Available to the public in the U.K. last year Ellie Goulding’s album “Lights” was finally been released in the United States on March 8th.
In 2010 “Lights” was the largest and quickest selling debut album of 2010 in the U.K. and premiered at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart. Goulding co-wrote four hit singles on this album and was also awarded a BRIT Critics’ Choice award and BBC’s Sound of 2010 award.
Elena “Ellie” Goulding was the second artist to be named top foreseen discovery performer in the BBC’s yearly poll of music critics. According to the U.K. Albums Chart not only did “Lights” unveil at No. 1 but it also sold more than 380000 copies by the end of 2010.
Goulding from Hereford England started out by playing the clarinet and wrote her first song at only 9 years old. This led to her learning guitar at 14 and legitimately songwriting at 15 years old. While in college at the University of Kent Goulding was introduced to the electronic genre of music and began composing her own electronically influenced songs.
In 2009 Goulding signed with Polydor Records and digitally released her first single “Under the Sheets.” From Dec. 22 to 282009 her song “Wish I Stayed” was available as the U.K. iTunes Store’ “Single of the Week.”
As the No. 5 artist on Rolling Stone magazine’s hotlist in February Goulding’s album “Lights” is no doubt one of the greatest indie pop/electropop albums to be released in the U.S.
“Lights” is a perfect balance of electropop soul blues folk and indie rock. Goulding’s music and lyrics perfectly combine sincere emotion and modern entertainment. Starting the album with the single version of the song “Lights Goulding immediately entices any audience with an upbeat, driving-down-PCH kind of song to pick you up at any moment in life.
Followed by a more lyrically emotional Guns and Horses Goulding ties in multiple genres of music in this song about falling in love with someone who is unsure of how to make a commitment of that caliber.
Starry Eyed” is hands down Goulding’s most well-known song in the United States and is remixed by multiple DJs around the world. Seeing as how it was the first major single by Goulding in the U.S. this song is truly a feel-good let’s-pick-up-the-vibes kind of song that frequents almost everybody’s iTunes who likes to have a good time.
“This Love (Will be your Downfall)” was written at a point in Goulding’s life when she would lock herself in her room and write music. This is a quality listen for anyone who needs a little uplifting but also some lyrical comfort.
“The Writer” is a song that will hands down change your life — if you want it to. It’s one of those songs that you hear once and can’t help but hit the rewind button at least two or three times to truly hear the song. The wistful electronic and heartfelt vibes of this song fit perfectly with any relaxing playlist that is necessary for days that are sometimes just too overwhelming to handle.
Goulding picks the tempo back up with “Animal a song that delves into falling in love and everything surrounding that. This song is followed by Every Time You Go” and “Your Biggest Mistake” who were products of Fin Dow-Smith who is a talented remixer composer and musician who works under the moniker Starsmith. Goulding sent him a demo she’d done early on and continues to work with him to this day producing original edgy songs.
The final two songs of “Lights Salt Skin” and “Your Song wrap up this incredible album to a T. Goulding concludes this LP on a calmer note that leaves any listener feeling a copious amount of different emotions.
I can personally attest to the fact that if you have any sense of what true musical talent is, listening to Lights” will open your mind to a whole new world of forte and inspiration. Goulding is truly an astonishing artist who should not be overlooked by anyone. “Lights” is undoubtedly going to be on the top of U.S. charts in no time.
