Most of the world, myself included, was introduced to Marit Larsen as “the blonde one” in cleverly packaged Norwegian teen-pop duo M2M. Their biggest hit was a little song called “Don’t Say You Love Me,” which probably won’t pop up on too many “Greatest Hits of the 90s” compilations. While they sang sweetly and looked cute, it was all pretty inoffensive fare.

So I imagine I’m not the only on who was sceptical when a few music writers started to plug Marit’s new solo album as being a truly “must have” disc for 2006. And yet, it’s all true. The album’s a keeper.

I didn’t lose my head over Annie. I didn’t buy into the whole Girls Aloud thing and while Rachel Stevens is a nice looking girl with some catchy songs, she hasn’t changed my life. Marit, on the other hand, is so unbelievably head and shoulders above the usual popjustice crowd I’m quite beside myself.

Listening to Under the Surface is a lot like watching a movie where you can’t help falling in love with the protagonist because of their vulnerability, realism and genuineness. You feel like they’re a part of your life. Larsen’s songs are undeniably mainstream pop and while the melodies and instrumentations are innovative, they are variations on a familiar theme. It’s the unique personality that Larsen brings to these songs that sets them apart—a joie de vivre, a whimsy, a playfulness, a real human heart rather than the simulacrum of Hollywood emotion that our pop princesses tend to produce. It so overpowers my critical faculties that I find myself describing it in terms like “sounds like The Corrs in a good way.” Let’s be clear on one thing—there is no “good way” to sound like The Corrs and you can see how irrelevant considerations like genre or style become when the songs are so well delivered.

It was only a few tracks in before I started believing that I actually had known this girl all my life and that the whole album is actually an extended drinking session over which she has poured out her life to me including all her boy troubles and I find myself realising that I’ve fallen for this girl and I shouldn’t because she’s involved with someone else.

I have to snap myself out of it and realise that everyone with a heart will feel the same way when they hear songs like “Under the Surface,” “The Sinking Game,” and “Poison Passion.”

So to get a headstart on any other wannabe Marit-suitors, I’m now going to distract you with these mp3s. I have a flight to Norway to catch.

[buy stuff here]