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LP1 Image
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 38 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 459 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the debut full-length release for the British experimental R&B artist Tahliah Barnett.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 38
  2. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. 100
    Twigs’ superb vocal melodies anchor LP1’s flights of experimentation. Were they to be stripped from the album’s bizarre flourishes and dropped into a commercial R&B context, they would stun nonetheless.
  2. Aug 12, 2014
    92
    With both immediate appeal and density that demands long-term digestion, it’s one of those rare debuts that manifests a fully-grown, deeply engaging sound.
  3. Aug 11, 2014
    90
    LP1 is a fantastic debut from an artist who is quickly becoming the curator of her own mental museum.
  4. Aug 11, 2014
    80
    Even if the sex-angst of millennials is not your thing, FKA Twigs can still satisfy, and that is why LP1 (the title oozes confidence) is so special.
  5. Aug 14, 2014
    80
    All those flinching sounds can surely give some fatigue after a while, but does it matter when it’s so good at instant gratification.
  6. Aug 12, 2014
    80
    FKA Twigs' music was already so fully realized that LP 1 can't really be called Barnett coming into her own; rather, her music has been tended to since the "Water Me" days, and now it's flourishing.
  7. Aug 7, 2014
    60
    After a while, the microscopic detail underscoring each turn of phrase, delivered with such delicate poise and precise drama, is suffocating.

See all 38 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 49
  2. Negative: 2 out of 49
  1. Aug 12, 2014
    10
    "LP1" is one monumental debut in Pop music, the poster child [reminiscence] of the Björk's- Aaliyah's and Portishead's delivers with a more"LP1" is one monumental debut in Pop music, the poster child [reminiscence] of the Björk's- Aaliyah's and Portishead's delivers with a more complete experience than ever!
    "I love another, and thus I hate myself" are the on-going words for the opener "Preface". Words directly brought out from a poem by Sir Thomas Wyatt, and formally based upon, conceptually that is the placement of this album over some experimental and soul[ed] production and lyrics.
    From heavenly beginnings, the deeper the cuts plays on the more pattering, heavy and haunting the music goes.

    The visually Queen of the Damned, ancient Egyptian inspired leading single of off the LP, "Two Weeks", (and this years most refreshing tune) features her most breathy, melodic, straightforward realm but also capturing a catchy and interesting both sonically- vocally performance of what contemporary Pop/R&B on the radio been missing. A power ballad, though rawer and more vivid than others with it's desperate "Pull out of the incisor, give me two weeks/You won’t recognize her/Mouth open you're high; Motherf**ker, get your mouth open you know you’re mine; I can f*ck you better than her" all sung in a hypnotizing and soulsucking sensual falsetto ontop of extravagantly- dazzling and bombastic instrumentals.
    The minimalistic touch and climaxes of previous work continues a way on here, tracks like the 'not so present now', heartbreaking, lonely and the polishing verse-to-verse melody of fellow UK artist Rita Ora's "R.I.P", "Pendulum" whom for every chorus that serves builds up to more epic. With guitar riffs that beatifully stretches, pianos who add drama and wash of synthesizers circled around the starts already atmosphere but looses up from every second that is of spac[e]ious feel when the intense get harder for the minute that displays and as the titel itself, it feels like death nearby your throat with the many instruments and futuristic cards being thrown at.

    FKA twigs varies though on her characters than what was on her EP's, she has a control of not being too one dimensional as in when Psalm like sung "Closer" comes by. And not to just drop by out of nowhere, it feels natural and organic, slightly cuter and less out there at your face despite the lyrics. The high pitched vocals that inconsistently shows through the song is a sweet put from the darker steam that is on the album, Vampire Weekend-esque as had on their last year album with the track "Ya Hey".

    "Is she the girl from the video/Stop, stop lying to me" sings twigs in a higher register, that yeah could play on -acts- not necessarily, but if we are being rather specific it talks about her career being the girl in the music videos as a dancer for artists like Jessie J. The track is "Video Girl", a track with one of this years most infectious yet simple choruses with it's "You lie and you lie and you lie" it is a track that seems to be self questionable a little bit, but more so a dialogue discussing her career before taking music seriously.

    The production on the album is handled by twigs herself and the frequent collaborator from "EP2" and Yeezus producer Arca, involved on board is also Paul Epworth who was behind Adele's "21" (Grammy winning album and singles), Emile Haynie who is responsible for Kanye West's "Runaway", the multi-talented Sampha and Dev Hynes (whom I assume had his hands on the guitarrs). Musically it is cohesive, extremely so managing juggling 808s, electronic and it's scraping (knife hitting) beats. Successfully having a sound, a memorable touch all through and so is the lyrics and delivery.
    The experimentation with genres, so to say a Beyonce, The Weeknd to Trip-hop, UK electronic- and Alternative music is a blend on here, making it an experience to broader audiences for many to enjoy and find pieces from. It may not be perfect, but the emotion from it is the winning point.

    This is a testament, FKA twigs is pushing [boundaries] a step in music, evoking influences of classics and modern artists and making this into a platform, a new and fresh sound for others to catch on to.
    "LP1" is one of the most wonderful, heartbreaking and creative releases tackling lust, fantasy, realism of love, identity and self independence.
    "Just like you/I just touch myself".
    Expand
  2. Nov 29, 2016
    10
    It's ridiculous how talented FKA twigs is. A little more than 2 years on from it's release, LP1 still holds up as one of the best albums ofIt's ridiculous how talented FKA twigs is. A little more than 2 years on from it's release, LP1 still holds up as one of the best albums of this decade. A masterpiece. Expand
  3. Aug 13, 2014
    10
    FKA Twigs hit me so hard with this album, ''Lights On'', ''Two Weeks'', ''Pendulum'', ''Video Girl'' and ''Kicks'' are the highlights. IsFKA Twigs hit me so hard with this album, ''Lights On'', ''Two Weeks'', ''Pendulum'', ''Video Girl'' and ''Kicks'' are the highlights. Is Cleary one of the best debuts in a long time and the best album of the year! Expand
  4. Aug 12, 2014
    10
    Though indistinguishable - this experimental debut by FKA Twigs is soaked in her sharp, icy falsettos from the stunningly produced 'Two Weeks'Though indistinguishable - this experimental debut by FKA Twigs is soaked in her sharp, icy falsettos from the stunningly produced 'Two Weeks' and thoroughly overlapped in the Paul Epworth produced 'Pendulum'. This is Barnett try to piece togethor her recollections of romances and personal artistry (reflective of her last two EP's). 'Video Girl' possibly the best song on the LP (or is it 'Two Weeks') explores her past and denial in multiple music videos ranging from Jessie J to many others. She is now in control, and she begs to be noticed and heard. A fantastic achievement for a debut. Is she that girl from the video?/You lie and you lie and you lie. Expand
  5. Sep 13, 2014
    9
    "LP1" is the best R&B debut album of 2014 so far! With her excellent debut album, Tahliah Barnett creates her own style. Every single track is"LP1" is the best R&B debut album of 2014 so far! With her excellent debut album, Tahliah Barnett creates her own style. Every single track is so different than any other R&B song we used to listen to. Expand
  6. Oct 25, 2021
    9
    F*ckng monumental debut. Arguably the best ones of her time. It's a descendant of the sultry brilliance of vespertine and homogenic withoutF*ckng monumental debut. Arguably the best ones of her time. It's a descendant of the sultry brilliance of vespertine and homogenic without being derivative. Her soft achy vocals and simple lyrics convey the desire,ache and bravado of lust mistaken for love. The album begins with the eerie "preface " Which is amply named as it sets the tone for the story she unravels. She equates love to self hatred through a famous quote with the aid of Travis Scott ominous male presence. This is the closest to a filler this album could ever get,which is stunning. The cautious"lights on" is an entire journey packed into 4:24min. From distrust of a sexual partner to insecurity. All of this is done with no expense of the musicality. The flute like instruments that begin the song are cut and sharpened throughout the song. The slow burn "two weeks " is so confident and weird u cannot help but join her as she chews up a man for not acknowledging her value. Saying if she wanted him they wouldn't be having this conversation. "Hours" feels like drunk thoughts of a lonely person after a break up. The penultimate opus "pendulum" oscillates just like it's name sake . It feels pathetic in the sense the narrator is trying to sustain or start something with some1 that only she cares for. Her obsession leaves her alone . This song is one in a million. The climax where her voice seems to exolode into shards and fall like stars is what the entire first half had been building into. The experimental serrated "video girl" begins the next side of the album. This side is less about others and more inward leaning. "Video girl" focuses on recognition she experienced from her back up dancer days. "Number" asses betrayal and "closer "praises closeness . The last two are about self love with the last 1 being literal
    Amazing listen. Favourites: pendulum, two weeks,lights on,kicks
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  7. Aug 13, 2015
    1
    This album was absolutely terrible. The synthesizer makes an extremely edgy sound that hurts my ears and most of the music sounds just likeThis album was absolutely terrible. The synthesizer makes an extremely edgy sound that hurts my ears and most of the music sounds just like random noise. I was looking forward to this album but listening to it was a complete waste of time. Don't make the same mistake as me. Expand

See all 49 User Reviews

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