Two Suns

According to the accompanying press release, Two Suns is "a record of modern-day fables exploring dualities on a number of levels—two lovers, two planets, two sides of a personality", bringing reflection about "the philosophy of the self and duality, examining the need for both chaos and balance, for both love and pain, in addition to touching on metaphysical ideas concerning the connections between all existence." In Two Suns, Khan also presents an alter ego named Pearl, described by the press release as "a destructive, self-absorbed, blonde, femme fatale of a persona who acts as a direct foil to Khan's more mystical, desert-born spiritual self."

"Daniel" was released on 1 March 2009 as the album's lead single, reaching number 36 on the UK singles chart. Both "Siren Song" and the 909s in DarkTimes mix of "Sleep Alone" were featured in the first season of the American television series The Vampire Diaries,{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2533283/#Soundtrack |title=Bat for Lashes – Soundtrack |publisher=IMDb |access-date=25 September 2012}} while only the latter was included on the series' soundtrack album.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-vampire-diaries-original-tv-soundtrack-mw0002035736 |title=The Vampire Diaries [Original TV Soundtrack] |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=25 September 2012}} the instrumental version of "Siren Song" was also used in Season 15 of Top Gear, in Episode 3, as well as the tribute to Ayrton Senna.{{cite web |url=https://forums.finalgear.com/threads/15x05-july-25th-2010.46357/ |title=[15x05] July 25th, 2010 |date=25 July 2010 }}{{cite web |url=https://forums.finalgear.com/threads/15x03-july-11th-2010.46086/ |title=[15x03] July 11th, 2010 |date=11 July 2010 }} The song "Glass" was used in the trailer for the 2012 video game Assassin's Creed III: Liberation.{{cite web |last=Shetler |first=Scott |url=https://diffuser.fm/assassins-creed-iii-trailer-whats-the-song/ |title='Assassin's Creed 3' Trailer – What's the Song? |website=Diffuser.fm |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=25 September 2012}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.4/10{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/1076/Bat-For-Lashes-Two-Suns.aspx |title=Two Suns by Bat For Lashes reviews |website=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=8 January 2020}}

| MC = 76/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B+

| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Andrew |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/5095416/Bat-For-Lashes-Two-Suns-review.html |title=Bat For Lashes – Two Suns, review |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 April 2009 |access-date=23 December 2018}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev5 = MSN Music (Consumer Guide)

| rev5score = C

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 8/10

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.5/10

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Bat for Lashes: Two Suns |magazine=Q |issue=274 |date=May 2009 |page=118 |issn=0955-4955}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10score = 8/10

}}

Two Suns 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 32 reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/two-suns/bat-for-lashes |title=Reviews for Two Suns by Bat for Lashes |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=20 April 2010}} Kevin Liedel of Slant Magazine called it "dark, but never needlessly so", and wrote that it "offers a rich, distinct world of subterranean lullabies, spacey timbres, and ghostly beauty."{{cite web |last=Liedel |first=Kevin |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/bat-for-lashes-two-suns/ |title=Review: Bat for Lashes, Two Suns |website=Slant Magazine |date=6 April 2009 |access-date=4 October 2022}} Mark Pytlik of Pitchfork called it a "significant step forward from her debut" and "home to some of the year's most thrilling music so far."{{cite web |last=Pytlik |first=Mark |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12910-two-suns/ |title=Bat for Lashes: Two Suns |work=Pitchfork |date=10 April 2009 |access-date=10 April 2009}} Tim Chester of NME described Two Suns as "a brilliant pop album", commenting that it is "epic in scope and ambition and requires a similarly epic patience to unravel its charms".{{cite web |last=Chester |first=Tim |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/bat-for-lashes/10296 |title=Album Review: Bat For Lashes |work=NME |date=2 April 2009 |access-date=10 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174623/http://www.nme.com/reviews/bat-for-lashes/10296 |archive-date=3 March 2016}} Barry Walters of Spin wrote that "this art-rock Joan of Arc gushes duality motifs that thwart narrative but overflow with moonstruck sensuality."{{cite magazine |last=Walters |first=Barry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UGXLInPX86UC&pg=PA76 |title=Bat for Lashes: Two Suns |magazine=Spin |volume=25 |issue=4 |date=April 2009 |page=76 |issn=0886-3032 }} The A.V. Club{{'}}s Sean O'Neal commented that "Khan's sublime voice easily distracts from any lyrical ponderousness, and it lends even lines about 'diamonds burning through rainbows' a dreamy sort of sense."{{cite web |last=O'Neal |first=Sean |url=https://www.avclub.com/bat-for-lashes-two-suns-1798205979 |title=Bat For Lashes: Two Suns |publisher=The A.V. Club |date=7 April 2009 |access-date=23 December 2018}} The Guardian{{'}}s Dorian Lynskey called it "fantastic as well as fantastical", noting that "[w]hereas her debut relied on charisma and imagination to paper over the songwriting cracks, [Two Suns] is agleam with striking melodies".{{cite web |last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/03/two-suns-bat-for-lashes |title=Two Suns: Bat for Lashes |work=The Guardian |date=3 April 2009 |access-date=5 April 2009}} Melissa Maerz of Rolling Stone felt that "[s]omehow, the music melts away the potential for hokeyness ... Khan proves she's a powerhouse under her billowy sleeves."{{cite magazine |last=Maerz |first=Melissa |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/27205155/review/27181570/two_suns |title=Two Suns : Bat For Lashes |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=1 April 2009 |access-date=18 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411043531/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/27205155/review/27181570/two_suns |archive-date=11 April 2009}}

AllMusic's Heather Phares complimented Khan's "considerable skills at telling a story and setting a mood", but critiqued that "the album's massive concepts and sounds require a little more time and patience to unravel to get to the songs' hearts. It's clear that Khan's talent and ambition are both huge".{{cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/two-suns-mw0000813895 |title=Two Suns – Bat for Lashes |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=8 April 2009}} PopMatters{{'}} Erin Lyndal Martin felt that Khan "can do much better than some of the songs, which are weakened by synths, sophomoric lyrics, and sonic clutter." Martin continued, "While the weaker songs are definitely not throwaways, they miss the mark in more than one way."{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Erin Lyndal |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/72112-bat-for-lashes-two-suns/ |title=Bat for Lashes: Two Suns |publisher=PopMatters |date=8 April 2009 |access-date=6 April 2012}} Andy Gill of The Independent found its "patina and keyboard tones" "blander" than Fur and Gold{{'}}s music and said that it is difficult to "take Khan's stories seriously when she slips into blather about 'a stranger in a strange land' and 'a vast and unknowable universe'."{{cite news |last=Gill |first=Andy |date=3 April 2009 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-bat-for-lashes-two-suns-parlophone-1660854.html |title=Album: Bat For Lashes, Two Suns (Parlophone) |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=12 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406062121/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-bat-for-lashes-two-suns-parlophone-1660854.html |archive-date=6 April 2009}} Robert Christgau of MSN Music found her "as ill-informed about astronomy as she is about love" and the musical experimentation "unworthy of your brainlength".{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg2009-05.php |title=Consumer Guide |work=MSN Music |date=May 2009 |access-date=12 February 2013}}

Slant Magazine placed the album at number 97 on its list of the best albums of the 2000s decade.{{cite web |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/best-of-the-aughts-albums/ |title=Best of the Aughts: Albums |website=Slant Magazine |date=1 February 2010 |access-date=4 October 2022}}

{{clear}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Natasha Khan, except where noted

| title1 = Glass

| length1 = 4:32

| title2 = Sleep Alone

| length2 = 4:04

| title3 = Moon and Moon

| length3 = 3:09

| title4 = Daniel

| length4 = 4:11

| title5 = Peace of Mind

| length5 = 3:29

| title6 = Siren Song

| length6 = 4:58

| title7 = Pearl's Dream

| length7 = 4:45

| title8 = Good Love

| length8 = 4:30

| title9 = Two Planets

| length9 = 4:48

| title10 = Travelling Woman

| length10 = 3:48

| title11 = The Big Sleep

| length11 = 2:54

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes Store bonus track{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/two-suns/id309238865 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102112618/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/two-suns/id309238865 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2010 |title=Two Suns by Bat for Lashes |publisher=iTunes Store |location=United Kingdom |access-date=25 March 2012}}

| title12 = Wilderness

| length12 = 3:59

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Special edition bonus tracks

| title12 = Wilderness

| length12 = 3:59

| title13 = Sleep Alone

| note13 = 909s in DarkTimes Mix

| length13 = 4:32

| title14 = Daniel

| note14 = Lo Fi

| length14 = 4:01

| title15 = A Forest

| writer15 = {{hlist|Simon Gallup|Matthieu Hartley|Robert Smith|Lol Tolhurst}}

| length15 = 3:16

| title16 = Use Somebody

| note16 = Lo Fi

| writer16 = {{hlist|Caleb Followill|Jared Followill|Matthew Followill|Nathan Followill}}

| length16 = 2:29

| title17 = Good Love

| note17 = live – Shepherd's Bush Empire, 19 April 2009

| length17 = 5:20

| title18 = Daniel

| note18 = live – Radiohead Tour, Nîmes, 14 June 2008

| length18 = 4:22

| title19 = Lonely

| note19 = live – Koko, 29 October 2007

| writer19 = Tom Waits

| length19 = 3:56

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Special edition bonus DVD

| title1 = Two + Two (The Making of Two Suns) Documentary

| length1 = 49:06

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks

| title12 = Wilderness

| length12 = 3:59

| title13 = Sleep Alone

| note13 = 909s in DarkTimes Mix

| length13 = 4:32

| title14 = Pearl's Dream

| note14 = Gang Gang Dance Remix

| length14 = 8:15

| title15 = Daniel

| note15 = Lo Fi

| length15 = 4:01

| title16 = Use Somebody

| note16 = Lo Fi

| writer16 = {{hlist|C. Followill|J. Followill|M. Followill|N. Followill}}

| length16 = 2:29

| title17 = Good Love

| note17 = live – Shepherd's Bush Empire, 19 April 2009

| length17 = 5:20

| title18 = Daniel

| note18 = live – Radiohead Tour, Nîmes, 14 June 2008

| length18 = 4:22

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Two Suns.{{cite AV media notes |author=Bat for Lashes |author-link=Bat for Lashes |title=Two Suns |type=liner notes |publisher=Parlophone |year=2009 |id=6930202}}

{{Div col}}

• Natasha Khan – lead vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}; backing vocals {{small|(tracks 1–8, 10)}}; synths {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4–9, 11)}}; drum programming {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 9)}}; guitar {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 5)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 3, 6, 8, 10, 11)}}; harmonium {{small|(track 3)}}; handclaps {{small|(tracks 3, 7, 9)}}; percussion {{small|(tracks 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)}}; string machine {{small|(track 4)}}; drums {{small|(tracks 4, 5)}}; bass synth {{small|(tracks 4, 6, 8)}}; vibraphone {{small|(tracks 6, 9)}}; organ {{small|(tracks 8, 10)}}
• Ben Christophers – Marxophone, pianochord {{small|(track 1)}}; synths {{small|(tracks 1, 4)}}; guitar {{small|(track 5)}}; phonofiddle {{small|(track 6)}}
• Caroline Weeks – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 1, 3)}}; synths, bells {{small|(track 1)}}; flute {{small|(tracks 1, 6)}}; handclaps, percussion {{small|(track 3)}}
• Kath Mann – backing vocals, saw {{small|(track 1)}}; violin {{small|(track 4)}}; viola {{small|(track 6)}}
• Alex Thomas – drums {{small|(tracks 1, 6, 10)}}; percussion {{small|(tracks 1, 4)}}; timpani {{small|(track 6)}}
• David Kosten – drum programming {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 9)}}; synths {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 7)}}; percussion {{small|(tracks 2, 7, 9)}}; synth drone {{small|(track 6)}}; toms, fingers {{small|(track 9)}}
• Abi Fry – viola {{small|(track 1)}}
• Adem – sampled wine glasses {{small|(track 1)}}
• Ira Wolf Tuton – bass {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 7)}}
• Chris Keating – drum programming {{small|(tracks 2, 7)}}
• Devin Maxwell – timpani {{small|(track 4)}}
• Devon Dunaway – backing vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
• Robert Roseberry Jr. – backing vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
• Lydia Rhodes – backing vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
• Marcie Allen – backing vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
• Rachael Sell – backing vocals {{small|(track 8)}}
• Brian Hale – guitar {{small|(track 8)}}
• Louis P. Rogai Jr. – backing vocals {{small|(track 10)}}
• Tom Asselin – guitar {{small|(track 10)}}
• Scott Walker – additional vocals {{small|(track 11)}}

{{Div col end}}

• Natasha Khan – production {{small|(all tracks)}}; engineering {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 8)}}
• David Kosten – production, engineering {{small|(all tracks)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 1–10)}}
• David Wrench – engineering {{small|(tracks 1–7, 10)}}
• Mark Eastwood – mixing assistance {{small|(track 1)}}
• Brian Thorn – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 7)}}
• Mike Nesci – engineering {{small|(track 5)}}
• Matt Boynton – engineering {{small|(track 8)}}
• Tim Bader – engineering assistance {{small|(track 8)}}
• Tom Asselin – engineering {{small|(track 10)}}
• Matt Lawrence – vocal recording (Scott Walker's vocals) {{small|(track 11)}}

• Natasha Khan – art direction, booklet artwork, concept
• David Benjamin Sherry – cover photography
• Tony Hornecker – set design
• Andrew Murabito – graphic design
• Dan Sanders – photographic production

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Two Suns}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Bat for Lashes|title=Two Suns|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2009|certyear=2009|id=7836-122-2|date=31 July 2009|access-date=9 December 2021|refname="BPI"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Bat for Lashes}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2009 albums

Category:Bat for Lashes albums

Category:Parlophone albums