Pixie Lott (album) explained

Pixie Lott
Type:studio
Artist:Pixie Lott
Cover:Pixie Lott (album).png
Border:yes
Recorded:2012–2013
Label:Virgin EMI
Prev Title:Young Foolish Happy
Prev Year:2011
Next Year:2014

Pixie Lott is the third studio album by English singer Pixie Lott. It was released on 1 August 2014 by Virgin EMI Records. Lott began recording the album in mid-2012, citing Motown as an influence on the album. "Nasty" was released as the album's lead single on 7 March 2014. The second single, "Lay Me Down", was released on 25 July 2014.

Background

The album was primarily recorded in London and New York City, as well as in Miami.[1]

During a Google+ Hangout on 2 December 2013, Lott announced that her third album would be titled Pixie Lott, along with the accompanying artwork.[2] She explained to Billboard that the album would be self-titled because this one "represents me the most out of all of my albums", adding, "My last album had some dance tracks and some soul tracks, but this one is more centered."[1]

Promotion and singles

In November 2013, Lott unveiled a preview of the music video for the single "Nasty".[3] In early December, it was confirmed that "Nasty", which was originally recorded by Christina Aguilera as a duet with CeeLo Green for the 2010 film Burlesque, would serve as the album's lead single.[2] Released on 7 March 2014,[4] the single reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart and number 43 on the Irish Singles Chart.[5] [6]

A music video for the song "Heart Cry" was filmed in Paris and premiered on 17 December 2013.[7] On 21 July 2014, the track was released as a free download through Amazon.co.uk for a limited time.[8]

"Lay Me Down" was released on 25 July 2014 as the second single from the album.[9] The song peaked at number 114 on the UK Singles Chart.[10]

"Break Up Song" was set to be released as the album's third single, but it was ultimately cancelled.[11] The music video was directed by Nick Bartlett and premiered on 19 September 2014. The video was filmed at The Waldorf Hilton Hotel London and co-stars Lott's boyfriend, model Oliver Cheshire.[12]

Critical reception

Pixie Lott received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that although the album "does attempt to tone down her girlishness", Lott "can't run away from her ebullient instincts, and that sprightliness is why Pixie Lott is an enjoyable piece of high gloss pop."[13] John Walshe of Hot Press commented that Lott "succeeds in unleashing her inner diva throughout these highly polished R&B-tinged pop standards, complete with backing vocals that could have been lifted from the golden era of soul music itself."[14] David Smyth of the London Evening Standard noted that the album trades "the electronic pop touches of its predecessor" for "a more organic sound that comes across like a lightweight Amy Winehouse", while complimenting the songs "Break Up Song", "Bang" and "Kill a Man". However, Smyth concluded that "Lott sings with a lot of bravura but surprisingly little soul."[15]

Martin Townsend of the Daily Express was complimentary of opening song "Nasty", but criticised the rest of the album as "standard, crescendoing modern r'n'b distinguished only by Lott's rather unattractive nasal warble."[16] Matthew Horton of Virgin Media opined that the album "suggests Pixie Lott [...] is a genuine retro-soul diva, comfortable with the grandstanding ballads and the slinky R&B stompers", but felt that "[t]he risk with these retro tools is slipping into pastiche".[17] Despite stating that tracks like "Leaving You" and "Cry and Smile" "best showcase [Lott's] smoky vocals", the Irish Independent characterised the album as "a middle ground of Bruno Mars and edgeless Winehouse", expressing that its "main issue" is that "almost everything about it is second-hand."[18] Will Hodgkinson of The Times commented that "[y]ou can't get away from the feeling that [Lott] is imitating a soul singer rather than actually being one", adding that "while you can see the record company-led logic of Lott moving away from pure pop and heading towards classic soul, it's a misguided and unconvincing new look."[19] Killian Fox of The Observer wrote, "The execution is proficient enough, but everything about the album lacks character, from the anodyne production to the wafer-thin songs, which reveal what they're all about within the first verse."[20]

Commercial performance

Pixie Lott debuted at number 15 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 3,895 copies in its first week.[10] The following week, the album fell to number 94 with 934 copies sold.[21]

Track listing

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the Japanese edition of Pixie Lott.[22]

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
Ireland1 August 2014Virgin EMI[24] [25]
United Kingdom4 August 2014[26] [27]
Germany6 August 2014Digital downloadUniversal[28]
Japan[29] [30]
Australia8 August 2014Digital download[31]
GermanyCD[32]

Notes and References

  1. Lipshutz . Jason . Pixie Lott Talks New Self-Titled Album, 'Fuller' Live Show . . 27 March 2014 . 14 August 2014.
  2. Web site: Corner . Lewis . Pixie Lott announces new single 'Nasty', self-titled album . . 3 December 2013 . 27 March 2018.
  3. Web site: Copsey . Robert . Pixie Lott shoots music video for new single – watch . Digital Spy . 13 November 2013 . 27 March 2018.
  4. Web site: Nasty – EP by Pixie Lott . iTunes Store (Ireland) . 14 August 2014.
  5. Web site: Pixie Lott . . 27 March 2018.
  6. Web site: Discography Pixie Lott . irish-charts.com . 14 August 2014.
  7. Web site: Taylor . Frances . Pixie Lott debuts new song 'Heart Cry' video – watch . Digital Spy . 17 December 2013 . 27 March 2018.
  8. Web site: Heart Cry: Pixie Lott: MP3 Downloads . . 14 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140820005108/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heart-Cry-Pixie-Lott/dp/B00LL9MEUI . 20 August 2014.
  9. Web site: Lay Me Down EP by Pixie Lott . 7digital (Ireland) . 14 August 2014 . https://archive.today/20140815025407/http://ie.7digital.com/artist/pixie-lott/release/lay-me-down-ep . 15 August 2014.
  10. Web site: Jones . Alan . Nico & Vinz's Am I Wrong sells over 100k to top singles chart . . 11 August 2014 . 13 August 2014 . subscription.
  11. Lott . Pixie . PixieLott . 508587920719347712 . Who saw me singing my new single #BreakUpSong on @SundayBrunchC4? . 7 September 2014 . 7 September 2014.
  12. Web site: Love . Ryan . Pixie Lott and Oliver Cheshire get steamy in 'Break Up Song' video . Digital Spy . 19 September 2014 . 11 July 2020.
  13. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . Pixie Lott – Pixie Lott . . 10 August 2014.
  14. Web site: Walshe . John . Pixie Lott – Album Review . . 12 August 2014 . 15 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040815/http://www.hotpress.com/Pixie-Lott/music/reviews/albums/Pixie-Lott--Album-Review/11959191.html . 4 March 2016.
  15. Web site: Smyth . David . Album reviews of the week (Aug 1–7) . . 1 August 2014 . 10 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140806160616/http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/album-reviews-of-the-week-aug-17-9383897.html . live . 6 August 2014.
  16. Web site: Townsend . Martin . Album Reviews: Gramercy Arms, Pixie Lott, Tom Petty and Andy Bell . . 3 August 2014 . 3 August 2014.
  17. Web site: Horton . Matthew . Pixie Lott: Pixie Lott Album Review . . 10 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140809041412/http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/pixie-lott-pixie-lott.php . 9 August 2014.
  18. Web site: Other albums released this week at a glance . . 31 July 2014 . 10 August 2014.
  19. Web site: Hodgkinson . Will . Will Hodgkinson . Pixie Lott: Pixie Lott . . 1 August 2014 . 10 August 2014 . subscription .
  20. Web site: Fox . Killian . Pixie Lott review – self-titled tribute to Motown gives musical homage a bad name . . 3 August 2014 . 6 August 2014.
  21. Web site: Jones . Alan . Official Charts Analysis: Nico & Vinz hold No.1 single spot with Am I Wrong selling 62,750 . Music Week . 18 August 2014 . 18 August 2014 . subscription .
  22. Pixie Lott . Japanese edition liner notes . . . 2014 . UICW-10003.
  23. Web site: 2014년 33주차 Album Chart . Korean . . 27 March 2018.
  24. Web site: Lott,pixie – Pixie Lott . Tower Records Ireland . 4 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140810203354/http://www.towerrecords.ie/product/Lott,pixie_Pixie_Lott/619696 . 10 August 2014.
  25. Web site: Pixie Lott by Pixie Lott . 7digital (Ireland) . 4 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140810065928/http://ie.7digital.com/artist/pixie-lott/release/pixie-lott-1 . 10 August 2014.
  26. Web site: Pixie Lott by Pixie Lott . Amazon.co.uk . 4 August 2014.
  27. Web site: Pixie Lott: Pixie Lott: MP3 Downloads . Amazon.co.uk . 4 August 2014.
  28. Web site: Pixie Lott: Pixie Lott: MP3-Downloads . German . . 4 August 2014.
  29. Web site: http://www.universal-music.co.jp/pixie-lott/products/uicw-10003/ . ja:ピクシー・ロット . Pixie Lott . Japanese . . 4 August 2014.
  30. Web site: Pixie Lott by Pixie Lott . iTunes Store (Japan) . 4 August 2014.
  31. Web site: Pixie Lott by Pixie Lott . zdigital (Australia) . 4 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141210063829/http://www.zdigital.com.au/artist/pixie-lott/release/pixie-lott-1 . 10 December 2014.
  32. Web site: Pixie Lott . German . Amazon.de . 4 August 2014.

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