Jens Lekman is arguably one of his generation's most skilled songwriters, and he fills his off-kilter fantasy world with addictive melodies and charmingly flawed characters - including one named Jens Lekman - on his new five-song EP. The recording begins with "An Argument With Myself," which follows dream-Lekman on a drunken stumble through the streets of Melbourne. Fast-paced reggae sounds give the song a 1980s feel, but the lyrics showcase a thoroughly modern inner monologue of "Shut up! No, you shut up!" "A Promise" takes a serious turn that recalls Belle & Sebastian, and Lekman's pseudo-self stalks actress Kirsten Dunst in "Waiting for Kirsten," examining the idea of celebrity along the way.
As the EP's story unfolds, the lyrics fuse quasi-philosophical musings ("In Gothenburg, we don't have VIP lines") with observational details ("They drew a swastika in your cappuccino"), eliciting nods and chuckles alike.