Miike Snow: iii

Emily Zemler on March 4, 2016

Miike Snow reimagine their electro-pop sound on iii, the Swedish group’s third full-length and follow-up to 2012’s Happy to You. Where the last album meandered and occasionally felt too introspective, here, Miike Snow lighten their melodies, adding a pop buoyancy to the hooks and beats—somewhat similarly to their work on their self-titled 2009 debut. Single “Genghis Khan” has a groovy jaunt in its step and a catchy precision to its chorus, reminding you that the band members have recently worked as songwriters and producers for artists like Bruno Mars. Charli XCX joins the game on “For U,” her voice a little tooobscured by synth and distortion, and Run The Jewels appear on a funky, hip-hop remix of “Heart Is Full” to close the album. The band lingers on moody ambience occasionally, like on overly mopey “I Feel the Weight,” but their best work is in the shiny pop numbers. It’s there that the musicians add some much-needed glimmer to the current Hot 100 landscape.

Artist: Miike Snow
Album: iii
Label: Atlantic