Lights
by Ellie Goulding
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Rolling Stone
    Mar 8, 2011
    60
    The results are moody ("Lights"), pretty (the Top Five U.K. hit "Starry Eyed") and uniformly catchy. On first listen, Goulding can sound innocuous: Dido with dancier beats. But there's darkness here. And lots of sex.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    60
    Devoid of a true soul or sense of honesty Lights can be a pretty hollow listen. You could argue that away from the aforementioned hype-led anticipation that this album would surprise and charm; yet without the vested interest of big wigs and shareholders Lights might simply not be here.
  3. musicOMH.com
    60
    Unfairly or otherwise, Lights will be consumed by many with the weight of expectation hanging heavy around it. For the most part, the strength of the songwriting should keep the doubters at bay.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    It's an impressive attempt to drag folk music out of the hayloft and onto the dancefloor and it marks the emergence of a smart, sincere and talented new pop star.
  6. Hot Press
    60
    Starry-eyed debut hits more often than misses.
  7. PopMatters
    60
    It seems that six of the ten tracks are great collaborations, and the other four are not. As a result, Lights sounds incomplete and inconsistent, and doesn't work as a whole.
  8. Consequence
    Mar 10, 2011
    50
    The result is that most of what makes Goulding's work appealing, such as her voice and instrumentation, is lost underneath generic synthesizers that turn these songs into standard pop fare.
  9. Dot Music
    50
    You certainly don't reject it outright though, not immediately, as almost every song at least knows the function of a chorus and everything has a glittery and palatable radiance, but such anodyne, airbrushed electro-pop leaves you searching for the magic ingredients.
  10. The Guardian
    40
    There's no getting around the fact that Goulding's appeal is aimed squarely at the middle of the road.
  11. Mojo
    40
    Lights does have its moments: the strident "Uner The Sheets" and the odd sounds of the Frankmusik-produced "Wish I stayed" stand Out. But when they're placed next to the overwrought, cliched ballad "The Writer" or the dodgy Europop of "I'll Hold My Breath" it adds up to a rather bland listen. [Apr 2010, p.92]
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Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Most Discussed Album of 2011
85
#85 Most Shared Album of 2011

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 193 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 171 out of 193
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 193
  3. Negative: 12 out of 193
  1. tarekmallo
    Apr 27, 2012
    10
    Ellie Goulding's debut album is strong in it's own way. The lyrics are as charming as her tender voice and the production is also consistent.Ellie Goulding's debut album is strong in it's own way. The lyrics are as charming as her tender voice and the production is also consistent. Strong recommendations for Starry Eyed, The Writer, This Love and Everytime You Go.… Full Review »
  2. leogarcia132002
    Nov 25, 2022
    8
    This was one of those albums that started indie music, Ellie's career today is so versatile but Lights has sounds that we hear today inThis was one of those albums that started indie music, Ellie's career today is so versatile but Lights has sounds that we hear today in singers like Tove Lo, Dua Lipa or Bebe Rexha.… Full Review »
  3. All_ButTrU4
    Aug 24, 2022
    0
    Unremarkable euro pop that plays like consistent shots in the dark with the hope to hit something good,which i guess happens however brieflyUnremarkable euro pop that plays like consistent shots in the dark with the hope to hit something good,which i guess happens however briefly on "lights"… Full Review »
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