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Lights
Studio album by Ellie Goulding
Released	1 March 2010
Recorded	2008–2009
Genre	Indie pop, electropop, synthpop, folktronica
Length	36:51
Label	Polydor, Neon Gold
Producer	Starsmith, Frankmusik, Fraser T. Smith, Richard Stannard
Professional reviews
BBC Music (positive)[1] The Daily Telegraph [2] Drowned in Sound (6/10)[3] The Fly (4/5)[4] The Guardian [5] The Independent [6] musicOMH [7] NME (6/10)[8] Pitchfork (6.8/10)[9] The Times [10]
Ellie Goulding chronology
An Introduction to Ellie Goulding (2009) Lights (2010)
Singles from Lights
"Under the Sheets" Released: 9 November 2009 "Starry Eyed" Released: 22 February 2010 "Guns and Horses" Released: 17 May 2010[11]

Lights is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, released in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2010 by Polydor Records.^[12] Produced by Starsmith, Frankmusik, Fraser T. Smith and Richard Stannard, the album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart the week of 7 March 2010, but dropped fifteen places in its second week.

Background

Goulding worked with producers Starsmith, Frankmusik, Fraser T. Smith and Richard Stannard; the majority of the album was recorded in the former's bedroom in Bromley, London.^[13] Goulding explained that the album "is made up of songs that all started on a guitar over a period of about two years. A number of the songs vent romantic victories and failures." She revealed that the first song she ever wrote, "Wish I Stayed", is featured on the album.^[14] She also said of her music: "Though I write on guitar, I hear the entire sound of songs in my head. And Fin [Starsmith] is someone who understands."^[13]

Critical response

Lights has received mixed reviews. Neil McCormick from The Daily Telegraph praised the "lush electro-dance production of Starsmith" saying it "evokes a gushing, breathless rush of heady emotion that might have benefited from at least a dash of restraint and intimacy."^[2] Mike Diver from BBC Music describes the album as "an expectations-passing collection that should see fans of the singer's material to date elevating her to superstar status – perhaps not Gaga league, but certainly the equal of the current solo female du jour, Florence Welch." He also says "ballads like "The Writer" and "I'll Hold My Breath" retain the glossy attraction of singles "Under the Sheets" and "Starry Eyed". "Wish I Stayed" is the album's skilfully sound-scaped highlight, percussively brutish but comely of light keys."^[1] However, The Guardian's Alexis Petridis took a dislike to the album saying it provides "just general acoustic singer-songwriter material."^[5] Claire Allfree of Metro described the album as "undeniably pretty aerated synth-pop but Goulding's girly, heartfelt voice is oddly depthless, while the electronic vapour and four-to-the-floor house beats swoop in a wash of perfectly calibrated bland sound", though there was praise for "Starry Eyed" ("pulsingly pert") and "The Writer" ("a lilting melodic hook").^[15]

Singles

• "Under the Sheets" was released as the album's lead single on 9 November 2009. It reached number fifty-three on the UK Singles Chart.^[16]
• "Starry Eyed" was released as the album's second single on 22 February 2010. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart.^[17]
• "Guns and Horses" will be released as the album's third single on 17 May 2010.^[11]

Track listing

All music produced by Starsmith, except where noted.

Enhanced edition

Exclusive video downloads via Goulding's official website:

• Interview with Ellie – 2:41
• "Roscoe" (Acoustic) – 3:33
• "Wish I Stayed" (Acoustic) – 4:06

Personnel

Charts

Chart procession and succession

Reference