Electra Heart

A bit of background to this album to begin with. 'Electra Heart' is a persona created by Marina (and described as the antithesis to everything Marina stands for) used to tell a story of self-corruption. As a result, this album feels darker than 'The Family Jewels' (Marina's first album).We begin with "Bubblegum Bitch": an in-your-face, self-centered song that serves as a brilliant opener to the album and gives a clear insight into the character of Electra Heart. Next up is "Primadonna", an instant classic that hits the heights of "Hollywood" from the first album. A 'celebration' of materialism, hedonism and the absolute desire to be famous. "Lies" feels like it probably should have been a single, it's that good. A sad reflection on a past partner who seemed to lack the courage to tell the truth or say how he really felt. "Homewrecker" follows and is a very catchy track where Electra Heart boasts about her ability to "break hearts for fun".As we approach the middle section of the album, "Starring Role" and "The State of Dreaming" are probably the least catchy songs, but are fascinating insights into the eponymous character. The pace picks up again slightly with "Power & Control", a memorable song about the constant power struggle in a relationship, however the tone only dips from this point."Teen Idle" reflects mournfully on the wasted years of youth, obsessing over popularity. "Valley of the Dolls" appears to be about the book of the same name which I must confess I haven't read, but the dark tone is once again palpable. "Hypocrates" is another of Marina's clever portmanteaux combining the word 'hypocrite' and the ancient Greek physician 'Hippocrates'. Here, Electra Heart seems to be realising that she has failed to achieve the "American Dream" and attacks the hypocrisy of showbusiness. In my view, the best song of the album is saved for last. "Fear and Loathing" is a deeply moving song about anxiety and depression, aided by Marina's breathtaking vocals.By the end, you realise this is a rather brutal album as you witness the rise and fall of Electra Heart. Marina may have only released two albums to date but it's difficult to see how this won't always be considered her magnum opus. A truly brilliant display of songwriting, production and vocals. One of the best pop/alternative pop albums I've ever had the privilege to listen to.

Firstly, lets get one thing straight: this is not Marina Diamondis singing; it's an alter ego called Electra Heart, which Marina has embodied wholly, hence the blonde dye-job and step away from the unique sound that defined her début. What will throw most people is the thumping 80's style synths that permeate most of the album, which adds a literal sense to Electra Heart herself, and also ensures that, just like The Family Jewels, is not easy to classify; sure, it's electro-pop in essence, but is that really an apt and fair moniker?Opening with the fast-paced Bubblegum Bitch, the inflection on 'bitch' in the chorus turns the phrase bubblegum bitch on its head, with Electra delighting in proclaiming you the bubblegum and herself the bitch, and thus setting the tone for what follows, in that Electra is reeling from the emotional chaos of a break-up; the anger and the rediscovery of one's self and self-worth that comes from it.Picking stand-out tracks has been tough given the nature of the album, but I would say that the suitably charged Homewrecker pops out, demanding attention, as does Living Dead, with its dagger-like synth chord chorus section with high-pitched repeated words. Lies and Starring Role are two relatively quieter tracks, and appear to be directly related as dealing with break-down of the relationship, with Starring Role suggesting that it was not one-sided. Closing the album is Fear and Loathing, which seems to bring closure to Electra herself, as she sounds more subdued than on previous quiet tracks, as she comes to the realisation that not everyone is out to harm her, and that the various personas she has are perhaps not that beneficial after all.The Deluxe Edition contains four bonus tracks, including Radioactive, which surfaced mid-2011, teasing us with what Marina was cooking up next. Listening to Radioactive now, it makes sense for it to appear directly after Fear and Loathing, though it does have two viewpoints: it's the precursor, or, after the revelations she formed in Fear and Loathing, she's started again, though by the time we reach Buy The Stars, it would appear that she's doomed to repeat the cycle.I highly recommend this Deluxe Edition to existing fans, and to anyone who is looking for something a little different and grown up.

Amo esse álbum, veio bem embalado.

el disco llego en buenas condiciones aunque se encuentra ligeramente roto en la caja plástica de este fuera de eso se encuentra en perfecto estado

Absolutely LOVE this album, but the fact that it didn't include the hit ''How to be a Heatbreaker'' like the regular version of the album makes me a bit sad...

Il secondo miglior album dopo THE FAMILY JEWELS della mia cantante preferita,CD in ottime condizioni è arrivato con quasi 2 settimane di anticipo

Génial arrivée en avance malgré le confinement.Aucune rayure.Fan de Marina depuis ses début j'adore ne fait pas de duo rap pour l'argent fidele a sa musique . Amies melomane foncées grande artiste (vendeurs serieux)