A Color Map of the Sun

A Color Map of the Sun
Studio album by Pretty Lights
Released July 2, 2013
Recorded 2011-2013
Genre Hip hop, electronica, soul, trip hop
Label 8 Minutes 20 Seconds Records
Producer Derek Vincent Smith
Pretty Lights chronology

Passing by Behind Your Eyes
(2009)		 A Color Map of the Sun
(2013)

A Color Map of the Sun is a double-disc album by American electronic music artist Derek Vincent Smith, better known by his stage name Pretty Lights,[1] released July 2, 2013 on 8 Minutes 20 Seconds Records.

The album is the first of Smith's to be composed from his own originally produced music in its entirety. Smith's recordings were pressed as samples to vinyl and then mixed using software. Purely analog modular synthesis was also used in the making of the album. In describing why he chose this requirement, Smith has stated: "I was trying to think of something that would be a massive challenge for myself and just a really cool project. I wanted to also prove to myself I could do it."[2]

A Color Map of the Sun is the first album Smith released as a physical product at the same time as the digital copy. Double vinyl and CD copies are to be released. The second disc of the CD features an additional 13 live studio recordings of the new music produced for the album.

A documentary was filmed during the making of the album and was released the same day as the album.[3]

The album made its debut at #2 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Charts.[4] On December 6th, 2013 A Color Map of the Sun received nomination for Best Dance/Electronica Album in the 2014 Grammys.[5]

Pretty Lights made his TV debut on Conan, performing "Around the Block" with Talib Kweli, Break Science, and Eric Krasno (of Soulive).[6]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Rolling Stone [7]
Sputnikmusic 3.2/5[8]

Track listing

A Color Map of the Sun[9]

Disc One
No. Title Length
1. "Color of My Soul"   6:08
2. "Press Pause"   4:49
3. "Let's Get Busy"   3:52
4. "Around the Block (featuring Talib Kweli)"   4:13
5. "Yellow Bird"   5:40
6. "Go Down Sunshine"   5:05
7. "So Bright (featuring Eligh)"   5:51
8. "Vibe Vendetta"   5:24
9. "Done Wrong"   6:35
10. "Prophet"   5:56
11. "One Day They'll know"   6:59
12. "Always All Ways"   5:32
13. "My Only Hope"   4:52
Total length:
 70:56
Disc Two - Live Studio Sessions From A Color Map of the Sun
No. Title Length
1. "Reel 15 Break 5"   3:36
2. "Reel 5 Break 3"   3:37
3. "Reel 9 Break 6"   3:18
4. "Reel 11 Break 2"   2:56
5. "Reel 6 Break 4"   3:05
6. "Reel 8 Break 2"   2:30
7. "Reel 18 Session 1"   3:55
8. "Reel 17 Break 4"   3:06
9. "Reel 4 Break 3"   3:31
10. "Reel 12 Break 2"   3:34
11. "Reel 6 Break 5"   3:47
12. "Reel 3 Break 3"   3:00
13. "Reel 7 Break 1"   3:09
Total length:
 43:04

References

  1. ↑ "Pretty Lights official site".
  2. ↑ http://www.heavy.com/entertainment/2013/06/pretty-lights-interview-color-map-of-the-sun/
  3. ↑ "Pretty Lights home page date=". Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  4. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-07-20/danceelectronic-albums
  5. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1718657/grammy-nominations-list-2014.jhtml
  6. ↑ http://www.okayplayer.com/news/pretty-lights-talib-kweli-around-the-block-live-conan-video.html
  7. ↑ Matos, Michaelangelo (2 July 2013). "Pretty Lights: A Color Map of the Sun". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  8. ↑ K., Rudy (7 August 2013). "Album Review - Pretty Lights: A Color Map of The Sun". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Color Map of the Sun: Pretty Lights: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-06-26.