Zara Larsson - Poster Girl (Japan Edition) (2021)

Review by Neil Z. Yeung
Following an extended rollout that reached back to 2018, Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson returned in 2021 with her third solo effort, Poster Girl. A generous dose of buoyant dance pop, the set builds upon a formula similar to its 2017 predecessor, the chart-topping, multi-platinum international hit So Good, home to a quartet of Swedish number one singles. Here, she continues to dole out infectious R&B-influenced pop gems with ease, from the pulsing, string-backed "Love Me Land" -- an exuberant earworm that would make both Rihanna and Robyn proud -- to the sensual throbber "FFF," which falls somewhere between Kylie Minogue's Body Language and Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia. Other highlights include the sparkling summer jam "Need Someone," which packs piano twinkle and funky bass into a nostalgic disco throwback; the booming "WOW," a dramatic electronic journey courtesy of Marshmello; and the disco-kissed "Look What You've Done," a sonic sibling to Larsson's hit collaboration with Clean Bandit, "Symphony." That latter track recalls contemporary radio hits by Ava Max, while elsewhere the spirit of Ariana Grande slides up next to Larsson's Young Thug duet "Talk About Love" and album closer "What Happens Here." Tighter than So Good and packed with just as many catchy tunes, Poster Girl is yet another big step forward for the artist, adding a dozen fresh anthems to her catalog and maintaining her position as one of Sweden's finest pop exports.