Three years ago, newcomer Lykke Li and producer Bjorn Yttling (of Peter, Bjorn & John fame) crafted the debut record Youth Novel, announcing the arrival of a new and promising young talent. Now comes Wounded Rhymes, an album that not only succeeds in furthering the promise of Ms. Li, but also may just go down as one of the great pop records of the last few years.

While Youth Novel sounded like a new artist on unsure ground at times, Wounded Rhymes sounds like a confident artist who is sure of every single step being taken. Wounded Rhymes is a much darker album in its style of rhythm and lyrics, and its edgier tone mixed with Li's smoldering sex appeal makes for a compelling listen from start to finish. Production touches from Yttling are also key, such as the ominous keyboards on tracks such as the opening "Youth Knows No Pain" and "Rich Kid Blues," and the wall-of-sound production on certain tracks that bring to mind the old girl-groups such as The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las.

But all in all, Wounded Rhymes would really be nothing without Li's wounded lyrics and that yearning voice. Your heart aches along with hers on tracks such as "Unrequited Love," and you revel in her exuberance with a track like first single "I Follow Rivers." You also can't help but feel the erotic charge when hearing her utter the line "I'm your prostitute, you gonna get some" on the dark and sexy track "Get Some." The mainstream world can keep their Lady Gagas and their Katy Perrys; for my money, the best pop artist out there is a Sweedish waif named Lykke, and her Wounded Rhymes will be the soundtrack of a glorious up-and-coming spring.