When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog

Issued in 2004, WHEN I SAID I WANTED TO BE YOUR DOG introduced the world to Swedish indie-pop singer-songwriter Jens Lekman. A deep-voiced crooner in the tradition of Scott Walker and Morrissey, Lekman opts for a gentler though often no less witty approach than his renowned precursors, gilding his tunes with carefully placed samples and delicate string passages, creating a thoughtful aesthetic somewhat akin to Belle & Sebastian. Highlights of this assured first full-length outing include the nearly a cappella "Do You Remember the Riots?"; the gloriously horn-laden "You Are the Light (By Which I Travel Into This and That)"; and the lilting original version of "Julie," which appears in slightly remixed form on DOG's follow-up, OH YOU'RE SO SILENT JENS. While the latter record features a bit more verve (and a notably longer track listing), DOG is nearly as impressive, and essential for any aficionado of smart, sensitive Scandinavian pop.