Samson & Delilah (album)

Samson & Delilah is the second studio album by English recording artist V V Brown, released on 9 September 2013 on Brown's YOY Records. Brown initially had planned to follow up her critically acclaimed debut album with Lollipops and Politics, promoting the release of the album with a debut single.[3] The album was later shelved, in part due to do Brown's own wishes.[4] She then went independent for Samson & Delilah, which found Brown experimenting with a radically different change in musical direction. Samson & Delilah is a concept album based around the biblical story of the same name. A short film using material from the album was used to promote the record.

Samson & Delilah
Studio album by V V Brown
Released	9 September 2013 (2013-09-09)
Recorded	2011–13
Genre	Synthpop, experimental pop, darkwave, art pop, drone, electropop, industrial pop
Length	49:11
Label	YOY
Producer	Pascal Gabriel Liam Howe Pierre-Marie "STAL" Maulini Dave Okumu
V V Brown chronology
Lollipops & Politics (Unreleased) Samson & Delilah (2013) Glitch (2015)
Singles from Samson & Delilah
"Samson" Released: 14 July 2013[1] "The Apple" Released: 25 August 2013[2] "Faith" Released: 17 March 2014

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	82/100[5]
Review scores
Source	Rating
All Music	[6]
Boston Globe	Positive[7]
Pop Matters	[8]

Samson & Delilah received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, the album received a score of 82 from professional sources, indicating "universal acclaim."[5] Most all music critics noted the drastic change in direction that Brown took for the album. Upon announcing a free stream of the album prior to the album's release, Idolator wrote that the record was "one of the boldest 180s between an artist’s first and second albums that we’ve witnessed in a long time. We’re talking a Yeezus-level departure from an act’s established sonics. If Janelle Monáe is an android, V V Brown is now a T-1000."[9] Ryan Lathan, writing for PopMatters, described the album as "skillfully produced" and "brave," one that "succeeds in forging a completely different identity for Brown," comparing the singer to Annie Lennox and Grace Jones.[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Substitute for Love"	V V Brown Pierre-Marie "STAL" Maulini	Maulini	5:03
2.	"Nothing Really Matters"	Brown Dave Okumu	Dave Okumu	5:10
3.	"Samson"	Brown	Okumu	4:27
4.	"I Can Give You More"	Brown Maulini	Maulini	4:09
5.	"Igneous"	Brown Laurence Aldridge	Aldridge	4:45
6.	"Looking for Love"	Brown Liam Howe	Howe	4:52
7.	"The Apple"	Brown Pascal Gabriel	Gabriel	3:11
8.	"Faith"	Brown Aldridge	Aldridge	4:32
9.	"Ghosts"	Brown Aldridge	Aldridge	2:50
10.	"Knife"	Brown Maulini	Maulini	4:03
11.	"Beginning"	Brown Okumu	Okumu	6:09
Total length:				49:11

iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus tracks[10]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Warrior"		4:08
13.	"Like Fire"	Brown	6:30
14.	"Shark in the Water" (Alternative Version)	Brown Tommy Tysper Marcus Sepehrmanesh	4:57
15.	"Samson & Delilah" (short film)		17:06
Total length:			81:52

French iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus tracks[11]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Warrior"		4:08
13.	"Like Fire"	Brown	6:30
14.	"Shark in the Water" (Alternative Version)	Brown Tysper Sepehrmanesh	4:57
15.	"The Apple" (En français)		3:14
16.	"Samson & Delilah" (short film)		17:06
Total length:			85:06

Charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart[12]	158
UK Indie Albums Chart[13]	35

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom[14]	9 September 2013	CD LP digital download	YOY Records
France[15]	7 October 2013	CD digital download
	8 October 2013	LP
United States[16]		CD digital download
Germany[17]		Digital download
	18 October 2013	CD LP

References

1. "Samson – Single by V V Brown". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
2. "The Apple – Single by V V Brown". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
3. "iTunes - Music - Children - Single by V V Brown".
4. V V Brown (16 November 2012). "I cant wait for you..." Facebook. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
5. "Reviews for Samson & Delilah". Metacritic.
6. Kellmann, Andy. "Review". All Music.
7. Reed, James. "ALBUM REVIEW: V V BROWN SAMSON & DELILAH". Boston Globe.
8. Lathan, Ryan. "V V Brown: Samson & Delilah". Pop Matters.
9. Williott, Carl. "Exclusive: Stream V V Brown's Bold, Beautiful New Album 'Samson & Delilah'". Idolator.
10. "Samson & Delilah (Deluxe Version) by V V Brown". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
11. "Samson & Delilah (Deluxe Version) by V V Brown". iTunes Store France. Apple. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
12. "CHART: CLUK Update 21.09.2013 (wk37)". The Zobbel Website. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
13. "2013 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
14. • "Samson & Delilah [CD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
    • "Samson & Delilah [VINYL]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
    • "Samson & Delilah by V V Brown". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
15. • "Samson and Delilah – Vv Brown – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
    • "Samson & Delilah by V V Brown". iTunes Store France. Apple. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
    • "Samson and Delilah – Vv Brown – Vinyl album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
16. • "Samson & Delilah". Amazon.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
    • "Samson & Delilah by V V Brown". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
17. • "Samson & Delilah by V V Brown". iTunes Store Germany. Apple. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
    • "Samson & Delilah" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
    • "Samson & Delilah [Vinyl Maxi-Single]" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 16 October 2013.