Lights (Lights EP) explained

Lights
Type:ep
Artist:Lights
Cover:Lights (EP).png
Released:[1]
Recorded:2006–08
Genre:Synthpop, new wave, indie pop
Length:20:29
Label:Underground, Doghouse
Producer:Lights, Thomas Salter, Dave Thomson
Next Title:The Listening
Next Year:2009

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.

Background

Cover art

The 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

Beginning 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

The 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"—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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lights - EP by Lights. iTunes. 24 July 2008.
  2. News: Boucher. Geoff. Lights shining on Wonder Woman. Los Angeles Times. December 26, 2008. May 28, 2014.
  3. Zmuda. Natalie. Old Navy Brings 'February Air' to Buenos Aires. Advertising Age. February 11, 2008. May 28, 2014.
  4. Web site: Anitai. Tamar. New Video: Lights, 'February Air'. https://web.archive.org/web/20081223120540/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2008/12/22/new-video-lights-february-air/. dead. December 23, 2008. MTV. February 11, 2008. May 28, 2014.
  5. Web site: Boyer. Jennifer. Chicago Shines When Lights Comes to Town. The Dead Hub . live . October 28, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140528222424/http://thedeadhub.com/2008/11/09/chicago-shines-when-lights-comes-to-town/ . May 28, 2014 . October 30, 2008.
  6. Web site: The Hills › Season 4 › Songs From the Show › Ep. 403. MTV.com. May 28, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727011531/http://www.mtv.com/shows/the_hills/season_4/episode_music.jhtml?episodeID=141701. July 27, 2011.
  7. Web site: Chisling. Matthew. Review: Lights - 'Lights'. Allmusic. May 28, 2014.
  8. Fairall . Jer. Review: Lights - 'The Listening'. Popmatters. January 28, 2010. May 28, 2014.
  9. Web site: Lights - Awards. AllMusic. May 28, 2014.
  10. News: Patch. Nick. Nickelback rules at Junos. Toronto Star. March 29, 2009. May 28, 2014.