La Roux (album)

"Quicksand" was released as the album's lead single on 15 December 2008, originally reaching number 153 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |last=Balls |first=David |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a176806/la-roux-wont-re-release-quicksand-single/ |title=La Roux 'won't re-release Quicksand single' |work=Digital Spy |date=10 September 2009 |access-date=14 April 2019}} The song was re-released on 23 November 2009 and rose to a new peak position of number 129 on the UK chart.{{cite web |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2009.HTM |title=Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009 |publisher=Zobbel |access-date=24 January 2014}}

"In for the Kill" was released as the album's second single on 16 March 2009. The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart for four consecutive weeks,{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/dylan-and-stryder-keep-number-one-slots/039921 |title=Dylan and Stryder keep number one slots |work=Music Week |date=11 May 2009 |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202102554/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/dylan-and-stryder-keep-number-one-slots/039921 |archive-date=2 February 2014}} while reaching the top 15 in Ireland and Norway, the top 40 in Australia and the top 50 in Belgium.{{cite web |url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=La+Roux |title=Discography La Roux |website=irish-charts.com |access-date=24 January 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/86f04/La-Roux-In-For-The-Kill |title=La Roux – In for the Kill |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop |access-date=24 January 2014}}

"Bulletproof" was released as the album's third single on 22 June 2009. The single debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming La Roux's first chart-topper.{{cite magazine |last=Sexton |first=Paul |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268251/michael-jackson-dominates-uk-charts |title=Michael Jackson Dominates U.K. Charts |magazine=Billboard |date=29 June 2009 |access-date=24 January 2014}} The track reached number three in Austria, number five in Australia, Belgium and Ireland, number seven in New Zealand and number 13 in Germany.{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/8aa60/La-Roux-Bulletproof |title=La Roux – Bulletproof |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop |access-date=24 January 2014}} "Bulletproof" also became the duo's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, peaking at number eight.{{cite magazine |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=la roux|chart=Hot 100}} |title=La Roux Chart History (Hot 100) |magazine=Billboard|access-date=7 November 2009}}

"I'm Not Your Toy" was released as the album's fourth and final single on 28 September 2009. Speaking to The Guardian on 22 July 2009, La Roux's lead singer Elly Jackson explained that the duo chose to release the single in the summer because she "think[s] sunny weather drives you towards certain tempos and melodies that work well booming out of open windows", adding that the song "has a brightness that wouldn't work in winter."{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jude |author-link=Jude Rogers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jul/22/summer-pop-hits-dizzee-rascal |title=What makes a great summer pop hit? |work=The Guardian |date=22 July 2009 |access-date=24 January 2014}} It peaked at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5447/la-roux/ |title=La Roux |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=14 April 2019}}

On 15 July 2010, Jackson uploaded a behind-the-scenes preview of the music video for "Tigerlily" on YouTube discussing its theme.{{cite web |first=Robert |last=Copsey |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a244299/la-roux-announce-new-single-video-news/ |title=La Roux announce new single, video news |work=Digital Spy |date=15 July 2010 |access-date=14 April 2019}} However, neither the single nor the video ever materialised.

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 6.8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/531/La-Roux-La-Roux.aspx |title=La Roux by La Roux reviews |website=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=8 January 2020}}

| MC = 76/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev2 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/5625334/La-Roux-La-Roux-CD-review.html |title=La Roux: La Roux, CD review |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=1 July 2009 |access-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414155805/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/5625334/La-Roux-La-Roux-CD-review.html |archive-date=14 April 2019}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev4 = The Irish Times

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Lauren |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/rock-pop-1.792654 |title=La Roux: La Roux (Polydor) |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=26 June 2009 |access-date=14 April 2019}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |title=La Roux: La Roux |magazine=Mojo |date=July 2009 |issue=188 |page=98 |issn=1351-0193}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 9/10

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 7.0/10

| rev8 = Q

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=La Roux: La Roux |magazine=Q |date=July 2009 |issue=276 |page=114 |issn=0955-4955}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev10 = The Times

| rev10Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

}}

La Roux received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 76, based on 16 reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/la-roux/la-roux |title=Reviews for La Roux by La Roux |publisher=Metacritic|access-date=14 April 2019}} Luke Turner of NME raved that "with this astounding debut, an unassuming 21-year-old from SW2 has revitalised a forgotten form to make one of the finest forward-thinking British pop albums of recent memory."{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Luke |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/la-roux/10596 |title=Album Review: La Roux – 'La Roux' |work=NME |date=23 June 2009 |access-date=30 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129015613/http://www.nme.com/reviews/la-roux/10596 |archive-date=29 November 2012}} Steve Harris of Clash viewed the album as "[t]he ultimate expression of '80s love" and stated that "apart from a couple of later tracks, the album is far from filler and still delivers blow after blow of superb songcraft."{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Steve |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/la-roux-la-roux |title=La Roux – La Roux |work=Clash |date=10 June 2009 |access-date=25 June 2009}} Heather Phares of AllMusic opined that "La Roux's dedication to their aesthetic makes this an album where the songs are variations on a theme, and on the rare occasion where the songwriting isn't razor-sharp, the style threatens to overtake the substance. However, that devotion also makes La Roux a standout, not just among the many other '80s revivalists, but the entire late-2000s pop landscape."{{cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/la-roux-mw0000823831 |title=La Roux – La Roux |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=24 January 2014}} Rolling Stone{{'}}s Rob Sheffield commented, "Along with co-writer and fellow synth dude Ben Langmaid, [Elly Jackson is] ruling U.K. radio with splashy dance hits about sex and betrayal", highlighting "Bulletproof" as the album's "definitive gem".{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/29607539/review/29716078/la_roux |title=La Roux : La Roux |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=10 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005192127/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/29607539/review/29716078/la_roux |archive-date=5 October 2009}}

Talia Kraines of BBC Music wrote, "That shrill vocal might mean the [...] album is not something you're likely to listen to all in one go in a high pressure situation, but it's one jam-packed with killer pop song after killer pop song."{{cite web |last=Kraines |first=Talia |title=Review of La Roux – La Roux |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/q9f9 |publisher=BBC Music |date=22 June 2009 |access-date=28 June 2009}} Slant Magazine reviewer Paul Schrodt described La Roux's sound as "frosty, uniquely British, deliberately affected, and anything but casual", but felt that "it's the band's attempts at vulnerability ('Cover My Eyes') that make for the most insipid listens."{{cite web |last=Schrodt |first=Paul |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/la-roux-la-roux/ |title=La Roux: La Roux |work=Slant Magazine |date=29 July 2009 |access-date=14 April 2019}} Pitchfork{{'}}s Joshua Love noted that "La Roux delivers icy but irresistible throwback pop that hearkens back explicitly to fellow femme-led Brits Yazoo and the Eurythmics."{{cite web |last=Love |first=Joshua |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13181-la-roux/ |title=La Roux: La Roux |work=Pitchfork |date=18 September 2009 |access-date=7 November 2009}} The Guardian{{'}}s Alexis Petridis wrote, "The sound is authentically tinny, bass being something that most synthpop pioneers seemed to think the gleaming 'Music of the Future' could do without. The rhythms tend to a clipped, funkless boom-crash that listeners of a certain vintage may find difficult to hear without picturing a school disco dancefloor packed with fourth-formers trying to 'do' robotics."{{cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jun/26/la-roux |title=La Roux: La Roux |work=The Guardian |date=26 June 2009 |access-date=24 January 2014}} Peter Paphides of The Times expressed, "For the almost militant purity of its execution though, La Roux inspires a peculiar sort of awe. Exclusively using keyboards is one thing, but the Brixton-based duo have gone a step further, purging their sound of any keyboard noise that bears even a passing resemblance to what your Jeremy Clarkson sort of music fan would refer to as a 'real' instrument."{{cite web |last=Paphides |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Paphides |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article6578062.ece |title=La Roux: La Roux |work=The Times |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=28 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064557/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article6578062.ece |archive-date=15 June 2011}} Simon Price was critical of the album in his review for The Independent, stating that "[m]uch of the time, La Roux sound strangely distorted, like the backing music from an early 1990s Sega Mega Drive game turned up to 11."{{cite web |last=Price |first=Simon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-la-roux-la-roux-polydor-1722841.html |title=Album: La Roux, La Roux, (Polydor) |work=The Independent |date=28 June 2009 |access-date=16 May 2010}}

La Roux was shortlisted for the 2009 Mercury Prize.{{cite web |last=Swash |first=Rosie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jul/21/mercury-prize-2009-nominations-announced |title=Mercury prize 2009 nominations announced |work=The Guardian |date=21 July 2009 |access-date=24 January 2014}} On 13 February 2011, the album won Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web |url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/grammys-2011-winners/ |title=Grammys 2011 Winners |work=The New York Times |date=14 February 2011 |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218220535/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/grammys-2011-winners/ |archive-date=18 February 2014}}

La Roux debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart with 62,650 copies sold in its first week,{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/jacksons-influence-continues-on-charts/040252 |title=Jackson's influence continues on charts |work=Music Week |date=6 July 2009 |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202102551/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/jacksons-influence-continues-on-charts/040252 |archive-date=2 February 2014}} becoming the third fastest-selling debut album of 2009 in the United Kingdom after Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream and Florence and the Machine's Lungs, respectively.{{cite magazine |last=Sexton |first=Paul |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268208/michael-jackson-maintains-uk-chart-dominance |title=Michael Jackson Maintains U.K. Chart Dominance |magazine=Billboard|date=6 July 2009 |access-date=24 March 2013}}{{cite web |last=Michaels |first=Sean |author-link=Sean Michaels (writer) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/30/susan-boyle-fastest-selling-album |title=Susan Boyle reaches No 1 with record-breaking debut album |work=The Guardian |date=30 November 2009 |access-date=24 January 2014}}{{cite web |last=Levine |first=Nick |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/uk-album-chart/a164776/jackson-holds-florence-off-albums-top-spot/ |title=Jackson holds Florence off albums top spot |work=Digital Spy |date=12 July 2009 |access-date=14 April 2019}} The album was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 12 February 2010, and by July 2014, it had sold 416,667 copies in the UK.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-sheeran-s-x-sells-33k-copies-to-spend-fifth-week-at-no-1/059148 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Sheeran's X sells 33k copies to spend fifth week at No.1 |work=Music Week |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=28 July 2014 |url-access=subscription }} As of May 2014, La Roux had sold over two million copies worldwide.{{cite web |last=Schaffer |first=Emily |url=https://www.altwire.net/2014/05/17/la-roux-announces-taster-track-new-album-trouble-in-paradise/ |title=La Roux Announces "Taster Track", New Album "Trouble in Paradise" |work=AltWire |date=17 May 2014 |access-date=7 February 2018}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid, except where noted

| total_length = 44:31

| title1 = In for the Kill

| length1 = 4:08

| title2 = Tigerlily

| writer2 = {{hlist|Jackson|Langmaid|Darren Berry}}

| length2 = 3:24

| title3 = Quicksand

| length3 = 3:05

| title4 = Bulletproof

| length4 = 3:25

| title5 = Colourless Colour

| writer5 = {{hlist|Jackson|Ben Hirst}}

| length5 = 3:30

| title6 = I'm Not Your Toy

| length6 = 3:18

| title7 = Cover My Eyes

| length7 = 4:32

| title8 = As If by Magic

| length8 = 3:51

| title9 = Fascination

| length9 = 3:41

| title10 = Reflections Are Protection

| length10 = 4:19

| title11 = Armour Love

| writer11 = {{hlist|Jackson|Langmaid|Berry}}

| length11 = 3:53

| title12 = Growing Pains

| note12 = bonus track

| writer12 = {{hlist|Jackson|Langmaid|Jeff Patterson}}

| length12 = 3:27

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Australian, European and Japanese iTunes Store bonus track{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/la-roux-bonus-track-version/id319483576 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707153857/http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/la-roux-bonus-track-version/id319483576 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2011 |title=La Roux (Bonus Track Version) by La Roux |website=iTunes Store |location=Australia |access-date=9 February 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/la-roux-bonus-track-version/id319483576 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127225859/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/la-roux-bonus-track-version/id319483576 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2009 |title=La Roux (Bonus Track Version) by La Roux |website=iTunes Store |location=United Kingdom |access-date=9 February 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/la-roux-bonus-track-version/id319483576?l=en |title=La Roux (Bonus Track Version) by La Roux |website=iTunes Store |location=Japan |access-date=9 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605181726/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/la-roux-bonus-track-version/id319483576?l=en |archive-date=5 June 2014}}

| total_length = 49:33

| title13 = In for the Kill

| note13 = Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix

| length13 = 5:02

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = US iTunes Store bonus track{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/la-roux-bonus-track-version/331339668 |title=La Roux (Bonus Track Version) by La Roux |website=iTunes Store |date=January 2009 |location=United States |access-date=9 February 2011}}

| total_length = 48:50

| title13 = Finally My Saviour

| length13 = 4:19

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Amazon Music and Record Store Day 2010 bonus track{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Roux-Amazon-Exclusive-Version/dp/B002POVIMS |title=La Roux (Amazon Exclusive Version): La Roux: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |location=United States |access-date=14 April 2019}}

| total_length = 47:57

| title13 = Bulletproof

| note13 = demo version

| length13 = 3:26

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Australian limited edition bonus tracks

| total_length = 49:33

| title13 = In for the Kill

| note13 = Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix

| length13 = 5:02

| title14 = In for the Kill

| note14 = video

| title15 = Quicksand

| note15 = video

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = French limited edition bonus tracks

| total_length = 63:16

| title13 = Finally My Saviour

| length13 = 4:21

| title14 = In for the Kill

| note14 = Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix

| length14 = 5:04

| title15 = Bulletproof

| note15 = Tiborg Remix

| length15 = 3:29

| title16 = Bulletproof

| note16 = Zinc Remix

| length16 = 5:51

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks

| total_length = 59:31

| title13 = Finally My Saviour

| length13 = 4:21

| title14 = In for the Kill

| note14 = Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix

| length14 = 5:04

| title15 = Bulletproof

| note15 = Tepr TsunAimee Remix

| length15 = 5:35

}}

{{Track listing

| total_length = 45:28

| title1 = In for the Kill

| note1 = featuring Kanye West

| length1 = 4:41

| title2 = Finally My Saviour

| length2 = 4:19

| title3 = Under My Thumb

| writer3 = {{hlist|Mick Jagger|Keith Richards}}

| length3 = 3:46

| title4 = I'm Not Your Toy

| note4 = Jack Beats Remix

| length4 = 5:37

| title5 = In for the Kill

| note5 = Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix

| length5 = 5:02

| title6 = Quicksand

| note6 = Boy 8 Bit Remix

| length6 = 5:56

| title7 = Bulletproof

| note7 = Zinc Remix

| length7 = 5:49

| title8 = Tigerlily

| note8 = demo

| writer8 = {{hlist|Jackson|Langmaid|Berry}}

| length8 = 3:49

| title9 = Bulletproof

| note9 = intimate session at Abbey Road, acoustic

| length9 = 3:01

| title10 = In for the Kill

| note10 = Vevo Lounge version

| length10 = 3:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = US iTunes Store bonus video{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/la-roux-gold-edition/417429022 |title=La Roux (Gold Edition) by La Roux |website=iTunes Store |date=January 2011 |location=United States |access-date=16 December 2012}}

| title11 = In for the Kill

| note11 = the making of

| length11 = 3:18

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of La Roux.{{cite AV media notes |title=La Roux |type=liner notes |others=La Roux |publisher=Polydor Records |year=2009 |id=2703635}}

• Elly Jackson – vocals
• London Community Gospel Choir – backing vocals {{small|(track 7)}}
• Kit Jackson – spoken word (uncredited) {{small|(track 2)}}{{cite web |last=Durbin |first=Jonathan |url=http://www.papermag.com/red-hot-1425702588.html |title=Red Hot |work=Paper |date=6 September 2010 |access-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414180904/http://www.papermag.com/red-hot-1425702588.html |archive-date=14 April 2019}}

• Ben Langmaid – production
• Elly Jackson – production
• Ben Hirst – production {{small|(track 5)}}
• Serban Ghenea – mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4–12)}}
• John Hanes – mix engineering {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4–12)}}
• Tim Roberts – mix engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4–12)}}
• Dan Carey – mixing {{small|(track 3)}}
• Ian Sherwin – engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 7–12)}}

• Andy Whitton – photography
• Alexander Brown – photography, art direction, design
• Traffic – art direction, design
• Hannah Neaves – art direction, design

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for La Roux}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=La Roux|title=La Roux|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2009|access-date=17 December 2009}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|artist=La Roux|title=La Roux|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2009|certyear=2009|access-date=3 May 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=La Roux|title=La Roux|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=2010|id=8483-2289-2|date=12 February 2010|access-date=24 January 2014|salesamount=416,667|salesref=|refname="BPI"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=La Roux|title=La Roux|nocert=yes|type=album|salesamount=207,000|salesref={{cite magazine |first=Jason |last=Lipshutz |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6039536/la-roux-returns-with-north-american-tour |title=La Roux Returns With North American Tour |magazine=Billboard |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=7 February 2018}}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=yes|salesamount=2,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{La Roux}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:La Roux (Album)}}

Category:2009 debut albums

Category:Albums recorded at RAK Studios

Category:Cherrytree Records albums

Category:Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album

Category:Interscope Geffen A&M Records albums

Category:Interscope Records albums

Category:La Roux albums

Category:Polydor Records albums