Light Me Up

For the Herbie Hancock album, see Lite Me Up. For other uses, see Light Me Up (disambiguation).
Light Me Up
Studio album by The Pretty Reckless
Released August 27, 2010
Recorded

August 2009 – April 2010;

Genre Alternative rock[1]
Length 34:06
Label Interscope
Producer Kato Khandwala
The Pretty Reckless chronology

The Pretty Reckless
(2010)		 Light Me Up
(2010)		 Hit Me Like a Man EP
(2012)
Japanese cover
Singles from Light Me Up
  1. "Make Me Wanna Die"
    Released: March 30, 2010
  2. "Miss Nothing"
    Released: July 27, 2010
  3. "Just Tonight"
    Released: December 23, 2010
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 74/100[2]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [3]
Artistdirect [4]
Digital Spy [5]
Entertainment Weekly B−[6]
IGN 7.5/10[7]
Kerrang! 3/5[8]
The New York Times positive[9]
Virgin Media [10]

Light Me Up is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The Pretty Reckless, released on August 27, 2010 by Interscope Records. The album received commercial success with the singles "Make Me Wanna Die", "Miss Nothing", and "Just Tonight".

Background

The record process started in 2008, after Taylor Momsen met producer Kato Khandwala and his partner, songwriter Ben Phillips. By the summer of 2009, they felt they had found an authentic sound. Two months before the album's release, the band released the self-titled EP containing four songs expected to appear in the future record. However, the song "Zombie" was not present in the initial track listing, later appearing on the North and South American release.

The album received much more success in the UK, where it was released months before the American release. The warmer British reception spanned the singles "Miss Nothing" and "Just Tonight", which were not released anywhere else.

Critical reception

Upon its release, Light Me Up received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 74, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on five reviews.[2]

Commercial performance

Light Me Up debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart, selling 11,916 copies in its first week.[11] On July 22, 2013, the album was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments in excess of 60,000 copies.[12] It also debuted at number 65 on the Billboard 200, selling 9,000 copies in its first week.

Singles

"Make Me Wanna Die" was released on March 30, 2010 in the US and on May 13, 2010 in the UK. A promotional video was released which features live performances and backstage footage of the band. This video is widely recognized as a viral version and was released on May 13, 2010. The official music video was postponed due to legal issues involving censorship, but premiered on September 15, 2010 on iTunes and VEVO.

"Miss Nothing" was released on August 23, 2010 only in the UK. The music video for "Miss Nothing" was released on July 20, 2010 on VEVO.

"Just Tonight" was released on December 27, 2010 only in the UK after being pushed back from November 9. The music video was released on VEVO on November 2.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips, and Kato Khandwala. 

No. Title Length
1. "My Medicine"   3:14
2. "Since You're Gone"   2:41
3. "Make Me Wanna Die"   3:55
4. "Light Me Up"   3:27
5. "Just Tonight"   2:48
6. "Miss Nothing"   3:13
7. "Goin' Down"   3:35
8. "Nothing Left to Lose"   4:11
9. "Factory Girl"   3:31
10. "You"   3:32

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Light Me Up.[17]

The Pretty Reckless
Additional personnel

  • John Bender – backing vocals (all except "My Medicine")
  • Jon Cohan – drum technician (all except "You")
  • William Derella – executive producer
  • Jonathan Dinklage – violin ("Make Me Wanna Die", "You")
  • Lauren Dukoff – photography
  • Dave Eggar – cello ("Make Me Wanna Die", "You")
  • Robert Fisher – art direction, design
  • James Frazee – assistant engineering (all except "Make Me Wanna Die", "Miss Nothing", "Goin' Down", and "You"); additional engineering ("Factory Girl")
  • Kato Khandwala – engineering, guitar, mixing, production (all tracks); programming (all except "Goin' Down"); percussion (all except "Since You're Gone" and "Zombie"); bass (all except "My Medicine" and "You"); string arrangement ("Make Me Wanna Die", "Just Tonight", "You")
  • Dan Korneff – mix engineering ("Make Me Wanna Die")
  • Michael "Mitch" Milan – assistant engineering (all except "You")
  • David Sonenberg – executive producer

Charts

Chart (2010–11) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[18] 71
Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart (Flanders)[19] 2
Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart (Wallonia)[20] 1
Canadian Albums Chart[21] 57
French Albums Chart[22] 167
Irish Albums Chart[23] 18
Japanese Albums Chart[24] 48
Scottish Albums Chart[25] 7
UK Albums Chart[26] 6
UK Rock Albums Chart[27] 1
US Billboard 200[28] 65
US Alternative Albums[29] 10
US Top Rock Albums[30] 18

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Australia August 27, 2010
Interscope
[31][32]
France August 30, 2010 Digital download Universal
[33]
United Kingdom
  • CD
  • digital download
 Polydor
[34][35]
Germany August 31, 2010 Universal
[36][37]
France December 6, 2010 CD
[38]
Canada February 8, 2011 Digital download
[39]
United States Interscope
[40]
Canada March 1, 2011 CD Universal
[16]
Japan March 2, 2011
  • CD
  • digital download
[14][41]
United States April 12, 2011 CD Interscope
[42]
France April 18, 2011 Digital download (re-release) Universal
[43]
Brazil May 15, 2012 CD
[44]

References

  1. ↑ Hyman, Dan (September 23, 2013). "The Pretty Reckless Confront Tragedy on 'Going to Hell'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Light Me Up – The Pretty Reckless". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  3. ↑ Eremenko, Alexey. "Light Me Up – The Pretty Reckless". AllMusic. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ Florino, Rick (January 31, 2011). "The Pretty Reckless "Light Me Up" Review — 4.5 out of 5 Stars". Artistdirect. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  5. ↑ Nissim, Mayer (September 10, 2010). "The Pretty Reckless: 'Light Me Up'". Digital Spy. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  6. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (April 7, 2011). "Light Me Up (2011)". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  7. ↑ Grischow, Chad (February 9, 2011). "The Pretty Reckless: Light Me Up Review". IGN. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  8. ↑ Longbottom, John (August 28, 2010). "The Pretty Reckless: Light Me Up". Kerrang! (1327): 54.
  9. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (April 22, 2011). "Rowdy Muscularity and Sweet Harmonies". The New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  10. ↑ Gittins, Ian. "The Pretty Reckless: Light Me Up". Virgin Media. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  11. ↑ Jones, Alan (September 6, 2010). "Teenage Dream too hard for Eminem to beat – but Murs triumphs on singles". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. July 22, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Light Me Up by The Pretty Reckless". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 ライト・ミー・アップ [Light Me Up] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Light Me Up [Bonus Track] – The Pretty Reckless". AllMusic. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Light Me Up by The Pretty Reckless". HMV Canada. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  17. ↑ Light Me Up (CD liner notes). The Pretty Reckless. Interscope Records. 2011. B0015304-02.
  18. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 6th September 2010" (PDF). ARIA Charts. Pandora Archive. p. 6. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  19. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless – Light Me Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  20. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless – Light Me Up" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Top 100 Albums in Canada". Jam! Canoe.ca. February 17, 2011. Archived from the original on February 21, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  22. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless – Light Me Up" (in French). lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 2 September 2010". Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  24. ↑ Ｔｈｅ　Ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　Ｒｅｃｋｌｅｓｓのアルバム売り上げランキング [The Pretty Reckless album sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  25. ↑ "2010 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. September 11, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  26. ↑ "2010 Top 40 Official Albums Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. September 11, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  27. ↑ "2010 Top 40 Rock & Metal Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. September 11, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  28. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  29. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless – Chart history: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  30. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless – Chart history: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  31. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless Store – Light Me Up". Getmusic. Universal Music Australia. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Light Me Up by The Pretty Reckless". iTunes Store Australia. Apple. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Light Me Up: The Pretty Reckless: Téléchargements MP3 (2010)" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Light Me Up". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Light Me Up: The Pretty Reckless: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  36. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless | Light Me Up" (in German). Universal Music Germany. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Light Me Up: The Pretty Reckless: MP3-Downloads" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Light me up – Pretty Reckless" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Light Me Up by The Pretty Reckless". iTunes Store Canada. Apple. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Light Me Up by The Pretty Reckless". iTunes Store US. Apple. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Light Me Up by The Pretty Reckless". iTunes Store Japan. Apple. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  42. ↑ "The Pretty Reckless : Releases : Light Me Up". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Light Me Up: The Pretty Reckless: Téléchargements MP3 (2011)" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  44. ↑ Mary (May 13, 2012). "Universal Music anuncia o lançamento do 'Light Me Up' no Brasil, dia 15" (in Portuguese). The Pretty Reckless Brasil. Retrieved January 22, 2014.

External links