Light Upon the Lake
by Whitney
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 48
  3. Negative: 2 out of 48
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  1. tludsy
    Jun 7, 2016
    9
    This has easily been one of the most, if not the most, approachable album of the year thus far. As mentioned in other reviews, Julien Ehrlich's falsetto can be a bit of a turn-off for some, but once you get over the initial unease (which for me, dissipated once Max Kakacek's guitar came in and filled out the melody in the opening track), you come to realize that every song is veryThis has easily been one of the most, if not the most, approachable album of the year thus far. As mentioned in other reviews, Julien Ehrlich's falsetto can be a bit of a turn-off for some, but once you get over the initial unease (which for me, dissipated once Max Kakacek's guitar came in and filled out the melody in the opening track), you come to realize that every song is very well-realized, with a warmth provided by the strings, brass section, and piano. The lyricism won't break any boundaries, but it's still considerably solid and relatable, and the songs don't sacrifice verses to repeat their choruses, which seems to be the case more and more often. Light Upon the Lake has been the only album that motivated me to instantly re-listen to it once I initially finished the first play-through. Whitney has created something spectacular, and I believe this album will be a gem from this decade, revisited and cherished by many for a long time to come.… Expand
  2. All_ButTrU4
    Nov 27, 2021
    7
    The record’s finest moments relate to everyone’s lives, in one way or another. Whether it’s golden youth or present day regrets, there’s something to cling onto

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Record Collector
    Jun 20, 2016
    60
    It’s all very pretty and pleasant, but whereas Smith Westerns burned with the emotions of their songs, Whitney seem rather more detached from theirs. Which, as easy-going as these 10 songs are, renders them more as temporary, unconvincing background music. It’s nice for a while, but their effects soon give way to the winds of truth and reality.
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  2. Pretty Much Amazing
    Jun 10, 2016
    75
    In addition to nostalgia, they also use the easy weapons of doing that juxtaposition thing of pairing cheery music with sad lyrics and vocals and putting the other single (a nice climbing keyboard line in that one) wisely as what would be the opener of the second side if this were the vinyl age; spacing out the good stuff instead of front-loading the record. The other songs aren’t bad, but their pleasures are pleasant at best.
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  3. The Skinny
    Jun 10, 2016
    80
    Like the image its title evokes then, Light Upon The Lake is a transient pleasure--but a vivid one while it lasts.
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