[Reposting this since La Roux’s debut is now available via iTunes, where “Bulletproof” is the free Single of the Week. At the very least, grab that little gift.]

The universe sure has a twisted way of teaching me a lesson about procrastination.

I’d been planning to post a little something about La Roux for a while now, and usually my wake-up call arrives via the pages of Entertainment Weekly or some other source I hold in high regard. But no, this mention of the British electro-pop duo was the equivalent of a sucker-punch to the gut: La Roux received a shout-out in last week’s Parade Magazine. Though it’s been my automatic reflex to toss that tired syndicated Sunday supplement into the recycling bin, I decided for some reason to have a gander, and there was La Roux, listed in black and white on that flimsy newsprint as “Dorm Life Must-Haves” along with Phoenix and Discovery.

Clearly some Parade writer’s child (or grandchild) must have offered these musical suggestions, three artists that have registered barely a blip on the mainstream radar. Sure, Phoenix benefited from a Saturday Night Live appearance in April, but I’ve heard next to nothing about Discovery, and La Roux only recently played Lollapalooza. In fact, the duo’s self-titled debut isn’t out in the States until September 29th, a big reason I’d held off mentioning them here (or at least that’s how I justify my delay). [La Roux’s debut is available now at iTunes, which has the album a week early.]

“Bulletproof,” La Roux’s poppy first single, features singer Elly Jackson standing her ground to an early Depeche Mode beat. If you don’t know by now, never bet against red:

Barbra Streisand greeted me on the cover of Parade on Sunday, returning all in the world to its proper place. Yes, I read the interview. And though I never knew to wonder, now I know why La Streisand loves the color burgundy. What was that I said about red again?

Purchase La Roux – La Roux via iTunes (and check out the “Bulletproof” remixes, too).