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Album- La Roux
Artist- La Roux
This electronic driven debut by the group La Roux signalled
that they were one of the shining stars of 2010/2011, and I decided I should
relisten to it properly and see if it was as good as I thought when I bought
it, and if I should be really eager for a new record.
Track 1- In For The
Kill
The lead single of the album is a cool 80’s synth pop affair
that also feels very modern and futuristic. Lyrically the track speaks of just
going for something and telling a person how you feel regardless of what you might
get back. The track features a irresistible pop chorus that is so simple and
pure you can’t help but let it get stuck on your head. And with the smooth
vocals of lead vocalist Elly Jackson the track has a light but dominating
effect on the listener, with the high vocal performance making the song feel
other worldly and bringing out the carefree, just do it vibe of the track in a
great way. The production features some cool, kind of preppy synth beats that
give a nice, chilled out groove to the song.
4.5/5
Track 2- Tigerlily
This track works nicely after the former number as it has
more of a harsher, aggressive sound as a whole. The track speaks of being taken
over by desires and has a slight sexual feeling about it. The vocal performance
is really cool with the contrast of a deep tone in the verses with a more
natural light tone in the chorus that gives that sense of being taken over. And
the middle section with it horror like male vocal speaking about being taken
over gives nice, weird but cool sinister flavouring to the song. The beats are
harsher and more deeper sound than the previous track, although they don’t have
the same energy and so suffer the vitality of the song suffers just a little
bit.
3.5/5
Track 3- Quicksand
This song is all about that moment of intense attraction
that you have with someone who you cant really have, to the point where it is
almost painful. And the track really plays this ideology well lyrically, with
that simple hook of the chorus (“I’m in the quicksand”) enveloping that sense
of being trapped in your emotions in a very nice way, whilst the verses convey
the essence of intensity by incorporating some cool moments of metaphor. The
vocals feel a little shrill here and there, most prominently within the
introduction, but overall vocally that sense of emotion comes through on a nice
melodic way on a bed of electro pop beats that feel modern and old at the same
time, a perfect example of how the music of the past really informs the
present.
3/5
Track 4- Bulletproof
This electro pop number is a booming and forceful affair
that is definitely one of the highlights of the album. The feisty, fast paced verses contrast great
with the simple pop hook that is easily memorable and will get stuck in your
head, or at least have you singing along. And with her light vocals the simplicity
of the hook really shines, with the track being able to strike a nice balance
between happy and aggressive. But probably the best thing about this
particularly song is the production with its bouncy electro pop beats that just
give that powerful, dance around edge that is so pleasing to the ear, with the
breakdown into the final chorus of the song being really powerful and a
highlight in having that sense of frenzy. It’s definitely a great track for all
those scorned people in the world who want to move on.
5/5
Track 5- Colourless
Colour
The sense of vulnerability within this track that speaks of
that end of a relationship in a nice metaphorical way of looking at trends is
nice but not necessarily as potent as it could be. The verses struggle more,
with the vocals just having that lightness that loses that sense of delicacy in
a weird way. However the chorus is a delightful throwback section that
lyrically works well in terms of simplicity but also warping the way that the
relationship is seen. And the track is definitely saved by the toe tapping
electro beats that give a light groove to the track that doesn’t mean we are
bored with the vulnerability, with the more beat driven and slightly aggressive
middle section being a welcome pace changer and give a small moment of
intensity.
2.5/5
Track 6- I’m Not Your
Toy
The track was highlighted at the time of release as not
being as powerful and catchy as their previous releases. However on the album I
feel this track works, and with it’s quite light beats the track feels a little
more chilled and shows a more simple side of the band. The lyrics of Jackson
not being treated badly within her relationship and not just being a disposable
thing like a toy may feel unoriginal but with the vocal delivery that sense of lightness
but forcefulness is conveyed in a summery and cute way that feels more at ease
and less of a dramatic statement. Plus the production of the track features
some really nice clattering beats that just give an airy freshness to this
number that marks it out against the other tracks and makes it feel more of a
chilled out, just enjoy the simpleness sort of song that many people will
probably enjoy.
3.5/5
Track 7- Cover My
Eyes
After the light but preppy and summery vibes of the previous
track, this track transitions the record into a more understated, vulnerable
level that sees the group trying to go into a little bit emotional depth in a
more simplistic way. However the track really does unfortunately fail, with the
beats of this number feeling that little bit more dated rather than modern but
past driven like the other number. And whilst the lyrics give a nice sense of
storytelling, the chorus gives a pretty clichéd statement that doesn’t feel as
strong as it should be, probably because the vocal tone of Jackson doesn’t make
for a vulnerable, down tempo kind of a good listen that you wish it really
would.
2/5
Track 8- As If By
Magic
This track is bit more up tempo than the previous track and
gives a nicer and more powerful sense of vulnerability that makes for a pretty
good listen. The vocals of the track here really work well against the
production, with the deepness of the verses complimenting the higher vocals of
the chorus nicely and the “ooooooh” post chorus section making for a kind of
brain embedding sound. The tracks lyrics are light but vulnerable and don’t necessarily
stick but are definitely carried well by the electro beats that feel fragile
but give a nice groove that is a bit light. Definitely wish the end was more
powerful as the ad libs don’t really work but the way the track fades out is a
nice touch to a pretty good track.
3/5
Track 9- Fascination
This track brings the album back to a better state of being
as it features some cool very high vocals that really work well and don’t feel
as grating as they do in other places in the record. The chorus is a delicious slice
of pop that taps into the human condition of needing new fun things in life
really well. The verses are also nice in giving that sense of a true
relationship and having a down to earth quality that makes for a pretty
relatable listen. And the production here features some heady bopping beats
that elevate the lyricism of the track and the message that it conveys to a
more potent level, with dipping into more focus on the vocals being a nice
change in sound.
3.5/5
Track 10- Reflections
Are Protection
The production here features some more stomping electro
beats that is cool and makes for a more diverse sound to the record. However
the issue with this is that the lightness of the vocals feel a little bit
overpowered, especially within the high key of the chorus. However when the
vocals aren’t there the track features a pretty funky vibe, and so maybe the
issue here is that the production doesn’t match the artist well enough. Here
the group speaks of finding strength within yourself and though the chorus
features a ok hook the lyrics don’t stamp on you in the way songs like
bulletproof beautifully does. Definitely a song that should have been re
thought out.
2.5/5
Track 11- Armour Love
The track features some pretty clunky sounding electro beats
that are pretty snappy and so attention catching, with the bass in the chorus
being powerful but not overbearing. And with this track that delicacy of
Jackson’s voice comes through nicely and doesn’t sound grating. The track
lyrically talks of the delicacy of love and feels a little bit more passionate
than some of their other tracks. And with such a lush, chilled but powerful
middle section the track is definitely one of the better moments of the record.
3.5/5
Track 12- Growing
Pains
This bonus track is a light pop number that features some
quite whimsical, love rushed vocals that are a little cute against the stomping
electro beats. The song is about the moments in relationships when you learn
things along the way, and as far as bonus tracks go it actually sounds better
than some of the actually songs on the record.
3.5/5
Final Review
The electro pop grooves are in many ways just purely delicious,
with certain numbers almost having an ethereal feel that is so powerful you can’t
help but love them. However as whole this record in places feels like it’s
marred by a mismatching of different elements of particular tracks, whether
that is vocals that are too shrill, lyrics that don’t say much or production
that is too overpowering. So whilst a solid debut it could be more astute, and
so I’ll probably pay more attention to their second album just too see if they
do anything with these issues.
6/10
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