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Dieselboy · 01-04-2010, 07:52 PM

For my next review I'll be discussing my favorite album of 2009. I wish now that I'd started this journal sooner, as I wanted to. Now, instead of it being the cool thing to do, it's just going to be "so last week", but oh well. I've seen this album mentioned here and there on the boards, but never seen it get a proper review, so I guess it's up to me.

Dieselboys Best Album of 2009 - La Roux (Self-Titled)

Some quick artist info:
La Roux is a duo of Eleanor (Elly) Jackson and Ben Langmaid. Elly being the "face" of the outfit, and Langmaid being more behind the scenes and secretive. The groups chosen name, La Roux, is quite interesting in itself. It is french for "Red-haired one", but is the male version of that term. This fits Elly well enough, as she keeps her sexual preferences well hidden. Indeed, she even seems to enjoy the confusion and talks about how well it fits her, as she sees herself being androgynous. In some of her videos she is beautiful, while in others she is quite handsome looking (is that the best way to say it?).
All this is interesting, but don't be worried that it might be some kind of distraction from the music quality, cause this is some great music. Very 80's synth-pop inspired, but sounding very fresh at the same time. Her vocals are quite unique and I've heard plenty of complaints about how they're too high pitched or ruin the music and such. I got used to them quickly enough after giving them a chance and really love them now, so maybe something to keep in mind if you aren't feeling her singing at first. On to the album:

When you first press play you're greeted with a bouncy and fun synth line that is interupted abruptly when Elly starts singing. As stated earlier, her voice is not conventional, and I still find it a bit jarring even to this day when I start this disc up.
Once you're over that though, this track is pretty great, with some nice sing-a-long ooooohhhhh's throughout and a bridge at 3:10 that is really very beautiful. It only lasts a few seconds and then you're jarred out of it again as it quickly ends and the singing resumes. This was the second single released for the album. I think In For the Kill is a fairly decent opener.

Great video. She looks amazing driving night rider down a dark highway in leather.

Following the opener is a song called Tigerlily. Interesting, as it really doesn't sound quite like the rest of the album and could be described as a bit more agressive sounding. One interview with Elly I saw, she picked this one as her favorite tune on the album as she reasoned, "It the least 'white' sounding track on there." Another good bridge in this track as the music stops and we here a very creepy sounding man talking about stalking a lover. His voice sounds very similar to Vincent Price in MJ's Thriller. Definitely a note-worthy song.

The third song on the album, Quicksand, is my personal favorite and was also it's first single. The synth line in the chorus is truly amazing and at 1:30 yet ANOTHER amazing bridge...probably the best on the cd. It's obvious if you listen, why this one was the one picked to represent the album first.

Towards the middle of the disc is another highlight called I'm Not Your Toy.
The intro to this song is pretty tight, and never fails to perk me up and get me excited for the rest of the track. It's just one of those intro's that's just so identifiable. It starts with a nice little melody of an mellow instrument that I can't identify, sounding nothing like anything previously heard on the disc. Then at about the 15 second mark the music completely stops and there's a catchy little drum breakdown, and then the music all starts again. It really just has to be heard.
I'm just going on about the first few seconds here, as if the rest of the song isn't great...well it is. This would probably get my Top Chorus of 2009 honors if I was lame enough to make such a list. It's almost embarrassing how much time that part has been stuck in my head since this CD released.

(Check out the first 20 seconds if nothing else.)

I'll stop with those four, because I don't want to make this review too bulky and discourage people from checking it out. That's just the singles though. Other tunes on this are just as quality. Songs like Colourless Colour and Cover My Eyes are favorites as well, and are right up there in consideration for my second best song. Believe me when I say that I rarely skip songs on this disc and I play it through even to the last, Growing Pains, which is just another amazing tune among so many.

In the end, I feel like many people will pass this disc by because of the pop label and maybe the cover which is a shame. Its worth checking out if you're a fan of any of these; the 80's, synth-pop, catchy vocals, or even just great chorus's.

Here's the complete Track-List:

1. In For The Kill
2. Tigerlily
3. Quicksand
4. Bulletproof
5. Colourless Colour
6. I'm Not Your Toy
7. Cover My Eyes
9. Fascination
10. Reflections Are Protection
11. Armour Love
12. Growing Pains

01-04-2010, 07:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dieselboy Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 608	For my next review I'll be discussing my favorite album of 2009. I wish now that I'd started this journal sooner, as I wanted to. Now, instead of it being the cool thing to do, it's just going to be "so last week", but oh well. I've seen this album mentioned here and there on the boards, but never seen it get a proper review, so I guess it's up to me. Dieselboys Best Album of 2009 - La Roux (Self-Titled) Some quick artist info: La Roux is a duo of Eleanor (Elly) Jackson and Ben Langmaid. Elly being the "face" of the outfit, and Langmaid being more behind the scenes and secretive. The groups chosen name, La Roux, is quite interesting in itself. It is french for "Red-haired one", but is the male version of that term. This fits Elly well enough, as she keeps her sexual preferences well hidden. Indeed, she even seems to enjoy the confusion and talks about how well it fits her, as she sees herself being androgynous. In some of her videos she is beautiful, while in others she is quite handsome looking (is that the best way to say it?). All this is interesting, but don't be worried that it might be some kind of distraction from the music quality, cause this is some great music. Very 80's synth-pop inspired, but sounding very fresh at the same time. Her vocals are quite unique and I've heard plenty of complaints about how they're too high pitched or ruin the music and such. I got used to them quickly enough after giving them a chance and really love them now, so maybe something to keep in mind if you aren't feeling her singing at first. On to the album: When you first press play you're greeted with a bouncy and fun synth line that is interupted abruptly when Elly starts singing. As stated earlier, her voice is not conventional, and I still find it a bit jarring even to this day when I start this disc up. Once you're over that though, this track is pretty great, with some nice sing-a-long ooooohhhhh's throughout and a bridge at 3:10 that is really very beautiful. It only lasts a few seconds and then you're jarred out of it again as it quickly ends and the singing resumes. This was the second single released for the album. I think In For the Kill is a fairly decent opener. Great video. She looks amazing driving night rider down a dark highway in leather. Following the opener is a song called Tigerlily. Interesting, as it really doesn't sound quite like the rest of the album and could be described as a bit more agressive sounding. One interview with Elly I saw, she picked this one as her favorite tune on the album as she reasoned, "It the least 'white' sounding track on there." Another good bridge in this track as the music stops and we here a very creepy sounding man talking about stalking a lover. His voice sounds very similar to Vincent Price in MJ's Thriller. Definitely a note-worthy song. The third song on the album, Quicksand, is my personal favorite and was also it's first single. The synth line in the chorus is truly amazing and at 1:30 yet ANOTHER amazing bridge...probably the best on the cd. It's obvious if you listen, why this one was the one picked to represent the album first. Towards the middle of the disc is another highlight called I'm Not Your Toy. The intro to this song is pretty tight, and never fails to perk me up and get me excited for the rest of the track. It's just one of those intro's that's just so identifiable. It starts with a nice little melody of an mellow instrument that I can't identify, sounding nothing like anything previously heard on the disc. Then at about the 15 second mark the music completely stops and there's a catchy little drum breakdown, and then the music all starts again. It really just has to be heard. I'm just going on about the first few seconds here, as if the rest of the song isn't great...well it is. This would probably get my Top Chorus of 2009 honors if I was lame enough to make such a list. It's almost embarrassing how much time that part has been stuck in my head since this CD released. (Check out the first 20 seconds if nothing else.) I'll stop with those four, because I don't want to make this review too bulky and discourage people from checking it out. That's just the singles though. Other tunes on this are just as quality. Songs like Colourless Colour and Cover My Eyes are favorites as well, and are right up there in consideration for my second best song. Believe me when I say that I rarely skip songs on this disc and I play it through even to the last, Growing Pains, which is just another amazing tune among so many. In the end, I feel like many people will pass this disc by because of the pop label and maybe the cover which is a shame. Its worth checking out if you're a fan of any of these; the 80's, synth-pop, catchy vocals, or even just great chorus's. Here's the complete Track-List: 1. In For The Kill 2. Tigerlily 3. Quicksand 4. Bulletproof 5. Colourless Colour 6. I'm Not Your Toy 7. Cover My Eyes 9. Fascination 10. Reflections Are Protection 11. Armour Love 12. Growing Pains Last edited by Dieselboy; 01-05-2010 at 03:18 PM.