Lighght (album)

Lighght
Studio album by Kishi Bashi
Released May 13, 2014
Genre Indie pop, psychedelic pop
Length 37:08
Label Joyful Noise Recordings
Producer Kaoru Ishibashi
Kishi Bashi chronology
151a
(2012)
Lighght
(2014)
String Quartet Live!
(2015)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(71/100)[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
The Line of Best Fit[3]
Consequence of Sound[4]
Sputnikmusic[5]

Lighght is the second studio album by indie pop artist Kishi Bashi. It was released on May 13, 2014.[6] It was produced by Kishi Bashi and recorded in multiple locations, including Home Studios in Athens, Georgia and Clay Garden Studios in Norfolk, Virginia.[7]

Music

Kishi Bashi's sophomore album builds upon the musical ideas he introduced in his first studio album, 151a. A classical violin virtuoso-turned-songwriter, Kaoru Ishibashi continues to use the violin as his main instrument and source of inspiration. In Lighght, he plays with the conventions of both classical music and pop music by layering, distorting, and looping violin sounds in experimental ways. He also utilizes synthetic keyboards and different kinds of percussion to add dimension behind his characteristic singing voice, which Kristofer Lenz describes as "clear, high, and beautiful." [8] Each song is distinctive and complex, ranging from the upbeat, dance-inspired "Carry on Phenomenon" and "The Ballad of Mr. Steak" to the sweet and simple love song "Q&A" and the seven-minute psychedelic, atmospheric conclusion "In Fantasia."

Critical reception

Upon its 2014 release, the album generated favorable reviews from most critics. It received a critic score of 71 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews." On the same website, it received a user score of 8.1, indicating "universal acclaim."[9] On popular music review website The Line of Best Fit, reviewer Danny Wadeson wrote of the album, "Put bluntly, every song herein are overbrimming with frenzied brilliance," and concluded by stating that Kishi Bashi has "produced his finest work to date." [10] Matt Harrison of Sputnikmusic agrees, stating "While Lighght is sure to give listeners a satisfying mix of sounds from track to track, the album’s expansion and deconstruction of classical form through a lens of indie-rock is consistent to a stunning degree."[11] Other reviewers had less favorable opinions. Kristopher Lenz of music blog Consequence of Sound thought the album missed the mark, expressing that there is "simply too much questionable fluff surrounding the good ideas."[8] Despite disagreements, reviewers seem to agree that Kishi Bashi's sophomore effort has been successful in defining his signature sound.

Track listing

All tracks written by Kishi Bashi. 

No. Title Length
1. "Debut - Impromptu"   0:47
2. "Philosophize In It! Chemicalize With It!"   3:21
3. "The Ballad of Mr. Steak"   3:19
4. "Carry on Phenomenon"   4:04
5. "Bittersweet Genesis for Him AND Her"   3:33
6. "Impromptu no 1"   0:59
7. "Q&A"   3:12
8. "Once Upon a Lucid Dream (in Afrikaans)"   4:06
9. "Hahaha, Pt. 1"   2:42
10. "Hahaha, Pt. 2"   4:01
11. "In Fantasia"   7:09

Japanese bonus tracks

No. Title Length
12. "I'll Grow a Garden"   3:23
13. "I'll See You There"   3:52
14. "Song For the Sold"   3:00

Personnel

Additional performers

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
2014 US The Billboard 200 [13] 53
2014 US Tastemaker Albums[14] 15
2014 US Alternative Albums[15] 10
2014 US Independent Albums[16] 11
2014 US Top Rock Albums[17] 13
2014 US Top Album Sales[18] 53

Songs

Year Chart Song Position
2014 Japan Hot 100 "The Ballad of Mr. Steak"[19] 12

References

  1. Lighght Reviews - Metacritic
  2. Lighght - Kishi Bashi : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic
  3. Kishi Bashi - Lighght
  4. Lenz, Kristofer (May 27, 2014). "Album Review: Kishi Bashi - Lighght". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved Apr 20, 2015.
  5. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/62552/Kishi-Bashi-Lighght/ Kishi Bashi - Lighght review
  6. "New Kishi Bashi: Album Details Announced!". 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  7. "Lighght by Kishi Bashi". 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  8. 1 2 "Album Review: Kishi Bashi - Lighght". Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  9. Lighght, retrieved 2015-04-30
  10. "Kishi Bashi - Lighght". Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  11. "Kishi Bashi - Lighght (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  12. "bandcamp". Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  13. "Kishi Bashi - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  14. "Kishi Bashi - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  15. "Kishi Bashi - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  16. "Kishi Bashi - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  17. "Kishi Bashi - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  18. "Kishi Bashi - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  19. "Kishi Bashi - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
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