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The Listening - Lights

Billboard Review
77

Oct 09, 2009 03:10 pm

Building on a well-received EP and some low-budget, space-age videos, Canadian singer Valerie Poxleitner's new album comes on like a more accessible version of the current buzz-worthy wave of U.K. electronic artists including Little Boots and La Roux.

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AMG Review

Lights' full-length debut The Listening finds vocalist/songwriter Valerie Poxleitner delivering a steady flow of gentle indie-electronic alt-rock that showcases her sweet voice. Bringing to mind a more subdued Cyndi Lauper, Lights' music leans heavily toward melodic and catchy midtempo anthems that percolate and chirp with keyboards, beats, and light electric guitar accents. In that sense, Lights sounds something along the lines of a Daft Punk-junior dorm room chanteuse. To these ends, tracks like the brightly pulsating lead-off cut, "Saviour," and the hard-house-lite of "River" make for perfect late-night, low-key disco hits. Similarly engaging are such mid-album cuts like the Kylie Minogue-esque "Ice" and the yearning '90s R&B-infused "Second Go." Heartfelt and warm for sure, but Lights' The Listening may just move more than your heart. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide

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Lights (1 Album)

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