Anniemal : Annie : Review : Rolling Stone

Bad pop is a daily occurrence, and great pop singles come and go with the seasons, but pop albums with substance, style and more than a handful of knockout tunes are as rare as sincere politicians. Hailing from the same Norwegian scene that produced Ršyksopp and Kings of Convenience, Annie Lilia Berge Strand -- mercifully known as Annie -- is a sparkly dance minx in the esteemed Madonna/Kylie Minogue tradition. Her debut has enthralled discriminating pop fanatics since its initial release as an import last year. Sounding mainstream but thinking indie, Anniemal comes packed with both instant surface fizz and quirky finesse that sustains repeated listenings. "Chewing Gum" puts boy toys in their place with allegorical sass, and "Heartbeat" evokes your favorite punk/dance mash-up and betters it. Throughout, Annie sings her coy, sometimes barbed lyrics in a light, expressive sigh as digital and live instrumentation flickers, glows and flashes like candy-colored strobes. Goodbye, Britney. Hello, Annie.