the accent does remind you.. here's a sample:
'I had a friend who was slightly overweight/
and that means fat-ass in the seventh grade'
'You said it was all make-believe/
but I thought you said maple leaves'
That last one is uncanny - when I was seven I thought Mister Rogers' little town was Maple Leaf... : - ) Finally, here's 'Black Cab,' the song that first gained my attention, which begins 'I killed a party again / god damn, god damn... The video, starring a hyperactive rolling snowball, is just too cute...'
Cartoon du Jour: And Don't Think...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbHANPNpm2eMkglFCP3ou7nf6DlYDDQvCwSLQ6LFTb21mbHSLkSBcs7TF4YqSc52OXNnRHcehXcz2jHyn5ZBAYu_bgvETnWxaV58oOFKsrXD31KjvUTKj1JgipJ2r42mBiVqjjQ/s400/Just+Flare+Your+Nostrils.gif)
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