Electric Light (album)

On 7 March 2018, Bay announced that his second album was called Electric Light and would be released on 18 May 2018. In a press release, he said: "If I had to describe my first album visually it would probably be a flame – while this new album is about a real sonic and artistic evolution for me. The feeling of a 100 watt bulb expanding and brightening is what I envisioned. Electric Light came to my mind and I knew it was perfect."{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/james-bay-announces-new-album-single-uk-world-tour-dates-2256890|title=James Bay announces new album, single, and UK and world tour dates|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=7 March 2018|work=NME|accessdate=3 June 2018}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 71/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/electric-light/james-bay |title=Electric Light Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=24 March 2019}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|title=AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/electric-light-mw0003159288 |work=AllMusic |accessdate=24 February 2016|date=23 May 2015}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B{{cite web|title=|work=The A.V. Club}}

| rev3 = Clash

| rev3Score = 7/10{{cite web|last=McDermott|first=Lauren|date=30 May 2018|title=James Bay - Electric Light|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/james-bay-electric-light|work=Clash}}

| rev4 = Cryptic Rock

| rev4Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|title=JAMES BAY – ELECTRIC LIGHT (ALBUM REVIEW)|date=14 May 2018 |url=https://crypticrock.com/james-bay-electric-light-album-review/}}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5Score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite web|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=17 May 2018|title=James Bay: Electric Light review – too much chaos and not enough calm|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/17/james-bay-electric-light-review|work=The Guardian}}

| rev6 = The Independent

| rev6Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Roisin|date=16 May 2018|title=James Bay, Electric Light, review: A step up for an artist determined to come across more credible|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/james-bay-electric-light-album-review-a-step-up-a8354431.html|work=The Independent}}

| rev7 = MusicOMH

| rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/james-bay-electric-light|title=James Bay – Electric Light|work=MusicOMH}}

| rev8 = NME

| rev8Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Bassett|first=Jordan|date=18 May 2018|title=James Bay – 'Electric Light' Review|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/james-bay-electric-light-review|website=NME}}

| rev9 = Q Magazine

| rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|title=|work=Q Magazine}}

| rev10 = Variety

| rev10score = Positive{{cite news|last=Amorosi|first=A.D.|date=17 May 2018|title=Album Review: James Bay's 'Electric Light'|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/reviews/james-bay-electric-light-album-review-1202814128/|work=Variety}}

}}

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 71 based on 13 ratings, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/electric-light/james-bay|title=James Bay – 'Electric Light' album review|website=Metacritic|accessdate=23 May 2018}} Jordan Bassett of NME stated "'Electric Light' is all over the place. There are hip-hop style spoken-word skits on the record and, actually, it sometimes sounds more like a lush, exploratory mixtape than a coherent album." He rated the album 3/5.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/james-bay-electric-light-review|title=James Bay – 'Electric Light' album review|website=NME|date=18 May 2018 }} Q magazine was quoted as saying the album contains "an admirable desire for transformation." Stereogum wrote "It’s a genuinely thrilling piece of work, one that converted me into a James Bay fan on impact."{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1997166/comparing-shawn-mendes-and-james-bay-guitar-slinging-gods-of-young-adult-contempo/franchises/the-week-in-pop/|title=Comparing Shawn Mendes And James Bay|website=Stereogum|date=24 May 2018 }}

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Intro

| writer1 = {{hlist|James Bay}}

| extra1 = Bay

| length1 = 0:58

| title2 = Wasted on Each Other

| writer2 = {{hlist|Bay|Jonathan Green}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Paul Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length2 = 3:58

| title3 = Pink Lemonade

| writer3 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length3 = 4:14

| title4 = Wild Love

| writer4 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length4 = 3:17

| title5 = Us

| writer5 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length5 = 3:01

| title6 = In My Head

| writer6 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length6 = 3:07

| title7 = Interlude

| writer7 = Bay

| extra7 = Bay

| length7 = 1:01

| title8 = Just for Tonight

| writer8 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length8 = 3:37

| title9 = Wanderlust

| writer9 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Bay|Green{{ref|a|[a]}}|Epworth{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length9 = 4:16

| title10 = I Found You

| writer10 = {{hlist|Bay|James Napier}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Bay|Green{{ref|a|[a]}}|Epworth{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length10 = 5:06

| title11 = Sugar Drunk High

| writer11 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| length11 = 3:39

| title12 = Stand Up

| writer12 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Bay|Green{{ref|a|[a]}}|Epworth{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length12 = 4:59

| title13 = Fade Out

| writer13 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length13 = 3:52

| title14 = Slide

| length14 = 3:21

| writer14 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Allen Ginsberg}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| total_length = 48:26

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Target exclusive edition (bonus tracks)

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title15 = Confirmation

| writer15 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| length15 = 3:14

| title16 = Young Hearts in the Dark

| writer16 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length16 = 3:17

| total_length = 54:59

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe and Japanese edition bonus tracks

| title15 = Wild Love

| note15 = acoustic

| length15 = 3:09

| title16 = Pink Lemonade

| note16 = acoustic

| length16 = 4:23

| title17 = Us

| note17 = acoustic

| length17 = 3:03

| total_length = 59:04

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title18 = Confirmation

| writer18 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| length18 = 3:14

| title19 = Young Hearts in the Dark

| writer19 = {{hlist|Bay|Green}}

| extra19 = {{hlist|Bay|Green|Epworth{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length19 = 3:17

| total_length = 65:43

}}

Notes

• ^{{{note|a|[a]}}} signifies a co-producer
• ^{{{note|b|[b]}}} signifies an additional producer

Musicians

• Ashley Jones – spoken word (tracks 1, 7)
• Nick Selting – spoken word (tracks 1, 7)
• James Bay – lead vocals, background (tracks 2–6, 8–14); electric guitar (2–6, 8–13), drums (2–4, 6, 13), clapping (2, 5), acoustic guitar (5, 8, 9), piano (6), baritone guitar (9), percussion (10)
• Jon Green – background vocals (tracks 2–6, 8–14), bass guitar (2–6, 8, 9, 11–13), electric guitar (2, 4, 5, 8, 9), clapping (2, 5), keyboards (2–6, 8–13), drums (3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11–13), piano (5, 6, 14), percussion (6, 8, 9, 12), drum programming (6), baritone guitar (9); acoustic guitar, sound effects (12)
• Paul Epworth – drum programming (tracks 2, 6, 10), synthesizer programming (2), keyboards (4, 12); percussion, programming (4); additional vocals, drums, finger clicking (10); synthesizer (13)
• Eddie Serafica – programming (tracks 3, 11), drum programming (3)
• Gerry Morgan – drums (tracks 5, 8)
• Davide Rossi – string arrangement, strings (tracks 5, 10, 12)
• Capital Children's Choir – vocals (track 6)
• Harry Edwards – programming (tracks 10, 13); bass guitar, synth bass (10); drum programming (12)
• David Ryan Harris – spoken word (track 14)

Technical

• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Tom Elmhirst – mixing (tracks 2–6, 8–13)
• Matt Wiggins – mixing (track 14), engineering (2–6, 8–10, 12–14)
• Bryan Schlam – engineering (tracks 1, 7)
• Eddie Serafica – engineering (tracks 2–3, 5, 6, 9, 11–14)
• Paul Epworth – engineering (track 4)
• Jon Green – engineering (track 8)
• Brandon Bost – mixing assistance (tracks 2–6, 8–14)
• Luke Pickering – engineering assistance (tracks 2–6, 8–10, 12–14)
• Riley MacIntyre – engineering assistance (tracks 2–6, 8–10, 12–14)

Visuals

• James Bay – art direction
• Joe Spix – design
• Sarah Piantadosi – photography

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|award=Silver|artist=James Bay|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|accessdate=9 May 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=yes | nosales=true | noshipments=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{James Bay}}

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Category:2018 albums

Category:James Bay (singer) albums