Shop Captain America
Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
Buy new:
$12.99
FREE delivery Friday, February 21 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: RapidPrimePros
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Friday, February 21 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Tuesday, February 18. Order within 2 hrs 46 mins.
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$12.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$12.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
almost perfect
$3.99 delivery February 24 - 25. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$12.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$12.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from and sold by cfrucht52.

Loney Noir

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

$12.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE Returns
if you qualify Shop items
See all 7 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Listen Now with Amazon Music
Loney, Noir Amazon Music Unlimited
Price
New from Used from
Audio CD, February 6, 2007
$12.99
$6.77 $3.88
Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping.

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Multi-instrumentalist and home-recording phenom Emil Svanängen lives in Sweden and he makes records and plays shows under the somewhat inscrutable name of Loney, Dear. In either his tiny Stockholm studio apartment or the basement of his parents' house, and with a dedication bordering upon manic, Emil discreetly builds Loney, Dear songs using a modest home studio set-up. In this way he has recorded and then released himself on CD-R four albums in the last two or three years. He has managed to sell several thousand of these, pretty much on his own. The music of Loney, Dear has been aptly described as, "soulful indie folk with a powerful mini orchestra." Layer upon layer, adding instrumentation and vocals, these songs seem to bloom like time-lapse photography, depicting glimpsed scenes of modern disaffection and timeless yearning. When performing live, Loney, Dear becomes the band Emil conjures alone in his home studio, and mutates into a full, five-member band complete with guitar, sax, drums, organ and clarinet, shouts and claps. Loney, Noir is the most recently recorded Loney, Dear album. It is at once effervescent and resigned, exhilarating and melancholy, joyous and confessional. And we are under its spell.

Amazon.com

Loney, Dear is the somewhat confusing nom de pop of Swedish "multi-instrumentalist and audio homecooking expert Emil Svanängen." His voice is reedy, high-pitched, and strong, so it's understandably the focal point of these quaint, home-recorded orchestral-pop numbers. Loney, Noir is technically the indie-pop ingénue's fourth full-length, but as his first three albums were originally released in Sweden as CD-Rs, it's understandable if even devotees of chamber-pop and/or the fertile Scandinavian music scene were ignorant of this genuine talent prior to this album's release. The songs tend to start simply--voice and guitar--and to snowball, slowly adding pump organs and horns and backing vocals and hand claps until they swell precipitously with sweet, contrapuntal sounds. The arrangements never get out of hand, however, and always work in harmony with these smart and achingly melodic songs. --Mike McGonigal

Product details

  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.73 x 0.6 x 4.99 inches; 3.04 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Sub Pop
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 16, 2007
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Sub Pop
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000M06K84
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
11 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2008
    It really is a great little album. One that makes you smile even when the lyrics aren't necessarily upbeat.
    Buy it, support this genius who finally utilized the bassoon in a listenable way.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2007
    Someone take me to Sweden. It seems like the indie music world is starting to be flooded with Swedes. And they're all fairly awesome. One of the country's most notable exports is Emil Svanängen, or as he's referred to here, Loney, Dear. "Loney, Noir" was my first introduction to the artist, and I must say that I'm fairly impressed. In the relatively short time that the album runs, I found myself captivated, impressed, and wanting to take that trip to Sweden more than ever. By the end of it, however, I was at peace. "Loney, Noir" is one excellent album.

    It begins with the solemn, yet hopeful "Sinister In A State of Hope." Svanängen's voice is strong in character, yet utterly fragile; sounding like you could shatter it with the slightest breeze. A breathy tenor, he sings earnestly, "All I want is a state of hope," and your heart breaks. The first single from the album, "I am John" is a much more upbeat affair, but no more uplifting lyrically. Svanängen mutters, "And I told you, I was never gonna let you down, never gonna let you down. But I will always let you down." The song climaxes with the smooth roar of a clarinet, drums, and tenor-goodness. It's a beautiful song, and a wonderful introduction to anyone who hasn't heard the artist yet.

    "I am the Odd One" begins with the artist lamenting, "I am sorry, honestly I'm sorry, I ruined your day." The song continues with subtle whistles, the familiar clarinet, and a gentle guitar progression and is both inspiring and depressing when Svanängen sings "You got it wrong, you took a glance at me, said I'm the odd one" in the chorus. It's followed by the standout track on the album, and the incredibly remarkable "No One Can Win." The melody here is gorgeous and slowly builds into an all out heartbreaker. A line like "The sun never reaches here. The shadows have won, " is standard whiny indie rock fare, but when Emil sings it with every last bit of humanity within himself, it comes off as poetry of the utmost grandeur!

    The album continues with short reflections like "I Will Call You Lover Again" and "The Meter Marks Okay," while also adding in another captivating song in "And I Won't Cause Anything at All." It possesses a steady electronic beat that complements Svanängen's voice perfectly, each at their most-subtle. The album seems to begin like a breath of fresh air. It ends here like a much-needed exhale. Softly, it is released, and it is gone. The experience of listening to "Loney, Noir" is just as refreshing.

    The album bleeds with his frailty, and one can't help but think that that's part of it's appeal. While people could compare him to Bright Eyes in many ways, Conor Oberst seems almost fraudulent when compared to Loney, Dear. Perhaps it's just his more-accessible voice, but Svanängen has surprised me by crafting an album that is not only beautiful, complex, and gut-wrenching, but undeniably charming. 2007 continues to impress with so many stellar albums being consistently released. "Loney, Noir" is one of the best so far. I've still never been to Sweden, but I feel about as close to it as ever.

    Recommended for fans of Bright Eyes, Sufjan Stevens, I'm From Barcelona, and anyone who needs a breath of fresh air in music form.

    Key Tracks:

    1. "Sinister In a State of Hope"

    2. "I Am John"

    3. "Saturday Waits"

    4. "I Am the Odd One"

    5. "No One Can Win"

    8 out of 10 Stars
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2007
    I'm a lover of music and a producer of some, and this album totally blew me away. I think of Emil's vocals as like Brian Wilson, only one octave higher; or like Grandaddy, except less stylized and drawn out. The rhythms are almost fidgety, but steady nonetheless. What is amazing about this music is the way Emil builds a storm using sounds not usually found in pop music these days. Clarinets, saxophones, baritone snare drums, glockenspiels, barking keyboard bass, and odd percussion are layered gradually through each song to create wonderful compositions. Each song is like a mini party, with a warm up at the beginning, a huge development part, a climax near the end, and a cool down to finish it up. It's electronic music unplugged, it's fast woodsy party rock, and it's fantastic pop. Emil's lyrics are understated and catchy, poignant only when they need to be. Sub Pop seems to be promoting this stuff well, so I hope people catch on. I can't wait to hear what comes out next!
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2007
    This is an amazing and beautiful record that you should buy immediately! this is the best new CD I have heard since Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in 2002. seriously. There's not a weak link on the whole recording. The real danger is that you me not able to stop listening to it....hopefully Emil and company have many more great ones left in them.

    This CD will have you singing and humming all day long. as was apparently written elsewhere about a song off of another Loney, Dear CD: if you don't like it, you have a cold heart ( or something like that). anyway, if you don't like you don't appreciate great harmonies and great singing. and great music!! etc. etc. This band rules and I can't believe more has not been written about them. I was just lucky enought to randomly see them at a Sea and Cake show last summer. can't wait to see them again.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2008
    I got turned on to this artist via Rhapsody, I decided to buy the CD so I could enjoy the music in my car. I am happy that I did. The mellow but still up-beat groove is fun to listen to.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2007
    Yeah, I liked it! I think the voice is alike the singer of Grandaddy, it's a very relaxing music.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2007
    "I am John" is a spectacular track, and the whole cd is just as impressive.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • monkey
    5.0 out of 5 stars splendide, magnifique, génial, ébouriffant
    Reviewed in France on October 3, 2013
    splendide, magnifique, génial, ébouriffant, Loney Dear c'est bon, mangez-en !

    Plus particulièrement cet album, qui reste sa pièce maîtresse, son chef-d’œuvre, à mon sens.