La roux – self-titled album

La Roux are ruling the UK right now and it seems taking everyone I know by storm.

I have high expectations, which is never good. The duo are strongly influenced by 1980’s synthpop – it shows! Main woman, Eleanor "Elly" Jackson’s Mother Trudie Goodwin starred in the UK’s Bill for years and is a fresh faced 21 year old. Ben Langmaid a London based producer/composer completes the band and prefers to stay in the background.

 

Jackson is best known for her "androgynous" style. To be honest, I just think she dresses like one of us. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security though – she isn’t a gay (boo!). Somehow this reminds me of a great fashion column I read on this very website, hint hint.
The Deluxe version of the album comes with 13 tracks, included is a remix version of In for the Kill. The album starts with that very song and I’m pretty sure most of you will have heard it. It starts with a synth then follows Elly’s high pitched catchy vocals. Even though the lyrics aren’t too deep they still have meaning but like much of the album it just feels fun. Tigerlily is complete with drum machines and that electropop sound that La Roux are definitely in the grip of! In the middle of the song there’s a break, a guy starts talking and it really reminds me of Thriller by the late MJ. Quicksand is next and again another one that has been out there in the ether a lot! It is the standard version though but there is an excellent remix of this song which sadly doesn’t feature on the album. Again it has that catchy pop sound. Bulletproof follows and is by far my favorite. It’s an infectious little number and the lyrics make it more exciting. It’s easy to see why this song reached number 1 in the UK.

 

 

Much of the album goes on in the same vein; it doesn’t change pace or direction. All of the songs have the same sort of feel. To be honest I’ve had the album all month but have found myself slightly bored with it so I have had to force myself to listen so I could review it. The songs did grow on me and I can sort of see why this band are liked on a mass level. Unfortunately for me they just don’t have that WOW factor. The album doesn’t pack a big enough punch and I don’t see how they are doing anything exciting or different from the likes of Ladyhawke for example or the other legion of bands doing the synthpop thing. Its not that I dislike this album, I just don’t feel impassioned or moved by the music.

Stand out tracks are the ones we’ve all heard before. I liked the remix version of In for the Kill and I’m definitely a fan of Bulletproof.

Overall, I’m afraid to say that I just don’t think they are my bag. On shuffle La Roux was a welcome break but as a whole album I just think it’s too samey. I am completely aware that there seems to be a lot of hype around the band and plenty of people that totally disagree with my thoughts. The album is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on iTunes so go and make your own mind up.

 

 

 

What you’d be listening to this month, if it were up to me- Gossip’s Music For Men. Give me one good reason why not?

What’s on my iPod – Enter Shikari, Common Dreads. It’s a work of genius; all major record labels have been trying to get a piece of them but the band didn’t want to sell out so started their own label. They record and produce their own stuff – impressed? You should be! Common Dreads is their second album and the production is rough around the edges, no fine polishing here. This and their undeniable talent is what makes them so amazing!