Toby Bryant
“Good, heartfelt pop songs” is Sigrid’s mantra and her debut record fits that to a tee.
Sucker Punch is a pop album firing on all cylinders. Sigrid amps up swooshing instrumentals and belts out big vocals – it’s a record with a huge heart.
Title-track and hit single ‘Sucker Punch’ kicks off proceedings and is everything Sigrid is about: huge hooks, quirky vocal runs and an irresistibly catchy chorus. For the most part in Sucker Punch, Sigrid doesn’t stray from that winning formula – and why would she?
‘Sight of You’ is a glorious string-led ode to the power of her fan base that is destined to fill stadiums one day. ‘Basic’ and ‘Mine Right Now’ could well do that too with a sing-back quality that most pop writers could only dream of penning. One thing is for sure, from start to finish this is bound to be the catchiest record you’ll hear this year.
Sigrid switches things up in the fizzling ‘Business Dinners’, whose bubbly production hides a tongue-in-cheek middle-finger to the industry’s expectations. Elsewhere, ‘Dynamite’ is the most tender moment on Sucker Punch, first released on the star’s debut 2017 EP, and sees Sigrid reflect on the effect of stardom on relationships.
Singles ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’ and ‘Strangers’ also feature, although little needs to be said about those Platinum certified tracks, which still sound as fresh as ever today.
Leaving off the likes of ‘Go To War’ and ‘Credit’, both firecrackers at the pop star’s live shows, is a brave move. ‘Savage in Our Blood’ also hasn’t made the cut. No doubt, there’s a reason, and it’s just an extra incentive to catch Sigrid on her headline tour later this year.
Sucker Punchdeserves all the plaudits. If Sigrid set out to make a “good, heartfelt” pop record – she’s almost done it. The only difference is Sucker Punchis more than good… it’s irresistible.
Rating – 4/5
