Send "Anna Ternheim " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 Leaving on a Mayday was produced by Peter Bjorn and John's Björn Yttling, and features contributions from Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) and Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Zwan, Superwolf), but don't let that fool you: This is not an "indie" record, at least not in the sense of indie as synonymous with low recording budgets, foregrounded quirks and idiosyncrasies, and a quality of endearing amateurishness. And yet... the Universal Records logo on back and a bevy of Swedish Grammys on Anna Ternheim's mantle can be just as misleading. Sweden-born NYC transplant Ternheim tows a fine line, one that leaves her at a crossroads between the cult notoriety of the underground and the expertly branded saturation of the mainstream. Depending on who's handling her, she could just as well be a scrappier, moodier Sarah McLachlan or the sophisticated big sister to whichever indie semi-starlet is in these days. It's fitting, then, that Ternheim's first U.S. LP (which collected highlights from her two Grammis-winning Swedish albums and a couple of EPs) bears the title Halfway to Fivepoints, or, if you will, Halfway to Stardom.Ternheim is much further along to fame in her native land, where Leaving on a Mayday earned her Best Album honors at last year's Swedish Grammis. It's easy enough to see why. Somebody Outside (Ternheim's 2004 debut) had some great moments-- sad-eyed opener "To Be Gone", the stirring "My Secret", and a heart-wrenching piano ballad cover of "Shoreline"-- but was unmemorable in parts and uneven on the whole. Follow-up Separation Road (2006) boasted improved songwriting and lavish production, but at times all those strings and embellishments threatened to overpower Ternheim, something she herself implicitly acknowledged by including a second disc of pared down "Naked Versions" with deluxe copies of the LP. Mayday, however, is the record that gets it right. More consistent and more refined, it acutely spotlights the often understated talents of Ternheim as both a vocalist and songwriter....full text |
| Blogcritics |
| When I saw Anna Ternheim perform at a concert in San Francisco last year, I knew she had to be something special since she was opening for both fellow Swedes El Perro Del Mar and Lykke Li. However, she unfortunately didn't wow me. With two albums — (2004's Somebody Outside and 2006's Separation Road) — already under her belt, Anna Ternheim's third full-length album Leaving On A Mayday (2008) has finally seen the light of day in the United States after ruling the music charts in her native Sweden. I've been trying to remember specifically what turned me off to her so many months ago, but as of right now it's futile and pointless. Mayday is stunning in its breadth, balancing the immediacy of today with the sadness of a candlelight's last moments. The opening "What Have I Done" perfectly encapsulates this poise. As passionate as the lover may be, the idea of finality is the hardest thing to overcome no matter how lost everything may seem, with the words "I hope you feel the way I do / I hope you give yourself up to" still sounding so distant as though told through a final love letter. Love is an obvious theme. But is it lost love? While some songs are gloomy ("No, I Don't Remember"), something eternal never seems to vanish. The melancholy of "Terrified" can at times be overwhelming, but the chorus offers hope of something lasting ("You see me / Like no one / Saw me before"). It's laid more clearly in "My Heart Still Beats For You."...full text |
| Sheplaysmusic |
| Swedish singer-songwriter, Anna Ternheim, released her newest album Leaving on a Mayday in North America today. Ternheim is a really hot artist in Sweden right now and if you know anything about her music, you will understand why. She first burst onto the scene back in 2004 with her album, Somebody Outside, for which she won the “Best Newcomer of the Year” award and was nominated for “Best Lyricist” and “Best Songwriter of 2005” at the Grammis (Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards). Clearly, she made an excellent first impression and her credibility as an amazing talent continued to rise after her 2006 follow-up effort, Separation Road, earned her the “Best Female Artist” and “Best Lyricist” awards that she had missed out on the year before. On April 22, 2008, Ternheim made her US debut with Halfway to Fivepoints which featured tracks like "To Be Gone," "Girl Laying Down," "Today is A Good Day", and "Shoreline." Now, Leaving on a Mayday has been released and I have had the chance to listen to it and I really loved it! It’s haunting, honest, raw and downright fun at times. As a woman, I find something oddly empowering about Ternheim’s music. There’s a strength to her lyrics, voice and melody and on tracks like “Let It Rain” it almost invokes a primitive, tribal feeling. I’m a real sucker for a nice bass line so I was pleasantly surprised with the first track “What Have I Done.” It’s about as funky as Ternheim gets on this album. It’s slightly uptempo and definitely was a great pick for the opening track. “Terrified” is absolutely beautiful. The strings and percussions almost feel inspired by traditional Asian music and her vocals add a tenderness that truly reflects the title of the song. I got the same kind of vibe from “No, I Don’t Remember” which, again, is a gorgeous track. As I listened to this album, I tried to find some flaw and I really couldn’t. Some artists lose some of their essence and power on faster tracks but on the two uptempo tunes, “What Have I Done” and “Losing You,” Ternheim remains true to herself as an artist. This album proves that you can write catchy songs without being gimmicky and I highly recommend Leaving on a Mayday. The songs flow into each other very easily and you really do feel like Ternheim has taken you on a musical journey. Track listing: What Have I Done Damaged Ones Terrified Let It Rain My Heart Still Beats For You No, I Don’t Remember Summer Rain Losing You Off the Road Black Sunday Afternoon...full text |
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