LP4 (album)

For the Linus Pauling Quartet, see The Linus Pauling Quartet.

LP4 is the fourth studio album by Ratatat, released on June 8, 2010. The name comes from the acronym for long play (LP), as it is their fourth album. It is similarly titled to their third release, LP3. A majority of the tracks are from the same studio session as their previous album.^[1]

LP4
Studio album by Ratatat
Released	June 8, 2010 (2010-06-08)
Recorded	2008–2010
Studio	Old Soul Studios in New York City Glassworks Studios in Manhattan
Genre	Electronica art rock experimental hip hop neo-psychedelia instrumental hip hop post-rock
Length	42:43
Label	XL
Producer	Evan Mast, Mike Stroud
Ratatat chronology
LP3 (2008) LP4 (2010) Magnifique (2015)
Singles from LP4
"Party with Children" Released: 2010 "Drugs" Released: 2010

Background

The album largely features material produced during the session of Ratatat's previous album LP3, recorded at Old Soul Studios in New York City.^[2] Evan Mast of the duo stated, "A lot of the sounds and palettes are similar, but I think the songs change pretty drastically." Ratatat had purchased several Middle Eastern percussion instruments, which are featured in LP4. The album also features a string quartet, whereas previous Ratatat albums had used a Mellotron.^[3] The string sections were recorded at Glassworks Studios in Manhattan.^[2] Music videos were produced for the tracks "Drugs", "Mahalo" "Neckbrace", and "Party With Children". The album contains numerous spoken word samples, including a line from Werner Herzog's 1977 film Stroszek segueing "Bilar" and "Drugs".^[4]

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	68/100[5]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
The Music Cycle	[7]
Pitchfork Media	(5.2/10)[1]
SPIN Magazine	[8]

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at #66 selling 6,700 copies in its first week.^[9]

Track listing

1. "Bilar" – 4:14
2. "Drugs" – 4:55
3. "Neckbrace" – 4:06
4. "We Can't Be Stopped" – 2:10
5. "Bob Gandhi" – 4:01
6. "Mandy" – 3:42
7. "Mahalo" – 2:02
8. "Party with Children" – 2:58
9. "Sunblocks" – 3:42
10. "Bare Feast" – 2:38
11. "Grape Juice City" – 3:56
12. "Alps" – 4:21

iTunes pre-order bonus track

13. "Biddang" – 3:21

Chart positions

Weekly

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Greek Albums (IFPI Greece)[10]	23
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[11]	33
US Billboard 200[12]	66
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[13]	3
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[14]	7

Year-end

Chart (2010)	Position
US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[15]	24

References

1. Howe, Brian (June 8, 2010). "Ratatat LP4". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
2. RATATAT LP4 out THIS WEEK on XL Recordings Archived 2010-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
3. Ratatat's Leftover Studio Minutes Spawn 'LP4'
4. "Ratatat Quash Neptunes Understudy Rumours". Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
5. "LP4 by Ratatat". Metacritic. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
6. Sendra, Tim. "Review: LP4". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
7. "The Music Cycle Review".
8. "SPIN Magazine review".
9. Jacobs, Allen. "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 6/13/2010". Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
10. "Ratatat – LP4" (in Dutch). Ultratop (NL). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
11. "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
12. "Ratatat Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
13. "Ratatat Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
14. "Ratatat Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
15. "Dance/Electronic Albums: 2013 Year-end Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.