Released 23 May 2011 Artist Planningtorock Label DFA Records | Recorded 2007–2010 Release date 23 May 2011 | |
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Genres Synth-pop, Electronic music Synth-pop albums The Future Will Come, Superficial, Real Life, Twelve Inch Singles, Suitcase | ||
Planningtorock doorway official video dfa records
W is the second solo studio album by English recording artist Planningtorock, released on 23 May 2011 by Rostron Records and DFA Records.
Contents
Planningtorock w album review
Background and recording
Although Rostron had been working on the album's songs since 2007, eventually writing more than 27 songs, she didn't sign with DFA Records until correspondence began with James Murphy in 2010 after he sent her a fan email that said 'Really like the Planningtorock stuff – just saying."
Critical reception
W received generally positive reviews from music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 72, based on 15 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews." Alex Denney of NME described the album as "a masterpiece of art-pop experimentalism that gleefully expands on her debut." Heather Phares from Allmusic stated, "W isn’t as rousing as its predecessor, but it may be an even richer album; in its own way, it's just as audacious." Kitty Empire, writing for The Guardian, commented that W "often takes a bit of dedication, but it's a challenging, lavish listen, too."
Accolades
Clash placed W at number 17 on its list of the top 40 albums of 2011. NME placed the album at number 25 on its list of the 50 best albums of 2011. Sentimentalist Magazine placed it at number two on its list of the top ten albums of 2011.
Singles
"Doorway" was released as the album's lead single commercially in Europe on 21 February 2011. Planningtorock directed and edited the music video for the song by herself.
"The Breaks" became the second single for W and was named the "Single of the Week" by Clash. The single included a remix by Telepathe. The song was later offered as the "Free MP3 of the Day" for 30 June 2011 on Spinner.
"Living It Out" serves as the album's third single and included remixes by Jackson and Billy Lock (the alias of Felix Martin from Hot Chip). Rostron directed two separate music videos: one for the original song and another for the remix by Laurel Halo.
Track listing
All songs and lyrics written and composed by Planningtorock, except where otherwise noted.
Personnel
Credits for W adapted from Discogs.
Songs
1Doorway3:35
2The One4:46
3Manifesto3:27