RA (album)

RA
Studio album by
Simon Curtis
ReleasedJune 7, 2011
Recorded2010–2011
GenreElectronica, dance-pop, dubstep, synthpop, dark pop
Length44:54
LabelBoyRobot Records (independent release)
ProducerJeff "Jadion" Wells
Simon Curtis chronology
8Bit Heart
(2010) 		RA
(2011) 		WWW
(2013)
Singles from RA
  1. "Superhero"
    Released: May 16, 2011
  2. "Flesh"
    Released: May 31, 2011

RA (stylized as R∆) is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter and record producer Simon Curtis. It was released independently on June 7, 2011.[1] The album peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart.[2]

Background and composition

Curtis described RA as a "diary of where my mind has been during the past year of my life, dealing with deep betrayal, heartache, sex and the exploration of what lengths someone will go to to achieve his destiny" and said 8-Bit Heart was "a plea for love" and that RA "doesn't want anything to do with it."[3]

Critical reception

Sam Lansky of MuuMuse noted the influence of Britney Spears as well as Darren Hayes on the album and said that while Curtis "knows that creating music that makes us want to dance is imperative" he, "like Darren, ... writes out of some very private vulnerability, documenting the darkest pieces of himself – the rage and the resentment, the envy and the cynicism – in a way that makes the music so much more compelling than it would be if he’d kept it all neatly compartmentalized."[4]

Track listing

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Laser Guns Up"Simon Curtis4:07
2."Don't Dance"Simon Curtis3:09
3."Superhero"Simon Curtis3:21
4."Pit of Vipers"Simon Curtis3:27
5."D.T.M."Simon Curtis3:17
6."Chip in Your Head"Simon Curtis2:39
7."Flesh"Simon Curtis4:20
8."How to Start a War"Simon Curtis3:48
9."Get in Line"Simon Curtis3:44
10."I Hate U"Simon Curtis3:21
11."Joshua"Simon Curtis3:24
12."Soul 4 Sale"Simon Curtis3:38
13."Enemy"Simon Curtis3:05
14."The Dark 2: Return to the Dark"Simon Curtis2:39

Charts

Chart Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums[2] 20

References

  1. ^ Wieselman, Jarett (June 7, 2011). "Simon Curtis releases sensational CD, 'RA'". New York Post. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Billboard (April 2–9, 2011). Billboard Apr 2–9, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (March 14, 2011). "Simon Curtis' DIY Pop, Plus a Preview of His New Album". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  4. ^ Lansky, Sam (June 9, 2011). "Simon Curtis: RA (Album Review)". MuuMuse. Retrieved March 28, 2013.