W (Planningtorock album)

W
Studio album by Planningtorock
Released 23 May 2011
Recorded 2007-2010
Genre Electronic, synthpop
Label DFA Records, Rostron Records
Producer Janine Rostron, Al Doyle, Felix Martin, Olof Dreijer, Christoffer Berg
Planningtorock chronology
Tomorrow, In a Year
(2010)		 W
(2011)
Singles from Planningtorock
  1. "Doorway"
    Released: February 21, 2011 (2011-02-21)
  2. "The Breaks"
    Released: May 10, 2011 (2011-05-10)
  3. "Living It Out"
    Released: November 7, 2011 (2011-11-07)

W is the second solo studio album by English recording artist Planningtorock, released on 23 May 2011 by DFA Records.

Contents

Background and recording

Although Rostron had been working on the album's songs since 2007, eventually writing more than 27 songs,[1] 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."[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic (72/100)[3]
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]
Drowned in Sound [5]
The Guardian [6]
MusicOMH [7]
NME [8]
Pitchfork Media (6.7/10)[9]
PopMatters [10]
Resident Advisor [11]
The Telegraph [12]

W received generally positive reviews from music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized 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."[3] Alex Denney of NME described the album as "a masterpiece of art-pop experimentalism that gleefully expands on her debut."[8] 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."[4] Alexis Petridis, writing for The Guardian, commented that W is "a peculiar mix and it doesn't always coalesce: there are moments when it's just a dark stage and a din. When it does, however, the effect is genuinely unsettling, [...] At the other extreme, there are glimpses of light in the sound, [...] which offers a gleaming pop melody amid the smoky murk."[6] Similarly, Pitchfork Media's Matthew Perpetua found that W "doesn't quite gel" and "feels less like a pop album and more like a gallery show."[9]

Clash placed W at number 17 on its list of the top 40 albums of 2011.[13]

Singles

"Doorway" was released as the album's lead single commercially in Europe on 21 February 2011.[14] 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.[15] The song was later offered as the "Free MP3 of the Day" for 30 June 2011 on Spinner.[16]

"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).[17] Rostron directed two separate music videos: one for the original song and another for the remix by Laurel Halo.[18][19]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Janine Rostron, except where otherwise noted. 

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Doorway"     3:30
2. "The One"     4:42
3. "Manifesto"     3:23
4. "Going Wrong"     4:55
5. "I'm Yr Man"     4:06
6. "The Breaks"     4:36
7. "Living It Out"     4:30
8. "Milky Blau"     4:03
9. "Jam"     4:34
10. "Black Thumber"     5:22
11. "Janine"   Arthur Russell 2:06
12. "#9"     4:34

Personnel

Credits for W adapted from Discogs.[20]

  • Simon Davey – mastering
  • Christoffer Berg – mixing, producer
  • Pat Mahoney – drums
  • Hjorleifur Jonsson – percussion
  • Sten Källman – saxophone
  • Bureau – artwork

References

  1. ^ Mcfarlane, David (23 May 2011). "Planningtorock interview: "It's all I do. I love it."". Dummy. http://www.dummymag.com/features/2011/05/23/planningtorock-interview/. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
  2. ^ Freeman, John (24 May 2011). "Rudely Visionary: Planningtorock Interviewed". The Quietus. http://thequietus.com/articles/06315-planningtorock-interview. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "W Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.metacritic.com/music/w. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  4. ^ a b Phares, Heather (2011). "W - Planningtorock". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r2140720/review. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  5. ^ Goodson, Kelvin (18 May 2011). "Planningtorock - W". Drowned in Sound. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16230/reviews/4142686. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  6. ^ a b Petridis, Alex (12 October 2011). "Planningtorock - review". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/oct/12/planningtorock-review. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  7. ^ White, Chris. "Planningtorock - W". MusicOMH. http://www.musicomh.com/albums/planningtorock_0511.htm. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  8. ^ a b Denney, Alex. "NME Album Reviews - Album Review: Planningtorock - 'W' - NME.COM". NME. http://www.nme.com/reviews/planningtorock/12064. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  9. ^ a b Perpetua, Matthew (3 June 2011). "Planningtorock: W". Pitchfork Media. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15498-w/. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  10. ^ Roberts, Daniel Nils (28 June 2011). "Planningtorock: W < PopMatters". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/141650-planningtorock-w/. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  11. ^ Dix, Michael (20 May 2011). "RA Reviews: PlanningToRock - W (Album)". Resident Advisor. http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=9065. Retrieved 22 November 2011. 
  12. ^ McNulty, Bernadette. "Planningtorock: W, CD review - Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8524348/Planningtorock-W-CD-review.html. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  13. ^ "The Top 40 Albums of 2011: 20-11". Clash. 6 December 2011. http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/the-top-40-albums-of-2011-20-11. Retrieved 9 December 2011. 
  14. ^ "PlanningToRock – Doorway (File) at Discogs". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. http://www.discogs.com/PlanningToRock-Doorway/release/2748394. Retrieved 7 December 2011. 
  15. ^ Murray, Robin (10 May 2011). "Singles Round Up - May 9th". Clash. http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/singles-round-up-may-9th. Retrieved 9 December 2011. 
  16. ^ Spinella, Mike (30 June 2011). "Planningtorock, 'The Breaks' -- Free MP3 Download". Spinner. http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/30/planningtorock-the-breaks-free-mp3-download/. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
  17. ^ Worthy, Stephen (11 November 2011). "RA Reviews: Planningtorock - Living It Out (Single)". Resident Advisor. http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=9975. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
  18. ^ Hockley-Smith, Sam. "Video: Planningtorock, "Living It Out"". The Fader. http://www.thefader.com/2011/09/14/video-planningtorock-living-it-out/. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
  19. ^ "Video premiere: Planningtorock - 'Living It Out' (Laurel Halo remix)". Fact. http://www.factmag.com/2011/11/02/video-premiere-planningtorock-living-it-out-laurel-halo-remix/. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
  20. ^ "PlanningToRock – W (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/PlanningToRock-W/release/2903710. Retrieved 10 December 2011. 

External links