Siberia (Lights album)

Siberia
Studio album by Lights
Released	October 4, 2011
Recorded	2010–2011 Metalworks Studios (Mississauga, Ontario)
Genre	Synthpop new wave dubstep indietronica bitpop
Length	57:01
Label	Last Gang Lights Music Universal
Producer	Lights Tawgs Salter David Thomson Holy Fuck
Lights chronology
Acoustic (2010) Siberia (2011) Siberia Acoustic (2013)
Singles from Siberia
"Everybody Breaks a Glass" Released: July 19, 2011 "Toes" Released: August 16, 2011 "Where the Fence Is Low" Released: January 31, 2012

Siberia is the second studio album by Canadian recording artist Lights. It was released worldwide on October 4, 2011, with the exception of Australia, where it was released on October 28. Production was handled by Tawgs Salter and Canadian electronic band Holy Fuck, while featuring guest vocals from Canadian rapper Shad on two of the album's tracks. Musically, Siberia has been described as being "grittier" and "darker" whilst also incorporating "poppier moments", and while the album still uses prominent elements of synthpop, it also features influences of other genres such as dubstep and hip-hop.^[1]

The album has received generally positive reviews from music critics, with some commending Lights' vocal performance as well as the album's heavier and more mature sound, while others criticized its lack of variety. It debuted at No. 3 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling more than 10,000 in its first week,^[2] while also peaking at No. 47 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.^[3][4][5] It received a Juno Award nomination for Pop Album of the Year on February 7, 2012. It was certified gold on April 27, 2012 in Canada, denoting sales in excess of 40,000.^[6][7] The album spawned the singles "Everybody Breaks a Glass", "Toes", and "Where the Fence Is Low".^[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	(72/100)[9]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	[10]
Allmusic	[11]
Alternative Press	[12]
Toronto Star	[13]

Siberia received generally positive reviews from music critics, with some commending Lights' vocal performance as well as the album's heavier and more mature sound, while others criticized its reliance on formula. Matt Collar from Allmusic gave it a positive review, saying "The album is a blissful, laser-toned experience where Poxleitner's sweet voice is expertly wrapped in stylish, multicolored hues of fluorescent keyboard squelch and bass guitar shimmer."^[14] Drew Beringer from AbsolutePunk also gave it a positive review, calling it "one of the better electro-pop albums of 2011, one that will stimulate your senses and rope you in with its instantaneous catchiness."^[12] Alternative Press gave the album a mixed review, saying "The bulk of the album's 14 tracks find her playing it safe with a helium-voiced squeak reminiscent of (take your pick) Gwen Stefani, Santigold, Kate Bush or Cyndi Lauper."^[12]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Siberia"	Lights Poxleitner Brian Borcherdt Graham Walsh	Lights Thomas Salter Holy Fuck	4:19
2.	"Where the Fence is Low"	Poxleitner Salter Jason Parsons	Lights Salter	3:24
3.	"Toes"	Poxleitner	Lights Salter Holy Fuck	3:19
4.	"Banner"	Poxleitner Salter	Lights Salter Holy Fuck	3:37
5.	"Everybody Breaks a Glass" (featuring Holy Fuck and Shad)	Poxleitner Borcherdt Walsh Shadrach Kabango	Lights Salter Holy Fuck	3:55
6.	"Heavy Rope"	Poxleitner Salter	Lights Salter Holy Fuck	3:59
7.	"Timing Is Everything"	Poxleitner Salter	Lights Salter Holy Fuck	3:16
8.	"Peace Sign"	Poxleitner Dave Thomson	Lights Thomson Salter	3:20
9.	"Cactus in the Valley"	Poxleitner	Lights Salter	3:23
10.	"Suspension"	Poxleitner Salter	Lights Salter Holy Fuck	4:04
11.	"Flux and Flow" (featuring Shad)	Poxleitner Salter Parsons	Lights Salter	3:20
12.	"Fourth Dimension"	Poxleitner Thomson	Lights Salter Thomson Holy Fuck	3:27
13.	"...And Counting"	Poxleitner Thomson	Lights Thomson	4:42
14.	"Day One"	Poxleitner Borcherdt Walsh	Lights Holy Fuck	8:58
Total length:				57:01

iTunes Deluxe Version[15]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"Frame and Focus"	Poxleitner Thomson	3:53
16.	"Cactus in the Valley" (Acoustic)	Poxleitner	3:48
17.	"Toes" (Music video)		3:31
18.	"Toes" (Nightbox Remix) (pre-order only)	Poxleitner Salter	5:01

Limited Webstore Bonus Tracks [16]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"Frame and Focus"	Poxleitner Thomson	3:53
16.	"Cactus in the Valley" (Acoustic)	Poxleitner	3:48
17.	"Everybody Breaks a Glass" (Remix)	Poxleitner Borcherdt Walsh Kabango	4:27

UK Re-release[17][18]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"Frame and Focus"	Poxleitner Thomson	3:53
16.	"Cactus in the Valley" (Acoustic)	Poxleitner	3:48
17.	"Toes" (Nightbox remix)	Poxleitner	5:01
18.	"Banner" (SixSickSix remix)	Poxleitner Salter	3:42

^[19]

Personnel

Credits for Siberia adapted from AllMusic.^[20]

• Brian Borcherdt - Composer, Producer
• Daenen Bramberger - Engineer
• Joän Carvalho - Mastering
• Wayne Cochrane - Assistant Engineer
• Caitlin Cronenberg - Photography
• Lenny DeRose - Engineer
• Holy Fuck - Drum Producer, Engineer, Synthesizer
• Shad K - Vocals
• S. Kabango - Composer
• Maurie Kauffman - Drums
• Terrance Lam - Assistance Engineer
• Lights - Bass, Composer, Creative Director, Guitar, Primary Artist, Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals
• Graham Marsh - Composer, Producer
• Dave Mohasci - Engineer
• Jay "Human Kebab" Parsons - Composer, Drum Programming
• Thomas "Tawgs" Salter - Bass, Composer, Engineer, Guitar, Producer, Synthesizer
• Dave "Dwave" Thompson - Programming
• Dave "Dwave" Thomson - Composer, Producer
• Graham Walsh - Producer

Release history

Region	Date	Label
United States[8]	October 4, 2011	Last Gang, Lights Music
Canada[8]		Universal Music, Lights Music
Worldwide[8]
Australia[21]	October 28, 2011

Chart and certifications

Charts Chart Peak position Canadian Albums Chart[22] 3 US Billboard 200[23] 47

Certifications Territory Provider Certification Canada CRIA Gold[24]

References

1. "Lights announces October release for new album 'Siberia' | News". Nme.Com. Aug 5, 2011. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012.
2. John Williams (Oct 12, 2011). "CANOE - JAM! Music - Artists - Feist : Feist, Lights brighten up charts". Jam.canoe.ca. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
3. "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
4. "LIGHTS' Billboard Debut - latest music news on R o c k o l .COM" (in Italian). Rockol.com. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
5. "LIGHTS' Billboard Debut - News Article". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
6. jeremythebug on Apr 27, 2012 (Apr 27, 2012). "Siberia Goes Gold! | Lights – Siberia". Music.iamlights.com. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
7. "Lights Sophomore Release "Siberia" Is Certified Gold! | Universal Music Canada". Universalmusic.ca. Apr 27, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
8. "LIGHTS' New Album Siberia Out October 4th!". iamlights.com. iamlights.com. Retrieved Aug 4, 2011.
9. "Critic Reviews for Siberia". Metacritic. Mar 14, 2012. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012.
10. "LIGHTS - Siberia - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.net. Oct 4, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
11. Lights - Siberia. Allmusic. Retrieved Oct 3, 2011
12. "Alternative Press | Reviews | LIGHTS - Siberia". Altpress.com. Oct 17, 2011. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012.
13. Ben Rayner (Oct 3, 2011). "Cuff the Duke's roots get raucous; Lights brings the beats". Toronto Star. Retrieved Oct 8, 2011.
14. Collar, Matt (Oct 4, 2011). "Siberia - Lights : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012.
15. "Siberia (Deluxe) on iTunes". itunes.com. Retrieved Aug 16, 2011.
16. "Siberia Bundle Preorders". iamlights.com. Retrieved Aug 16, 2011.
17. "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
18. "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
19. "Lights announces October release for new album 'Siberia'", NME, Aug 5, 2011. Retrieved Aug 7, 2011
20. "Siberia - Lights - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
21. "LIGHTS 'SIBERIA' - JUNO AWARD WINNING SONGSTRESS TO RELEASE SOPHOMORE ALBUM IN AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 28". Archived from the original on Apr 12, 2012.
22. John Williams (Oct 12, 2011). "CANOE - JAM! Music - Artists - Feist : Feist, Lights brighten up charts". Jam.canoe.ca. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012.
23. "Lights Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved Jan 19, 2015.
24. jeremythebug on Apr 27, 2012 (Apr 27, 2012). "Siberia Goes Gold! | Lights – Siberia". Music.iamlights.com. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012.