You read it right: Swedish troubadour Jens Lekman is getting some Grammy love! You probably missed his name on yesterday’s nomination list because, it wasn’t on yesterday’s nomination list. Before you start tipping your cap to NARAS’s unexpected show of taste, let’s clarify: it’s not the Stateside Grammy, it’s the Swedish one: In the land of Kortedala, Jens is up for Årets Album (watch your back, Såkert!) and Årets Manliga Artist (against artist-you’ve-heard-of José González, among others). Also, “Årets” means “Best.” But manliga, it’s been a good year for Jens. (Excuse that incorrect use of Swedish please.) Recently, Mr. Lekman swung into the Spinner studios to do some solo stuff and talk about his year being a #1 recording artist at home (“I’m very flattered, but it means I sold 500 records or something; no one buys records anymore!”). First up, an annotated “Postcard To Nina”:

After the jump: “Shirin,” “Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo,” “The Opposite Of Hallelujah,” some Q&A, and a list of Jens’s competitors for those Swedish Grammys.

“Shirin”

“Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo”

“The Opposite Of Hallelujah”

Interview

The Swedes’ nominees, please:

ÅRETS ALBUM

• Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
• Kent – Tillibaka Till Samtiden
• Lars Winnebåck – Daugava
• Moneybrother – Mount Pleasure
• Sahara Hotnights – What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
• Salem Al Fakir – This Is Who I Am
• Såkert! – Såkert!
• The Ark – Prayer For The Weekend
• The Hives – The Black And White Album
• Timbuktu – Oberoendeframkallande

ÅRETS MANLIGA ARTIST

• Christian Kjellvander
• Jens Lekman
• José González
• Lars Winnerbåck
• Moneybrother
• Måns Zelmerlow
• Peter Lemarc
• Salem Al Fakir
• Timbuktu
• Timo Råisånen