If it weren’t for the blood-spattered pot leaf adorning the cover, the drug talk and the Lil’ Wayne aping, Swedish duo jj’s n˚ 2 would likely have been received and largely ignored by easy listening radio stations around the world last year instead of breaking out on hip blogs across the Internet. Adult contemporary’s loss was the rest of the world’s gain, though, as the album’s beguiling simplicity, reverb-laden vocals, light electronics and even lighter tropical feel were oddly arresting.
Striking while the iron is still hot, n˚ 3 follows 2 by less than a year and the compressed timeframe shows in the complete lack of growth from album to album. In fact, 3 comes across more as an attempt to re-create 2 song by song than as its own distinct work. It’s got the same detached vocals, the same burbling electronics, the same muted Balearic nods — it even contains a song of ironic-unironic hip hop goofing. Only the lyrics have changed and none of the repeated elements improve on what came before.
At only 27 minutes, the album works best as a looser second side to the equally short 2. On its own, though, 3 is underwhelming and certainly not the place to start for those looking for some hip hop and drug references in their easy listening fare.
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