Industry

Lykke Li’s ‘The Afterparty’ is a Revenge-Pop Opus: Album Review

Lykke Li, a Swedish pop auteur, has consistently been underrated despite working in a similar musical vein to artists like Robyn. Her latest album, ‘The Afterparty,’ is a powerful revenge-pop masterpiece.

Variety Music·May 8, 2026·via Variety Music

Lykke Li’s ‘The Afterparty’ is a Revenge-Pop Opus: Album Review

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May 8, 2026 9:07am PT

Lykke Li Creates a Revenge-Pop Opus With ‘The Afterparty’: Album Review

By Jem Aswad

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Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

jemaswad

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As a Swedish pop auteur who rose to prominence in the late ‘00s, Lykke Li is probably sick to death of Robyn comparisons — but the only one worth making is to point out that by comparison, Li’s work has been dramatically underrated. She was working a similar musical vein at around the same time (her debut album, “Youth Novels,” was released in 2008) and listening to her past work, it’s clear that her influence has been strong, if more low-key influence. Derek Davies, the cofounder of her new label Neon Gold, has said that her music was the major inspiration to launch a record company at all.