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Review of 'La Roux'

Antoine D. Reid | Durham, NC United States | 09/29/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you want something very fun, electronic, pop with a heavy 1980s vibe, La Roux is for you. What I enjoy most about La Roux and her debut album is that it is unlike anything on the radio today. She is not trying to follow any popular music trends; she clearly knows what genre of music fits her best and this album feels very retro while feeling very futuristic at the same time.



The Good: I loved the instrumentals/beats. When I first listened to the album, I thought this was some forgotten 1980s album. The vibe of the album sounds retro but doesn't seem dated at all. It's an odd blend of what made 80s music so fun while somehow keeping its hand and eyes set on the future (perhaps with the use of the computer to alter the voice, giving the album an at times robotic/electronic vibe). The music is carefree and the lyrics are also interesting; nothing entirely deep but at the same time, not frivolous and without a message. I also felt La Roux's vocals stood out on the album. While some of the vocals are processed and run through autotune and computer tweaks, La Roux does sing in a very raw, organic manner on other tracks and is able to really communicate emotion and depth while many artist don't seem to give any thought to what they are singing or how their voice can change the entire tone of the album.



The Bad: With all the synth and electronic treatment is what gives the album its flair and attitude, it also gets somewhat repetitive after a few tracks. This is the style carried out not on one or two tracks but on every track. In a way, it distracts and makes the tracks blend into one and makes some tracks fade or retreat into one another rather than standing out as they should.



In all, La Roux's debut album does what few are able to do; she leaves a lasting impression and has the listener wanting more by the end. The music is addictive, fun, carefree and La Roux herself has a very unique style and her vocal style and musical preferences definitely give this album a lot of feeling and character. Definitely worth purchasing.



Listen To These Tracks: 'Cover My Eyes', 'Bulletproof', 'Tigerlily', 'I'm Not Your Toy', 'Fascination'"

Amazing

Jonathan Boggess | Charleston, WV | 12/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"La Roux is simply amazing! The songs are soo catchy with the great lyrics and tunes. I simple can't get enough, there is not one song on the CD that I will skip when listening which is very rare these days. Very similar to an underground Lady Gaga, no she is much better than Gaga. I expect to hear much more from and about La Roux in the near future she is an extremely talented artist with such a beautiful voice. A must have CD!!"

You have my attention, not how about a little diversity...

Andrew Ellington | I'm kind of everywhere | 12/04/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I heard `Bulletproof' I was in love, instantly. It was fun, fresh, funky and totally what I needed to break through the monotony that can become modern top 40 music. Someone was finally doing something different, making the 80's synth heavy pop music cool again and I, for one, was ready to take a big ol' bite out of La Roux.



So I did.



While this album is definitely a breath of fresh air when you consider the Miley Cyrus / Britney Spears / Black Eyed Peas mediocrity that fills the airwaves (I like `Party in the U.S.A.' but, I mean, how much of it can you take at one time) I have to say that I was letdown a tad when listening to the album as a whole. I found that the songs began to run into one another, with no real distinction and no real diversity. There are a handful of spectacular tracks and then a slew of what appears to be `filler'.



I hate filler.



There are only two songs that I don't like; `Cover my Eyes' and `Reflections are Protection'. For me they are boring. `Cover my Eyes' isn't `bad', but it just isn't anything I want to listen to again. `Reflections are Protection' is just plain horrible.



Songs like `In For the Kill' have a lot going for them, but the lack of musical fluctuation leaves the track rather redundant feeling, which is sad in this case because the initial beat laydown is one of my favorite on the album, and with some color it could have been the album's biggest standout. `Colourless Colour' is soft yet maybe too simple, and songs like `Growing Pains', `Armour Love' and `As if by Magic' sound great but also sound too much like other songs on the album.



I know this sounds like a weird comparison, but you know how all of Godsmack's songs sound the same (regurgitated chord structure, repetitive lyrics)? That is the feeling I got when listening to half of this album.



I wanted more variety.



When she hits it hard though, she hits it out of the park. Homeruns on this album include the aforementioned `Bulletproof', `Quicksand' and the brilliant `Tigerlily'. These three songs stand out as `best in show' and encompass all that I want La Roux to embrace on her sophomore attempt. `Bulletproof' is just fun, spunky and hip. `Quicksand' has a sensual vibe that reminds me of Prince in a way; that slinky R&B presence lacing every second. My favorite track here is `Tigerlily', a song that personifies perfection for me. It has a brashness about it that I adore. La Roux almost sounds as if she is attacking every word, and that aggression is a welcome twist to her delicate softness.



In the end I give the album a B-, but I see a potential to deliver A+ material in the very near future."