Pretty Lights – ACMOTS Album Review

The new Pretty Lights album, A Color Map of the Sun, is finally officially released!

You can stream it all on SoundCloud now 

First of all, please listen to this album. Whether you are into dubstep, hip hop, glitch, trap, jazz, house, trance, or anything else. I believe this is one of the more complex electronic albums I have ever heard. Probably because it hardly counts as being electronic. And I think it has the potential to bridge genres and stereotypes more than any other. There is so much raw music on this album…I know Pretty Lights produced it, which makes it electronic but it really is so much more. And I sincerely commend Derek Vincent Smith on creating something incredible.

I listened to this album about four times before I sat down to actually write about it and pick it apart. And pick it apart is exactly what I have done. I kind of get off on over analyzing things….so it’s more for me than anyone. I tried condensing my notes to give you a good overview of the album and a few of the tracks without going overboard (I’m not good at condensing). I also think it’s relevant to state that I have not read a single other review of this album previous to writing this. So, I could be interpreting things in a completely different way than some or maybe even in the exact same way. I really don’t even know.

I have to start with the first song, “Color of My Soul”. I knew the instrumentation of this album would be superior to those in the past and these horns just hit me so hard-in a really good way. They cry out and then the vocals cry out even more and mix with the twangy cry of a guitar riff. The break down from 4:10-4:33 really takes me away. Just away. Then we ease into “Press Pause”, which is a nice smooth and hip tune. This one is a real thinker, the lyrics go,”everything gets older over time, but the world is spinning slower in my mind”. Figure that out and get back to me. “Let’s Get Busy” is sampled from a hip-hop song that Pretty Lights helped produce, called “All These Lights” by The Grouch & Eligh. The progression from that into “Around the Block” is just perfect-hip hop goes well with hip hop. Talib Kweli is one of the most talented emcees of his generation. That line, “right now is the best moment you ever known, you gotta make it your own” really sounds like a classic Kweli line but it’s new! I really appreciate when twoartists can truly collaborate and you can hear both of them in one song, which is why “Around the Block” is such a treat. You get a song that is both Pretty Lights and Talib Kweli!

Alright, so then “Yellow Bird” does amazing things to me and is just so right. On a scale of one to ten, “Yellow Bird” is a unicorn made of rainbows and kittens. Yes, Derek made some magical and fairytale stuff with this one. I really have a hard time not melting into my chair when I listen to it. Somehow, this song is both subtly familiar yet from another time and space. The juxtaposition of “Yellow Bird” and the next song, “Go Down Sunshine” is beautiful. I didn’t know a raspy, deep voice could be so soothing and reassuring. But then again, his voice kind of reminds me of a grandfather’s voice. Pretty Lights brings out the grandaddies of the world when he samples the line “see what tomorrow brings”.

“So Bright” has been and continues to be one of my favorite Pretty Lights songs since it’s release last fall. All of it, the piano riff, the hip-hop break down make me just want to close my eyes and understand what this voice has been through. I want to know why she pleads for us to believe in the light…because I do. The last minute and a half really makes my soul ache in a really good way. “Vibe Vendetta” continues the trend of pleading, although the tune is a little more upbeat than its predecessor. She is “dreaming of the day, when all the pain will fade away”. At this point, it becomes clear that this album is made for those who are struggling, in any walk of life, but for them to have hope, to follow the road to the sunshine. I feel like the people in “Done Wrong” are trying to find that road. I have no idea what the guy’s voice is saying but I believe him. The production of this song is so intricate. At one point, it’s hard to tell if the sounds are from a voice, guitar, or synth. This is definitely one of the more complex songs of the album.

“Prophet” brings us back to a more danceable and upbeat atmosphere. This song is definitely the rock anthem of the album. The bass line wants to take you somewhere but those synths keep coming in a snapping you back. I like when songs get a little angry. It’s like Derek made each type of sound fight one another. That takes a lot of control over the instruments and their music to make  fighting sound good.

Another beautiful use of contrast-”One Day They’ll Know” showcases a beautiful, raw voice backed with strings, horns, and minimal percussion. Quite the opposite of “Prophet”. The voices of this track are absolutely enchanting. On the other hand, the next song, “Always All Ways” has some conflicting sounding voices. The girl’s voice reminds me of a child, full of wonder. And the man’s voice sounds like he is warning her of being too naïve. I kind of think that’s what the title means-he is telling her to always be aware of all of the ways an entity can exist and be. This is another track that it is difficult to understand exactly what the lyrics are but I believe that is the point. Pretty Lights uses the raw emotional sound of the voices to get across meaning and feeling. Another stop-what-you’re-doing-and-listen-to-what-this-lady-has-to-say track is “My Only Hope”. It’s a very simple song with a chill, head bobbing beat. I really do want to know what her only hope is…

And then there were three bonus tracks…”Where I’m Trying to Go” has some happy sounding instrumentation. I invasion the instrument that was used to make the melody is some sort of island flute-xylophone hybrid. This is a strong song with a “let me do me” attitude and I like it. It’s also got some 70′s funk. “All I’ve Ever Known” is one of the more heavy tracks of the album. It’s nice and glitched out at the end, which is pretty neat. Finally, the album concludes with “Sweet Long Life”, which reminds me of the Re:Generation Project where Pretty Lights collaborated with country music artists Dr. Ralph Stanley and LeAnne Rimes. Except this song has a cool breakdown in the middle with the highlights of a toy piano’s tune!

I really think this album is about seeing something, or really hearing something, that is different and doesn’t make sense but simultaneously recognizing some component as being familiar and finding hope in that. Like how it’s easy to recognize the toy piano or the grandfather’s voice or the wondering girl’s voice but it is difficult to understand some of the lyrics or to figure out what instrument is doing what. I feel like a map of the Sun would be like that. Familiar in that we see the Sun every day but if we could actually see the colors that led to it, maybe we could appreciate the journey. I sure do feel like I appreciate this type of music more. I may be drawing at straws but I think Derek wants us to see the colors in everything. So, he made some really colorful music for us. And I like it :)

Photo by Krystle Blackburn

Check out the Fall Tour (pre-sale starts on July 9th) and order your own copy of A Color Map of The Sunat http://prettylightsmusic.com/

Also, check out the Visual Project….it’s pretty great

Also also…a big shout out to Derek’s fans. You can’t deny talent when an artist has a freaking FAMILY of thousands of loyal and devoted fans. PLF yall keep it fresh.