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Lungs (album)

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Untitled

Lungs is the debut album by the London-based indie pop band Florence and the Machine, released 6 July 2009 by Island Records.[1] The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart for five weeks after its release, behind The Essential Michael Jackson compilation.[2] On 10 January 2010 the album returned to number two extending its stay at the runner-up spot to six non-consecutive weeks. The following week it reached its new peak position of number one for two consecutive weeks. So far it has spent fifty consecutive weeks within the top forty and thirty-two of those inside the top ten. It also peaked at number two for six weeks on the Irish Albums Chart. Lungs was a main contender for the 2009 Mercury Prize and has garnered generally favourable reviews from music critics. Additionally, the album won the Mastercard British Album award at the 2010 BRIT Awards.

Production

Florence and the Machine recorded Lungs in the United Kingdom with four different producers—Paul Epworth (who has previously worked with several other British artists, including Bloc Party, Maximo Park and Kate Nash), James Ford (who is part of the electro group Simian Mobile Disco), Steve Mackey (former member of Pulp) and newcomer Charlie Hugall. Most of the songs on the album were mixed by Cenzo Townshend.[3] The album is noted for having a much more expansive production than Florence and the Machine's previously recorded demos.

Several songs on Lungs are about violence and death. When questioned about this by the NME, lead singer Florence Welch responded: "Well, what other subject is there? I remember realising that my parents were going to die and weeping. Weeping as if my father had actually died."[4]

Singles

Lungs has spawned several singles. The first, "Kiss with a Fist", was released before the final recording of the album, on 9 June 2008. It charted at number fifty-one on the UK Singles Chart. "Dog Days Are Over", the second single, was released on 1 December 2008 and reached number twenty-three on the UK Singles Chart on 10 January 2010. The song was used in an episode of BAFTA-winning teen drama Skins, the American comedy-drama television series The Unusuals, and the American comedy horror film, Jennifer's Body.

As a precursor to the album's July 2009 release, "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" was released as the album's third single on 22 June 2009. It received a considerably greater amount of airplay in comparison to the two earlier singles, and subsequently debuted at number twelve on the UK Singles Chart. "Drumming Song" was released as the album's fourth single on 7 September 2009, reaching number fifty-four in the UK.

"You've Got the Love" was the fifth single to be released from the album and reached a new peak of number five on the UK Singles Chart on 10 January 2010. The song also spawned a spin-off single called "You Got the Dirtee Love", a mash-up between Welch and British rapper Dizzee Rascal's "Dirtee Cash" that they performed together at the 2010 BRIT Awards. The single was released on 17 February 2010, one day after the BRITs performance.[5][6]

On 5 January 2010, "Hurricane Drunk" was originally announced as the next new single from the album.[7] A video for the single was filmed in Paris on 8 January 2010 and premiered on 29 January after the Celebrity Big Brother 2010 final on Channel 4.[8] However, on 3 March 2010 a re-release of "Dog Days Are Over", the opening track from Lungs, was announced on the band's website. The single was released digitally on 11 April and on 7" vinyl the following day, backed by a brand-new video.[9]

"Cosmic Love" will be released on 5 July 2010 as the album's seventh single (sixth excluding the "Dog Days" re-release), as confirmed on 20 April 2010.[10] It has a music video shot, which was described as "amazing" by Welch's manager Mairead Nash.[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[12]
The A.V. Club(A-)[13]
Drowned in Sound(8/10)[14]
Entertainment Weekly(A-)[15]
The Guardian[16]
NME(6/10)[17]
Pitchfork Media(7.2/10)[18]
Rolling Stone[19]
Slant Magazine[20]
Spin[21]

Lungs was met with generally positive reviews from critics, based on an average score of 79 out of 100 from Metacritic.[22] James Christopher Monger from Allmusic praised the album as "one of the most musically mature and emotionally mesmerizing albums of 2009. With an arsenal of weaponry that included the daring musicality of Kate Bush, the fearless delivery of Sinéad O'Connor, and the dark, unhinged vulnerability of Fiona Apple, the London native crafted a debut that not only lived up to the machine-gun spray of buzz that heralded her arrival, but easily surpassed it."[12] Ryan Dombal wrote for Pitchfork Media that "Welch bursts mouth wide wide over garage rock, epic soul, pint-tipping Britbeat, and – best of all – a mystic brand of pop that's part Annie Lennox, Grace Slick, and Joanna Newsom."[18] Entertainment Weekly's Joseph Brannigan Lynch thought that Welch's "immaculately constructed indie pop recalls Regina Spektor, but without the studied artiness: Welch is more concerned with raw emotional release."[15] Spin's Melissa Maerz stated, "From the way she sings, in big gulps and Teen Wolf growls, to the mystical art-rock ballads she bedazzles with sleigh bells, harps, and choirs, there's enough drama here for a Broadway musical. But her delivery is so raw that every mess feels genuine."[21] Sophie Bruce of BBC Music was emphatic, saying, "With vocals building from breathy almost-nothings to soaring, arching crescendos and the accompanying harps, strings, hopes and dreams, this album takes you somewhere you'll never want to come back from."[23] Emily Tartanella, writing for PopMatters, called Lungs "a perfect debut", complimenting the album's "vast jumble of influences, from Kate Bush and Tori Amos to UK electronica (on the Source/Candi Staton cover 'You've Got the Love'), with Florence's voice taking on most of the work", while describing Welch's voice as "a mix of jazz and folk and blue-eyed soul like nothing in a long time. Or rather, like everything."[24]

Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan pointed out that "[t]he best bits feel like being chased through a moonless night by a sexy moor witch."[19] Slant Magazine critic Nick Day considered Welch's music to be "particularly sensitive to studio gloss" and her singing "a fine balance between elegance and frenzy."[20] In his review for The Guardian, Dave Simpson commented that "Welch has created a sonic labyrinth of xylophones, percussion, Gregorian chants and werewolves. It can sound affected, occasionally crass, but there's enough adventure to make this worth backing for the Mercury."[16] Jamie Fullerton from the NME commended the work of producers James Ford and Paul Epworth, stating that on tracks like "Dog Days Are Over" and "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)", they "create epic cauldron-swirls of Terminator-theme drums, Massive Attack atmospherics and twinkle-eye harp matched by Florence's grappling of skyward choruses", but "with the likes of 'I'm Not Calling You A Liar' and 'Howl' boasting similarly windy production yet no identifiable tunes the results sound aimless – if harmless."[17] Drowned in Sound's Ed Miller commented on the comparisons drawn between Welch and fellow English singer Kate Bush, claiming that "[l]ike Bush, but minus the mark of genius, listening to Florence and the Machine can sometimes feel like being led by the hand through a story world by a girl who has forgotten to grow up." However, Miller believed that "[t]he only major problems are the inclusion of a cover of 'You've Got The Love', which is an example of a bonus track ruining the flow of an album, and 'Hurricane Drunk', a vehicle for a very questionable chorus."[14] Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club felt that "[a]t times, Lungs borders on exhausting, careening as it does from one over-the-top track to the next. [...] But with a voice as strong and emotive as hers, it's not surprising that Welch has little use for moments of quiet contemplation."[13]

Track listing

Standard edition

  1. "Dog Days Are Over" (Florence Welch, Isabella Summers) – 4:12
  2. "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" (Welch, Paul Epworth) – 3:52
  3. "I'm Not Calling You a Liar" (Welch, Summers) – 3:05
  4. "Howl" (Welch, Epworth) – 3:34
  5. "Kiss with a Fist" (Welch, Matt Alchin) – 2:04
  6. "Girl with One Eye" (Alchin, David Ashby, James McCool) – 3:38
  7. "Drumming Song" (Welch, James Ford, Crispin Hunt) – 3:43
  8. "Between Two Lungs" (Welch, Summers) – 4:09
  9. "Cosmic Love" (Welch, Summers) – 4:15
  10. "My Boy Builds Coffins" (Welch, Christopher Lloyd Hayden, Rob Ackroyd) – 2:56
  11. "Hurricane Drunk" (Welch, Eg White) – 3:13
  12. "Blinding" (Welch, Epworth) – 4:40
  13. "You've Got the Love" (Anthony B. Stephens, Arnecia Michelle Harris, John P Jr. Bellamy) – 2:48
iTunes edition
  2. "Swimming" – 3:22
  3. "Dog Days Are Over" (Video) – 3:55

Deluxe edition

A deluxe edition released on the same date[25] includes a second CD:

CD 1 – Lungs

CD 2 – Demo, Alternative Versions & More

  1. "Bird Song Intro" – 1:20
  2. "Bird Song" – 2:55
  3. "Dog Days Are Over" (Demo) – 3:35
  4. "Falling" – 3:33
  5. "Hardest of Hearts" – 3:27
  6. "Ghosts" (Demo) – 2:58
  7. "Girl with One Eye" (Bayou Percussion Version) – 3:55

Special box edition

Released: 30 November 2009

CD 1 – Lungs

CD 2 – Live from Abbey Road

  1. "Between Two Lungs"
  2. "Kiss with a Fist"
  3. "Hurricane Drunk"
  4. "Cosmic Love"
  5. "Oh! Darling"
  6. "Dog Days Are Over"
  7. "Drumming Song"
  8. "You've Got the Love"
  9. "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"

CD 3 – Rarities, B-sides, Cover Versions & Remixes

  1. "Halo" (Radio 1 Live Lounge)
  2. "Hurricane Drunk" (Acoustic)
  3. "You've Got the Love" (Fraser T. Smith's Mix)
  4. "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" (P.E.S.T. Remix)
  5. "Drumming Song" (Boy 8-Bit Remix)
  6. "Flakes" (Mystery Jets cover)
  7. "An Offering" (Rabbit Heart Demo)
  8. "You've Got the Love" (Steve Pitron & Max Sanna Remix)
  9. "Cosmic Love" (Acoustic)
  10. "Are You Hurting the One You Love?"
  11. "Swimming"

Bonus DVD

Live at the Rivoli Ballroom

  1. "Between Two Lungs"
  2. "My Boy Builds Coffins"
  3. "Kiss with a Fist"
  4. "Hurricane Drunk"
  5. "Cosmic Love"
  6. "Drumming Song"
  7. "Howl"
  8. "Blinding"
  9. "Dog Days Are Over"
  10. "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"
  11. "You've Got the Love"

Acoustic Live Performances

  1. "Cosmic Love"
  2. "Between Two Lungs"
  3. "Dog Days Are Over"
  4. "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"

Music Videos

  1. "Dog Days Are Over"
  2. "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"
  3. "You've Got the Love"
  4. "Drumming Song"

Japanese edition

  2. "Bird Song (Intro)" – 1:20
  3. "Bird Song" – 2:25
  4. "Are You Hurting the One You Love?" – 2:51
  5. "Falling" – 3:33

Asian edition bonus DVD

Acoustic Live Performances

  1. "Cosmic Love"
  2. "Between Two Lungs"
  3. "Dog Days Are Over"
  4. "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"

Music Videos

  1. "Dog Days Are Over"
  2. "Kiss with a Fist"
  3. "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"
  4. "Drumming Song"
  5. "You've Got the Love"
  6. "Dog Days Are Over" (2010 Version)
  7. "Hurricane Drunk"
  8. "Cosmic Love"

Charts

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by UK Albums Chart number-one album
17 January 2010 – 24 January 2010 		Succeeded by
Sunny Side Up by Paolo Nutini

References

  1. ^ "Lungs: Florence And The Machine". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  2. ^ Levine, Nick (12 July 2009). "Jackson holds Florence off albums top spot". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  3. ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar10/articles/it_0310.htm
  4. ^ Girl With One Eye Songfacts
  5. ^ "Brit Awards 2010: Florence And The Machine and Dizzee Rascal plan to hand out free cash". Daily Mail. Mail Online. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  6. ^ "You Got the Dirtee Love (Live At the BRIT Awards 2010) – Single by Florence + The Machine & Dizzee Rascal – iTunes". UK iTunes Store. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Florence & The Machine: 2010". florenceandthemachine.net. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  8. ^ "Florence and the Machine To Release New Single With Horrors Remix". Live4ever. 9 January 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  9. ^ "Dog Days Are Over – Single Details". florenceandthemachine.net. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  10. ^ Copsey, Robert (20 April 2010). "Florence confirms sixth 'Lungs' single". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Florence is making a video". ohnotheydidnt. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  12. ^ a b Monger, James Christopher. "Lungs > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 23 June 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  13. ^ a b Koski, Genevieve (27 October 2009). "Lungs". The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  14. ^ a b Miller, Ed (7 July 2009). "Florence and The Machine – Lungs". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  15. ^ a b Lynch, Joseph Brannigan (21 October 2009). "Lungs (2009) – Florence + the Machine". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  16. ^ a b Simpson, Dave (3 July 2009). "Florence and the Machine: Lungs". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  17. ^ a b Fullerton, Jamie (8 July 2009). "Album review: Florence And The Machine – 'Lungs'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  18. ^ a b Dombal, Ryan (13 August 2009). "Florence and the Machine: Lungs". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  19. ^ a b Dolan, Jon (20 July 2009). "Lungs : Florence & The Machine". Rolling Stone. RealNetworks, Inc. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  20. ^ a b Day, Nick (18 December 2009). "Florence and the Machine: Lungs". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  21. ^ a b Maerz, Melissa (26 October 2009). "Florence and the Machine, 'Lungs' (Universal/Island)". Spin. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  22. ^ "Lungs reviews at Metacritic.com". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 21 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  23. ^ Bruce, Sophie (29 June 2009). "Review of Florence and The Machine – Lungs". BBC Music. BBC Online. Retrieved 23 June 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  24. ^ Tartanella, Emily (7 July 2009). "Florence and the Machine: Lungs". PopMatters. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  25. ^ "Lungs: Florence And The Machine (deluxe edition)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "ultratop.be – Florence + The Machine – Lungs". Ultratop. Retrieved 20 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  27. ^ "Florence and the Machine Album & Song Chart History – European Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  28. ^ "Musicline.de – Chartverfolgung – Florence+The Machine – Lungs". Media Control (in German). Musicline.de. Retrieved 17 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  29. ^ "irishcharts.com – Discography Florence + The Machine". Irish Recorded Music Association. irish-charts.com. Retrieved 20 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  30. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży – 29 March 2010". OLiS. Retrieved 26 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  31. ^ "Chart Stats – Florence & The Machine – Lungs". The Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. Retrieved 20 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  32. ^ a b c "Florence and the Machine Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  33. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 13 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  34. ^ "IRMA – 2009 Certification Awards – Multi Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  35. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums – RadioScope New Zealand". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. RadioScope New Zealand. June 27, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  36. ^ "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
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