Siberia Acoustic

Siberia Acoustic
Remix album by Lights
Released April 30, 2013 (2013-04-30)
Genre Acoustic, pop
Length 35:13
Label Universal, Last Gang
Producer Lights
Lights chronology
Siberia
(2011)		 Siberia Acoustic
(2013)		 Little Machines
(2014)
Singles from Siberia Acoustic
  1. "Cactus in the Valley"
    Released: March 15, 2013

Siberia Acoustic (alternately stylized as Siberia (Acoustic)) is the first remix album recorded by Canadian electropop artist Lights, featuring acoustic reworkings of songs off her second studio album, Siberia (2011).[1] It was released April 30, 2013 through Universal Music Group and Last Gang Records.[2] The album was preceded on March 15 by the release of its first and only single, "Cactus in the Valley", which was re-recorded as a duet with American electronica project Owl City.[3]

Upon its release, Siberia Acoustic debuted at number seven on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart and at number 86 on the Billboard 200, her second-highest peak on either chart at the time. The album received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who found that the acoustic production put emphasis on Lights's songwriting talents but also made the songs less compelling than in their studio renditions.[1][4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
PopMatters[4]
Sputnikmusic[5]
Alter The Press![6]

Siberia Acoustic received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics for showcasing her abilities as a singer-songwriter. At AllMusic, reviewer Matt Collar wrote that "although Lights normally makes electronic pop that often features electric guitars, keyboards, and dance-influenced beats, she is at her core a melodic singer/songwriter. Not surprisingly, many of the songs on Siberia... lend themselves to these intimate re-recordings." He rated the album 4 stars out of 5.[1] Brent Faulkner of PopMatters responded positively to Lights' vocals on the album ("Lights sounds superb throughout," he writes) but ultimately felt the acoustic soundscape "fails to compel as much" as Siberia′s original production. "All in all," he summarized before delivering a 6/10 rating, "Siberia Acoustic is enjoyable if sometimes bland."[4]

Conversely, Alex Beebe of Sputnikmusic deemed the new version equally worth the listen and declared the album a "massive progression in maturity" both personally and artistically. Beebe writes that "while most acoustic albums prove to be forgettable and throwaway renditions of infinity superior songs, Lights has shown the proper way to go unplugged and remain just as interesting with Siberia Acoustic."[5] Claire Louise Sheridan of Alter the Press! gave a particularly complimentary review in which she highlights Lights's vocal range and interpretive abilities. "No matter what your previous impressions of Lights may be," writes Sheridan, "cast them aside. Siberia Acoustic is a truly different experience which allows appreciation of the overwhelming beauty of her talent and thus the true basis of her appeal."[6]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Banner"  
 3:52
2. "Cactus in the Valley" (featuring Owl City)Poxleitner 3:22
3. "Where the Fence is Low"  
 3:37
4. "Siberia" (featuring Max Kerman)
 3:22
5. "Suspension"  
  • Poxleitner
  • Salter
 3:36
6. "Toes"  
  • Poxleitner
  • Salter
3:22
7. "Peace Sign" (featuring Coeur de Pirate)
  • Poxleitner
  • Dave Thomson
 2:59
8. "Heavy Rope"  
  • Poxleitner
  • Salter
 4:14
9. "Flux and Flow"  
  • Poxleitner
  • Salter
  • Parsons
 3:33
10. "...And Counting"  
  • Poxleitner
  • Thomson
 3:16
Total length:
 35:13

Credits and personnel

Credits for Siberia Acoustic adapted from AllMusic.[10]

Performance credits
Instruments
Production
Packaging

Chart performance

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[11] 7
US Billboard 200[12] 86
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[13] 20

Release history

Country Date Format Label Catalog No. Ref.
Canada April 30, 2013 CD Universal Music Canada B00C3DIY9G [14]
Digital download N/A [2]
Vinyl (LP) B00CB6VT8S [15]
United States CD Last Gang Records B00BR0SGZ8 [16]
Digital download N/A [17]
May 28, 2013 Vinyl (LP) B00BR0SEJ6 [18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Collar, Matt. "Siberia Acoustic - Lights". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Siberia (Acoustic) by Lights". iTunes Store (CA). Apple Inc. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Cactus In the Valley (Acoustic) - Single". iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Faulkner, Brent. "Lights: Siberia Acoustic". PopMatters. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 Beebe, Alex. "Lights - Siberia Acoustic (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 Sheridan, Claire Louise. "ATP! Album Review: Lights - Siberia Acoustic". Alter The Press!. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Siberia (Acoustic) by Lights". iTunes. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Lights Unplugs Siberia And Adds Exclusive Bonus Track - Rdio Blog". Rdio. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  9. ↑ ""Everybody Breaks A Glass (Acoustic)". Lights. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Siberia Acoustic - Lights | Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Lights – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Lights.
  12. ↑ "Lights – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Lights.
  13. ↑ "Lights – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for Lights.
  14. ↑ "Siberia Acoustic: Lights: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.ca. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Siberia Acoustic (Vinyl): Lights: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.ca. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Amazon.com: LIGHTS: Siberia Acoustic: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Siberia (Acoustic) by Lights". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Amazon.com: LIGHTS: Siberia Acoustic: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
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