The Black & White Album


The Black & White Album is the eighth solo album from American singer-songwriter and violinist Imani Coppola. It was released on the Mike Patton-owned Ipecac Recordings in 2007, her first for the label. The album included the singles "Woke Up White", "Springtime", and "I Love Your Hair." Only one video was released. Although Coppola had previously self-released several albums, The Black & White Album was only her third to be released by a record label – following her debut album, Chupacabra, from a decade earlier.

Release

The album was released on November 6, 2007, by Ipecac Records, which had been started by Faith No More's frontman, Mike Patton. The album was Coppola's first in a decade to receive widespread release, and only her second, since 1997's Chupacabra.

Critical reception

Upon its release, the album garnered favorable reviews from music critics, earning a score of 75/100 on the review aggregate site Album of the Year. Mikael Wood, writing for Entertainment Weekly, awarded the album a grade of "B+" and compared Coppola's "eccentricity" to that of Macy Gray, also noting the record's topical range and commending the diverse assortment of genres: "ska, rap, electro-pop, and punk." AllMusic's Marisa Brown awarded the album 3 stars.
Spin included the lead single "Woke Up White" on their list of "Songs You Need to Download Now!" in their November 2007 issue. Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly gave single "Raindrops from the Sun " a rave review, with contributor Michael Sleazak calling the song "an exceedingly catchy little ditty, one that builds and builds and builds till you want to stand up at your desk and join in that final chorus."

Track listing

  1. "Black & White Jingle #1" 2:17
  2. "Springtime" 4:58
  3. "Woke Up White" 2:16
  4. "Raindrops from the Sun " 3:33
  5. "30th Birthday" 4:24
  6. "Let It Kill You" 3:39
  7. "Dirty Pictures" 3:36
  8. "Keys 2 Your Ass" 3:46
  9. "Black & White Jingle #2" 1:26
  10. "I Love Your Hair" 4:05
  11. "J.L.I.a.T.o.Y.O." 3:36
  12. "I'm a Pocket" 2:24
  13. "This is My Chicken" 0:12
  14. "In a Room" 2:17

Personnel