Siberia Acoustic (alternately stylized as Siberia (Acoustic)) is the second acoustic album recorded by Canadian electropop artist Lights, featuring acoustic reworkings of songs off her second studio album, Siberia (2011).[1] It was released April 30, 2013 through Universal Music Group and Last Gang Records.[2] The album was preceded on March 15 by the release of its first and only single, "Cactus in the Valley", which was re-recorded as a duet with American electronica project Owl City.[3]

Siberia Acoustic
Remix album by
ReleasedApril 30, 2013 (2013-04-30)
GenreAcoustic, pop
Length35:13
LabelUniversal, Last Gang
ProducerLights
Lights chronology
Siberia
(2011)
Siberia Acoustic
(2013)
Little Machines
(2014)
Singles from Siberia Acoustic
  1. "Cactus in the Valley"
    Released: March 15, 2013

Upon its release, Siberia Acoustic debuted at number seven on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart and at number 86 on the Billboard 200, her second-highest peak on either chart at the time. The album received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who found that the acoustic production put emphasis on Lights's songwriting talents but also made the songs less compelling than in their studio renditions.[1][4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
PopMatters6/10[4]
Alter The Press!     [5]

Siberia Acoustic received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics for showcasing her abilities as a singer-songwriter. At AllMusic, reviewer Matt Collar wrote that "although Lights normally makes electronic pop that often features electric guitars, keyboards, and dance-influenced beats, she is at her core a melodic singer-songwriter. Not surprisingly, many of the songs on Siberia lend themselves to these intimate re-recordings." He rated the album 4 stars out of 5.[1] Brent Faulkner of PopMatters responded positively to Lights' vocals on the album ("Lights sounds superb throughout," he writes) but ultimately felt the acoustic soundscape "fails to compel as much" as Siberia′s original production. "All in all," he summarized before delivering a 6/10 rating, "Siberia Acoustic is enjoyable if sometimes bland."[4]

Claire Louise Sheridan of Alter the Press! gave a particularly complimentary review in which she highlights Lights's vocal range and interpretive abilities. "No matter what your previous impressions of Lights may be," writes Sheridan, "cast them aside. Siberia Acoustic is a truly different experience which allows appreciation of the overwhelming beauty of her talent and thus the true basis of her appeal."[5]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Banner"3:52
2."Cactus in the Valley" (featuring Owl City)Poxleitner3:22
3."Where the Fence is Low"
3:37
4."Siberia" (featuring Max Kerman)
3:22
5."Suspension"
  • Poxleitner
  • Salter
3:36
6."Toes"
  • Poxleitner
  • Salter
3:22
7."Peace Sign" (featuring Coeur de Pirate)
  • Poxleitner
  • Dave Thomson
2:59
8."Heavy Rope"
  • Poxleitner
  • Salter
4:14
9."Flux and Flow"
  • Poxleitner
  • Salter
  • Parsons
3:33
10."...And Counting"
  • Poxleitner
  • Thomson
3:16
Total length:35:13
iTunes bonus track[6]
No.TitleLength
11."Timing Is Everything"3:11
Rdio bonus track[7]
No.TitleLength
12."Fourth Dimension"3:10
LIGHTS store bonus track[8]
No.TitleLength
13."Everybody Breaks a Glass"3:56

Credits and personnel

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Credits for Siberia Acoustic adapted from AllMusic.[9]

Performance credits
Instruments
  • Cello – Kevin Fox
  • Guitar – Lights
  • Piano – Lights
Production
Packaging
  • Creative director – Lights
  • Designer – Simon Paul
  • Photographers – Tina Lok, Katie Rodriguez

Charts

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Chart (2013) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[10] 7
US Billboard 200[11] 86
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[12] 20
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[13] 8

Release history

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Country Date Format Label Catalog No. Ref.
Canada April 30, 2013 CD Universal Music Canada B00C3DIY9G [14]
Digital download [2]
Vinyl (LP) B00CB6VT8S [15]
United States CD Last Gang Records B00BR0SGZ8 [16]
Digital download [17]
May 28, 2013 Vinyl (LP) B00BR0SEJ6 [18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Collar, Matt. "Siberia Acoustic – Lights". AllMusic. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Siberia (Acoustic) by Lights". iTunes Store (CA). Apple Inc. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "Cactus in the Valley (Acoustic) – Single". iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Faulkner, Brent. "Lights: Siberia Acoustic". PopMatters. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Sheridan, Claire Louise. "ATP! Album Review: Lights – Siberia Acoustic". Alter The Press!. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  6. ^ "iTunes – Music – Siberia (Acoustic) by Lights". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  7. ^ "Lights Unplugs Siberia And Adds Exclusive Bonus Track – Rdio Blog". Rdio. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "Everybody Breaks A Glass (Acoustic)". Lights. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Siberia Acoustic – Lights | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  10. ^ "Lights Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Lights Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Lights Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Lights Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Siberia Acoustic: Lights: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  15. ^ "Siberia Acoustic (Vinyl): Lights: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  16. ^ "Amazon.com: LIGHTS: Siberia Acoustic: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  17. ^ "Siberia (Acoustic) by Lights". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  18. ^ "Amazon.com: LIGHTS: Siberia Acoustic: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.