Lights is the self-titled debut EP by Canadian recording artist Lights, released on iTunes on July 24, 2008. It was released as a 12-inch vinyl on September 16, 2008.
| Lights | ||||
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | July 24, 2008[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2006–08 | |||
| Genre | Synthpop, new wave, indie pop | |||
| Length | 20:29 | |||
| Label | Underground, Doghouse | |||
| Producer | Lights, Thomas Salter, Dave Thomson | |||
| Lights chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Lights | ||||
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Background
editCover art
editThe cover art is a picture of Lights that she took in her apartment in Toronto heavily edited in a "cheap program" she owned for her computer at the time. She color-blocked and re-outlined the image rendering it to what it is. The cover led some to believe that the vinyl was a calendar, which prompted some mistakable purchases.[2]
Songs in media
editBeginning in February 2008, her song "February Air" was featured in a series of Old Navy television ads.[3] The music video for the song premiered in December.[4] Another track, "Drive My Soul", appeared during a 2008 episode of MTV's The Hills.[5][6]
Release and reception
editThe EP was released on July 24, 2008.[1] It was made available in Canada through Best Buy, HMV, and iTunes, and in the United States on iTunes. Later in the year, coinciding with Lights' touring, the EP was made available on CD in the US on September 16, 2008.
Three songs from Lights were released as singles: "Drive My Soul", "February Air", and "Ice".[7] These songs, along with "The Last Thing on Your Mind", were later reworked and included on Lights' debut album, The Listening (2009).[8]
Lights peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers albums chart.[9] Matthew Chisling of Allmusic remarked that the EP "found a large amount of commercial success" and "critical praise"[7]—including Lights' 2009 Juno Award for New Artist of the Year[10]—which led Warner Bros. to allow Lights to release The Listening almost a year later.[7]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ice" | Lights Poxleitner, Thomas Salter | Poxleitner, Salter | 2:57 |
| 2. | "Drive My Soul" | Poxleitner, Salter | Poxleitner, Salter | 3:22 |
| 3. | "February Air" | Poxleitner, Dave Thomson | Poxleitner, Thomson | 3:50 |
| 4. | "White" | Poxleitner, Salter | Poxleitner, Salter | 3:20 |
| 5. | "I Owe You One" | Poxleitner | Poxleitner | 3:39 |
| 6. | "The Last Thing on Your Mind" | Poxleitner | Poxleitner, Thomson | 3:21 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Lights - EP by Lights". iTunes. 24 July 2008.
- ^ Boucher, Geoff (December 26, 2008). "Lights shining on Wonder Woman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ^ Zmuda, Natalie (February 11, 2008). "Old Navy Brings 'February Air' to Buenos Aires". Advertising Age. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ^ Anitai, Tamar (February 11, 2008). "New Video: Lights, 'February Air'". MTV. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ^ Boyer, Jennifer (October 30, 2008). "Chicago Shines When Lights Comes to Town". The Dead Hub. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- ^ "The Hills › Season 4 › Songs From the Show › Ep. 403". MTV.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ^ a b c Chisling, Matthew. "Review: Lights - 'Lights'". Allmusic. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ^ Fairall, Jer (January 28, 2010). "Review: Lights - 'The Listening'". Popmatters. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ^ "Lights - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ^ Patch, Nick (March 29, 2009). "Nickelback rules at Junos". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 28, 2014.