Lights and Sounds
{{about|the album|the title track from the album|Lights and Sounds (song)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Lights and Sounds
| type = Album
| artist = Yellowcard
| cover = YellowcardLightsandSounds.jpg
| alt = A black-and-white picture of palm trees placed in 4 different squares
| released = January 24, 2006
| recorded = May–June 2005
| studio = Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California
| genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|pop-punk|pop rock}}
| length = 52:42
| label = Capitol
| producer = Neal Avron
| prev_title = Ocean Avenue
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Paper Walls
| next_year = 2007
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Light and Sound
| type = studio
| single1 = Lights and Sounds
| single1date = November 15, 2005
| single2 = Rough Landing, Holly
| single2date = May 6, 2006
}}
}}
Lights and Sounds is the fifth studio album by American rock band Yellowcard, released on January 24, 2006, in the United States through Capitol Records. Lights and Sounds is Yellowcard's first concept album, which was inspired to reflect what the band was feeling at the time of production and how they have matured in the process. Lights and Sounds also departs from the sounds on Yellowcard's previous album, Ocean Avenue (2003), scaling back much of the band's pop-punk sound in favor of a sound more generally characteristic of alternative rock.
Lights and Sounds debuted to mixed reviews from contemporary music critics, receiving criticism as the album fell short from the standard set by its predecessor, Ocean Avenue. Upon the album's release, it charted at number five on Billboard
The album yielded two singles, "Lights and Sounds" and "Rough Landing, Holly". While the band was promoting the album, lead guitarist Ben Harper parted ways with the band. Following Harper's departure, the band revealed that they had entered their "highest and lowest" points because of Harper's departure from the band. To accommodate the album's promotion, Yellowcard replaced Harper with guitarist Ryan Mendez.
Background and production
After almost two years of touring in support of their 2003 album, Ocean Avenue, Yellowcard took a few months off. In December 2004, vocalist Ryan Key and bassist Peter Mosely moved to New York City to write songs for their upcoming album,{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/01/27/after_highs_and_lows_yellowcard_grows_up/|title=After highs and lows, Yellowcard grows up|last=Tomlinson|first=Sarah|date=January 27, 2006|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=March 4, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022202854/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/01/27/after_highs_and_lows_yellowcard_grows_up/|archive-date=October 22, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1504125/20050614/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Don't You Forget About Yellowcard: Band To Return This Fall|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=June 14, 2005|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 4, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225103015/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1504125/20050614/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=February 25, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1507272/20050809/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Yellowcard Move To New York, Write LP About Hating Los Angeles|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=August 9, 2005|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 4, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501210427/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1507272/20050809/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=May 1, 2009}} while the rest of the band remained in Los Angeles.
As Key and Mosely stayed in New York, they admitted that there was a delay when it came to start writing songs for the album.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496558/20050203/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Yellowcard Feverishly Working On New Album ... Starting Tomorrow|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=February 3, 2005|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 8, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222091751/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496558/20050203/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=December 22, 2007}} Key, however, did explain that they were writing "weird, obscure, not-too-mellow" tracks and working on notebooks that he compiled while the band was touring. He also noted that he was able to write for a couple of hours and would receive over "15-20 ideas" that he could take out for the band, so once they all got together, they can start collaborating on the record. Mosely, also in discussion of this, added that the reason it took them so long was because they were "scared to death" with the writing. Mosely concluded that once the writing had begun, the process was easier on them. It was also during this time that Key and Mosely began to turn their apartment into a studio, adding a drum kit, guitar amps, and even including a piano. While Key and Mosely began the development of the songs, the rest of the members would occasionally fly to New York to check on the progress.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1501056/20050501/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Yellowcard Finally Have A Concept For Their Non-Concept Album|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=May 1, 2005|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 8, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225230927/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1501056/20050501/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=February 25, 2008}}
In April 2005, the band met in Los Angeles and began working at the Sunset Sound studios.{{cite news|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/whats-on/story.aspx?datetime=10+Mar+2006+07%3A10&tbrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=WhatsOn&category=WhatsOn&brand=EDPOnline&itemid=NOED09+Mar+2006+16%3A51%3A01%3A113|title=US rockers Yellowcard preview new album|date=March 10, 2006|work=Eastern Daily Press|publisher=Archant|access-date=April 3, 2009}} The following month in an interview with MTV News, lead guitarist Ben Harper revealed that the writing process was finished. In addition, Harper commented that the band recorded 19 songs for the album, 13 of which made the final cut. Sessions were held at Sunset Sound in May and June 2005, with producer Neal Avron. Recording was handled by Bradley Cook and Avron, with assistance from Bill Mims and Pro Tools engineer Travis Huff. Tom Lord-Alge mixed the recordings, with assistance from Femio Hernández, at South Beach Studios in Miami, Florida. Ted Jensen mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York City.
Music
=Musical style=
With Lights and Sounds, Yellowcard broke away from their original pop-punk sound to a more alternative rock album,{{cite magazine|title=Yellowcard Green No More|last=Devenish|first=Colin|date=June 24, 2005|magazine=Rolling Stone}} though some critics described it as pop-punk anyway. The album is somewhat of a concept album, made to reflect what Yellowcard was feeling at the time of production. Ryan Key, in discussion of this, said that Ocean Avenue was about "finding your place in the world" and explained that Lights and Sounds was about "realizing that you've gotten lost".{{cite web|url=http://yellowcardrock.com/bio.aspx|title=Yellowcard — Bio|access-date=March 5, 2009|publisher=Yellowcard |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080526081405/http://www.yellowcardrock.com/bio.aspx |archive-date = May 26, 2008}} The band has cited Radiohead's Kid A (2000) and Guns N' Roses' 1991 albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II as major influences for the album. Yellowcard also credit Aphex Twin, Mouse on Mars and Explosions in the Sky for inspiration, regarding the music sound in the album.
File:Ryan Key - 2006.jpg performing in support of the release of Lights and Sounds in September 2006]]
{{Listen|filename=Lights_And_Sounds.ogg |title="Lights and Sounds" |description=A sample of the album's title track, which shows Lights and Sounds
In an interview in August 2005, Key explained that the album was a "definite departure" and "more political" than what Ocean Avenue had contained.{{cite news|url=http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=2520|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209125409/http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=2520|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 9, 2013|title=What are you, Yellow?|last=Larocque|first=Mike|date=September 22, 2005|work=Vue Weekly|access-date=March 23, 2009}} In discussion of the album, Key said that the band had matured and that the music in Lights and Sounds would be different from their previous album. Though, Key added, "...we have to be careful, we have to try and write songs [in the style of the ones] we wrote before. We have to make a conscious effort not to think about the fact that we went from being a nothing band ... to having a bunch of hit singles in like, one year." Printz Board of The Black Eyed Peas collaborated with Yellowcard on the song "Two Weeks from Twenty" where he played a trumpet solo. The song, "How I Go", features a duet with the Chicks' lead vocalist Natalie Maines,{{cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/Y/Yellowcard/AlbumReviews/2006/01/27/1414536-sun.html|title=Lights and Sounds|last=Sterdan|first=Darryl|date=January 27, 2006|work=Jam!|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|access-date=March 10, 2009|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115131948/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/Y/Yellowcard/AlbumReviews/2006/01/27/1414536-sun.html|archive-date=January 15, 2013}} and features a twenty-five piece orchestra, which was conducted by violinist Sean Mackin.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1518496/20051219/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Yellowcard Singer's Duet With Dixie Chick Winning Points With Parents|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=December 19, 2005|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 10, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224222250/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1518496/20051219/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=February 24, 2008}} According to Peter Mosely, the band liked the Chicks' and even thought of collaborating with Maines on Ocean Avenue for the song "View from Heaven".{{cite news|url=http://kentwired.com/all-about...-yellowcard/|title=All about... Yellowcard|last=Roy|first=Seth|date=January 19, 2006|work=Kent State University Official Website|access-date=March 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127140510/http://kentwired.com/all-about...-yellowcard/|archive-date=January 27, 2013}} Mosely also revealed that the band approached Maines about singing on "How I Go"; "The original plan was just for her to sing back-up (on the song). [But] it ended up turning into a duet." He also added that Maines took a demo of the song and returned to the studio, Sunset Sound, where the band were working, in addition to the Chicks working on their album, with lyrics and vocals of her own.
Mackin also composed an entire string section and conducted an orchestra in the album. In an interview with Daily Nexus in June 2006, Mackin revealed that the conducting was the easy part and that the composing part was much harder.{{cite news|url=http://dev.dailynexus.com/2006-06-28/lighting-up/|title=Lighting Up|last=Vandor|first=Mollie|date=June 28, 2006|work=Daily Nexus|access-date=March 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100920153659/http://dev.dailynexus.com/2006-06-28/lighting-up/|archive-date=September 20, 2010}} In this interview, Mackin also commented, "composing was getting so frustrating since I wasn’t writing as fast as my mind was thinking, so going back I wanted to make sure that each of my arrangements for this album and the 12 different songs were completely different".
=Lyrical content=
Lights and Sounds primarily focuses on the band coping with the success they were enduring when writing songs for the album. The album also goes with what Key described as when he was preoccupied with making Lights and Sounds. Key said that one of the common themes that were written in the album was the band's hatred in living in Los Angeles. Key said that the songs have "lost that adolescent bounciness -- they've come into adulthood a bit". In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Key revealed that during the time he and Mosely spent in New York, he said it "brought out some darker places" in them and that it was "not in a 'now I'm going to start wearing eyeliner' kind of way, but emotionally darker."{{cite magazine|title=Yellowcard Make "Sounds"|last=Ford|first=Tracey|date=September 13, 2005|magazine=Rolling Stone}} In addition, many of the song's themes deal with Key's battle with drugs and alcohol.{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2006/01/bus-yellowcard|title=On the bus with Yellowcard|last=Carter|first=Chelsea J.|date=January 29, 2006|work=The Virginian-Pilot|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=April 2, 2009|format=Internet Archive|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329045640/http://hamptonroads.com/2006/01/bus-yellowcard|archive-date=March 29, 2012}}
{{Quote box
| quote = "Holly became this person on the record who appears in a lot of the songs, and at times you love her and at times you hate her. At times she's good to you and sometimes she's bad."
| source = Ryan Key in discussion of the Holly Wood character
| width = 30em
| align = right
}}
While making the album, Yellowcard had also developed a character, Holly Wood, who served as a narrator and protagonist for the album's storyline. The character is featured in the songs "Rough Landing, Holly" and "Holly Wood Died". The band explained the meaning of the title track, which they said is based on a "whirlwind rocker about the pressures on the band members" and how they have changed as they have aged after the release of Ocean Avenue.{{cite magazine|title=Yellowcard Rock With Strings Attached|last=Edwards|first=Gavin|date=February 13, 2006|magazine=Rolling Stone}} Key also commented that when he was preoccupied with making the album, there were distractions while in the process; he simply referred to the distractions as "lights and sounds", which ultimately resulted in the band naming the album just that. He also says that the main reason behind that was how it affected the band during that particular time.{{cite web|url=http://www.cwsomaha.com/index.php?Itemid=164&id=58175&option=com_content&task=view|title=Yellowcard Light and Sounds--Bio|year=2006|publisher=College World Series - Omaha|access-date=March 4, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615235517/http://www.cwsomaha.com/index.php?Itemid=164&id=58175&option=com_content&task=view|archive-date=June 15, 2011}}
During discussion of the track listing in Lights and Sounds, Yellowcard revealed that "Two Weeks from Twenty" stretched the "limits" for them and explained that it was a "jazz-lounge anti-war song". The band also explained that the song is a narrative of a young soldier named Jimmy, from New Jersey, who is killed in the Iraq war. Other songs such as "Down on My Head", "City of Devils", and "Holly Wood Died", had a theme that spoke about bitterness and disillusionment.{{cite news|url=http://www.pluggedinonline.com/read/read/a0003691.cfm|title=Does Yellowcard Deserve One?|last=Neven|first=Tom|date=January 30, 2006|publisher=Plugged In Online|access-date=March 3, 2009|work=MTV|format=Internet Archive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512055546/http://www.pluggedinonline.com/read/read/a0003691.cfm|archive-date=May 12, 2008|url-status=dead}} "How I Go" is based on both lament of a father over the life that has flowed past him and the 2003 film, Big Fish. Another song, "Words, Hands, Hearts", is written about the events that occurred during the September 11 attacks.
Release and promotion
{{Quote box
| quote = "We've simply grown apart, personally and creatively, which can happen in any relationship. This change is hard for all of us, but Ben will always be our brother."
| source = Violinist Sean Mackin on Ben Harper leaving Yellowcard
| width = 30em
| align = right
}}
In August 2005, Yellowcard announced the songs, "Lights and Sounds", "Sure Thing Falling", and "Two Weeks from Twenty", that were going to be featured in the album. In September 2005, the band played a few festivals in Japan, before embarking on a tour of Canada with Rufio and Moneen.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/13243/yellowcard-completes-new-album-heads-north|title=Yellowcard completes new album, heads north|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=July 23, 2005|access-date=November 1, 2021|archive-date=November 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101171325/https://www.punknews.org/article/13243/yellowcard-completes-new-album-heads-north|url-status=live}} That same month, their next album was announced for release in four months' time. "Lights and Sounds" debuted as part of the soundtrack to Burnout Revenge, before made available for streaming through the band's website on September 14, 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/13568/burnout-revenge-soundtrack-includes-new-yellowcard-fall-out-boy-pennywise-comeback-kid|title=Burnout Revenge soundtrack includes new Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy, Pennywise, Comeback Kid|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=August 24, 2005|access-date=November 8, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108152653/https://www.punknews.org/article/13568/burnout-revenge-soundtrack-includes-new-yellowcard-fall-out-boy-pennywise-comeback-kid|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/13786/media-yellowcard-post-new-track-touring-this-fall|title=Yellowcard post new track, touring this fall|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=September 14, 2005|access-date=November 8, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108215732/https://www.punknews.org/article/13786/media-yellowcard-post-new-track-touring-this-fall|url-status=live}} Later in September, the band announced the album's title{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1509400/20050913/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Yellowcard Line Up Club Tour, Post A Preview Of Newly Named LP|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=September 13, 2005|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 9, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725044027/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1509400/20050913/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=July 25, 2009}} and revealed that the title track, "Lights and Sounds", was confirmed to be the first single from the album,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60842/yellowcard-confirms-new-album-track-list|title=Yellowcard Confirms New Album Track List|last=Hasty|first=Katie|date=November 1, 2005|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=March 3, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129033917/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60842/yellowcard-confirms-new-album-track-list|archive-date=January 29, 2014}} with a video shot in Van Nuys, California and a release date of November 15.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1511648/20051017/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Yellowcard Get Back To Rock Roots, Lure Moths In New Video|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=October 17, 2005|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 4, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507200510/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1511648/20051017/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=May 7, 2008}}
Between October and December 2005, Yellowcard went on a cross-country US tour with Acceptance and the Pink Spiders. In November 2005, it was announced that guitarist Ben Harper had parted ways with the band.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1513142/20051107/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Yellowcard Confirm What Fans Already Knew: Ben Harper Is Out|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=November 7, 2005|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 10, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719082117/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1513142/20051107/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=July 19, 2009}} Key explained that the band went through "a lot of the highest and lowest points" and that making an album "would be on the highest list, and losing a member would be on the lowest." He also added, "It's really been a long journey together, you know, so obviously, parting ways with Ben was a really unpleasant experience. It was either go on without him, or don't go on at all. And, at the core, we decided that we had something too great to let go of, and that we had to kind of make a last resort and move on without him." Harper was replaced by Ryan Mendez of Staring Back, who broke up upon Mendez leaving.{{cite news|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Music/2183-Digging-deeper/?rel=inf |title=Digging deeper |last=Goldberg |first=Michael Alan |date=January 27, 2006 |work=The Boston Phoenix |page=1 |access-date=March 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523220358/http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Music/2183-Digging-deeper/?rel=inf |archive-date=May 23, 2011 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/13521/breakups-staring-back-1997-2005|title=Staring Back (1997-2005)|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=August 19, 2005|access-date=November 1, 2021|archive-date=November 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101224213/https://www.punknews.org/article/13521/breakups-staring-back-1997-2005|url-status=live}}{{#tag:ref|Harper would later join Amber Pacific as their second guitarist.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_1048|title=Ex-Yellowcard guitarist Ben Harper joins Amber Pacific|work=Alternative Press|date=July 24, 2006|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821114020/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_1048|archive-date=August 21, 2016}}|group="nb"}}
The music video for the title-track was featured on a Verizon Wireless Vcast commercial around the time of the album's release.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/01/22/BUGLAGQ0U41.DTL|title=What cell phone ads don't say|last=Lazarus|first=David|date=January 22, 2006|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=March 4, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207155614/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2006%2F01%2F22%2FBUGLAGQ0U41.DTL|archive-date=February 7, 2006}} Lights and Sounds was released on January 24, 2006 through major label Capitol Records. In January and February the band went on a tour of the US.{{cite web|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/674/674475p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819044903/http://music.ign.com/articles/674/674475p1.html|title=Yellowcard On The Road In '06|website=IGN|author=IGN Staff|date=December 8, 2005|archive-date=August 19, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=July 19, 2017}} On March 21, 2006, the music video for "Rough Landing, Holly" was posted online.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/16400/yellowcard-posts-new-video-for-rough-landing|title=Yellowcard posts new video for 'Rough Landing'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=March 21, 2006|access-date=January 22, 2022|archive-date=January 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122210353/https://www.punknews.org/article/16400/yellowcard-posts-new-video-for-rough-landing|url-status=live}} In April and May, the band embarked on the Virgin College Mega Tour alongside Mae, Over It, and Strike Fire Fall.{{cite web|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/693/693909p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060531080517/http://music.ign.com/articles/693/693909p1.html|title=Yellowcard Still Virgins|website=IGN|author=IGN Staff|date=March 6, 2006|archive-date=May 31, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=July 19, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/16232/tours-over-it-joins-yellowcard-and-mae-for-virgin-college-mega-tour|title=Over It joins Yellowcard and Mae for Virgin College Mega Tour|publisher=Punknews.org|author=August, Justin|date=March 12, 2006|access-date=January 22, 2022|archive-date=January 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122192025/https://www.punknews.org/article/16232/tours-over-it-joins-yellowcard-and-mae-for-virgin-college-mega-tour|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/16285/tours-strike-fire-fall-on-new-panic-virgin-college-tours|title=Strike Fire Fall on New Panic, Virgin College tours|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=March 15, 2006|access-date=January 22, 2022|archive-date=January 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122194052/https://www.punknews.org/article/16285/tours-strike-fire-fall-on-new-panic-virgin-college-tours|url-status=live}} Following this, they appeared at the HFStival.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/16661/afi-panic-at-the-disco-boy-sets-fire-rise-against-misfits-riverboat-gamblers-others-at-hfstiv|title=AFI, Panic! At the Disco, Boy Sets Fire, Rise Against, Misfits, Riverboat Gamblers, others at HFStiv|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=April 3, 2006|access-date=January 23, 2022|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123110909/https://www.punknews.org/article/16661/afi-panic-at-the-disco-boy-sets-fire-rise-against-misfits-riverboat-gamblers-others-at-hfstiv|url-status=live}} In June, the band went on a summer tour alongside Matchbook Romance and Hedley.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_673|title=Yellowcard announce summer tour with Matchbook Romance|work=Alternative Press|date=April 18, 2006|access-date=July 27, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821155915/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_673|archive-date=August 21, 2016}} During this, a video for "Sure Thing Falling" was posted on the band's Myspace profile.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/18030/yellowcard-post-new-video|title=Yellowcard post new video|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=June 9, 2006|access-date=January 24, 2022|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124212654/https://www.punknews.org/article/18030/yellowcard-post-new-video|url-status=live}} They then appeared at the San Diego Street Scene festival in August 2006, and played a few shows in Brazil.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/18998/san-diego-street-scene-announces-schedule|title=San Diego Street Scene announces schedule|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Shultz, Brian|date=August 4, 2006|access-date=January 30, 2022|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130161531/https://www.punknews.org/article/18998/san-diego-street-scene-announces-schedule|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/19120/tours-yellowcard-anberlin-reeve-oliver|title=Yellowcard / Anberlin / Reeve Oliver|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=August 11, 2006|access-date=January 30, 2022|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130211414/https://www.punknews.org/article/19120/tours-yellowcard-anberlin-reeve-oliver|url-status=live}} In September 2006, the band went on a headlining tour of the US with support from Anberlin and Reeve Oliver, and appeared at the X96 Big Ass Show and Bamboozle Left festivals.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_1024|title=Yellowcard touring with Anberlin, Reeve Oliver this fall|work=Alternative Press|date=July 18, 2006|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821152449/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_1024|archive-date=August 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/19179/x96-big-ass-show-festival-lineup-announced|title=X96 Big Ass Show festival lineup announced|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Reinecker, Meg|date=August 15, 2006|access-date=January 30, 2022|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130215010/https://www.punknews.org/article/19179/x96-big-ass-show-festival-lineup-announced|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/19408/bamboozle-left-post-updated-lineup|title=Bamboozle Left post updated lineup|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Reinecker, Meg|date=August 26, 2006|access-date=January 31, 2022|archive-date=January 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131114910/https://www.punknews.org/article/19408/bamboozle-left-post-updated-lineup|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = AbsolutePunk
|rev1score = (51%){{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=109436|title=Yellowcard - Lights and Sounds - Album Review|website=AbsolutePunk}}
|rev2 = AllMusic
|rev3 = Drowned in Sound
|rev4 = Entertainment Weekly
|rev4score = (B+){{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2006/01/23/lights-and-sounds/|title=Lights and Sounds Review|last=Beaujour|first=Tom|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 27, 2006|page=81|access-date=April 23, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531105011/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1150945,00.html|archive-date=May 31, 2012}}
| rev5 = Melodic
|rev6 = Now
|rev6score = {{Rating|2|5}}
|rev7 = PopMatters
|rev8 = Rolling Stone
|rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/yellowcard/albums/album/9162337/review/9176422/lights_and_sounds|title=Yellowcard: Lights And Sounds : Music Reviews|last=Eliscu|first=Jenny|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 23, 2006|access-date=April 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002044902/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/yellowcard/albums/album/9162337/review/9176422/lights_and_sounds|archive-date=October 2, 2007|url-status=dead}}
|rev9 = Sputnikmusic
}}
The reviews for Lights and Sounds were mostly mixed upon release, particularly from mainstream media, but some critics have stated that the album had fallen well short of the standards of Ocean Avenue, the album's predecessor.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/lights-and-sounds|title=Yellowcard: Lights And Sounds (2006): Reviews|date=January 24, 2006|website=Metacritic|access-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210134934/http://www.metacritic.com/music/lights-and-sounds|archive-date=December 10, 2011}} Kelefa Sanneh of the New York Times, in review of the album, wrote: "To listeners on either side of rock's latest generational divide, there's a big difference -- the difference of a decade -- between being a loser and being a twerp ... Lights and Sounds is Yellowcard's attempt to split that difference."{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E3DA103FF935A15752C0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2|title=Critic's Notebook; In the Wake of Grunge, A Rock Culture Clash|last=Sanneh|first=Kelefa|date=January 26, 2006|work=The New York Times|page=2|access-date=March 23, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107045558/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E3DA103FF935A15752C0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2|archive-date=November 7, 2012}} Sanneh reports that the song "Two Weeks from Twenty", one of the band's anti-war song, "sounds suspiciously like Green Day; the lyrics echo the plot of the video for Green Day's 'Wake Me Up When September Ends'." Despite this, Sanneh goes on to say that Yellowcard is still "pretty good" at "writing sweeping, upbeat punk-rock love songs". Ben Breier of Kent News wrote: "One thing is certain: The Yellowcard you grew to know and love circa Ocean Avenue is no longer with us. The band has vastly matured when compared to past records, but it comes at a price – members forgot what made them occasionally catchy and addictive in the first place. It's clearly the right direction for the band, but Yellowcard needs to further refine its new style before it can come up with something above average."{{cite news|url=http://kentwired.com/band-doesn-t-go-for-the-gold-on-new-album/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711162134/http://kentwired.com/band-doesn-t-go-for-the-gold-on-new-album/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2012|title=Band doesn't go for the gold on new album|last=Breier|first=Ben|date=January 19, 2006|work=Kent State University Official Website|access-date=April 2, 2009}} Mike Schiller of PopMatters, who was somewhat displeased with the album, wrote that the album does not "make up for the overabundance of flaccid mediocrity on display throughout most of the album". Schiller went on to say, "Lights and Sounds may be Yellowcard’s attempt at a big, serious album, but the band doesn’t sound even remotely ready."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/yellowcard_lights_and_sounds/|title=Yellowcard: Lights and Sounds|last=Schiller|first=Mike|date=February 16, 2006|magazine=PopMatters|access-date=March 20, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519134528/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/yellowcard_lights_and_sounds|archive-date=May 19, 2011}} Nick Cowen from Drowned in Sound wrote: "Those who register for Pop-Punk 101 will receive Yellowcard’s Lights And Sounds as their first set-work; the Jacksonville quintet's new album would be the perfect teaching aid, as it's technically proficient while being boring and forgettable enough not to inspire the temptation to plagiarise."{{cite news|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/7024/reviews/594093|title=Yellowcard: Lights and Sounds|last=Cowen|first=Nick|date=January 27, 2006|work=Drowned in Sound|access-date=March 20, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323110300/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/7024/reviews/594093|archive-date=March 23, 2012}} Cowen concluded that the album "is a substandard, second-tier album with some strings thrown in for good measure. It's really not worth the money in your wallet – even if that wallet is attached to a very long chain." Now magazine claimed that the band "may be in the right place, it's clear they're simply incapable of realizing this clumsy faux magnum opus."
Despite the mixed reaction, many critics were fond of the album. Rolling Stone
Commercial performance
File:Yellowcard - 2006 concert.jpg
Lights and Sounds debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and Top Internet Albums' charts,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051996/yellowcard-storms-through-paper-walls-in-july|title=Yellowcard Storms Through 'Paper Walls' In July|access-date=September 21, 2010|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906062928/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051996/yellowcard-storms-through-paper-walls-in-july|archive-date=September 6, 2014}} and sold over 95,000 copies in its first week of release.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1535200/20060627/yellowcard.jhtml|title=Yellowcard On Ambitious Lights And Sounds: 'We All Went A Bit Too Far'|last=Montgomery|first=James|author2=Sasha Hamrogue|date=June 27, 2006|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=March 20, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501154144/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1535200/20060627/yellowcard.jhtml|archive-date=May 1, 2008}} Since June 2006, Lights and Sounds has sold over 315,000 copies in the United States. The album did not exceed the expectations of Ocean Avenue, which approached 2 million in record sales. Internationally, Lights and Sounds peaked at number four on the Canadian Top Album Chart,{{cite magazine|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p478187|pure_url=yes}}|title=Yellowcard — Charts and Awards|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=March 20, 2009}} making it Yellowcard's highest debut in Canada. It also debuted at number six in the Australian chart, in which it spent six weeks, before retiring in the number 49 position.{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Yellowcard&titel=Lights+And+Sounds&cat=a|title=Yellowcard — Lights and Sounds|date=March 2006|publisher=Austrian Charts|access-date=March 20, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016180239/http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Yellowcard&titel=Lights+And+Sounds&cat=a|archive-date=October 16, 2012}} In the New Zealand chart it peaked in the number 11 position. Lights and Sounds charted on the number 59 spot in the United Kingdom and spent one week on the chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/lights%20and%20sounds/|title=Yellowcard — Lights and Sounds|publisher=The Official Charts Company|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007111204/http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/lights%20and%20sounds/|archive-date=2016-10-07}} In the United States, the album was certified gold by the RIAA on March 15, 2006, indicating shipment of 500,000.{{Certification Cite Ref |region=United States |artist=Yellowcard |title=Lights and Sounds |type=album }}
When asked about the disappointment of sales that Lights and Sounds received, Sean Mackin said:
I think that the band went on ... maybe not a tangent, but we had a goal in mind, and at the end of the recording process, we were so proud of how artistic we were. And I think we showed too much. I think maybe we were a little too jaded and a little too dark, and I think that the lack of hope and faith that we put on this record made us a little less sparkly and light to people. But I think that it's all part of our evolution. We all went a bit too far.
Mackin also insisted that the band did not see the album as a mistake, but more of a "learning experience", so that it would not happen again whey they work on their next project.
Two singles were released from Lights and Sounds. The first, "Lights and Sounds", the title track, was released on November 25, 2005. The song peaked at number four on Billboard
Track listing
All lyrics by Ryan Key, except where noted. All music by Key, Sean Mackin, Ryan Mendez, Pete Mosely, and Longineu W. Parsons III, except where noted.
{{track listing
|headline = Lights and Sounds
|total_length = 52:43
|title1 = Three Flights Up
|length1 = 1:23
|note1 = Instrumental
|music1 = {{hlist|Key|Mackin|Mosely}}
|title2 = Lights and Sounds
|length2 = 3:28
|title3 = Down on My Head
|music3 = {{hlist|Key|Mosely}}
|length3 = 3:32
|title4 = Sure Thing Falling
|length4 = 3:42
|title5 = City of Devils
|length5 = 4:23
|title6 = Rough Landing, Holly
|length6 = 3:33
|title7 = Two Weeks from Twenty
|length7 = 4:18
|lyrics7 = {{hlist|Key|Mosely}}
|music7 = {{hlist|Key|Mosely}}
|title8 = Waiting Game
|length8 = 4:15
|title9 = Martin Sheen or JFK
|length9 = 3:47
|title10 = Space Travel
|music10 = {{hlist|Key|Mosely}}
|length10 = 3:47
|title11 = Grey
|length11 = 3:00
|title12 = Words, Hands, Hearts
|length12 = 4:24
|title13 = How I Go
|length13 = 4:32
|music13 = {{hlist|Key|Mosely}}
|title14 = Holly Wood Died
|length14 = 4:39
}}
{{track listing
|headline = Japanese and iTunes bonus track
|title15 = Three Flights Down
|length15 = 4:42
}}
{{track listing
|headline = Wal-Mart bonus track
|title15 = Down on My Head (Acoustic)
|length15 = 3:25
}}
{{track listing
|headline = Special limited edition bonus tracks
|title15 = Three Flights Down
|length15 = 4:42
|title16 = Gifts and Curses
|length16 = 5:05
}}
{{track listing
|headline = Special limited edition bonus DVD
|title1 = Making of the album
|length1 =
|title2 = Making of Lights and Sounds music video
|length2 =
|title3 = Lights and Sounds
|note3 = Music video
|title4 = Lights and Sounds
|note4 = Live
|length4 =
|title5 = Rough Landing, Holly
|note5 = Live{{#tag:ref|The live recording of "Rough Landing, Holly" was released digitally as an audio track through iTunes and Amazon.{{cite web |url=https://soundbytes.club/music/724968598/rough-landing-holly-live-single-yellowcard |title=Rough Landing Holly (Live) - Single - Yellowcard - Music - Sound Bytes Club |publisher=soundbytes |date=2006 |access-date=9 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109222201/https://soundbytes.club/music/724968598/rough-landing-holly-live-single-yellowcard |archive-date=9 November 2016 }}|group="nb"}}
|length5 =
}}
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=Lights and Sounds|others=Yellocard|year=2006|type=booklet|publisher=Parlophone|id=0946 3 54143 2 5}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Yellowcard
- Ryan Key – lead vocals, guitars
- Sean Mackin – violin, background vocals, string arranger
- Ben Harper – guitars (tracks 3–5, 8, 10–12 and 14), dobro (track 5)
- Peter Mosely – bass, keyboards, background vocals, guitars, string arrangement (track 8)
- Longineu W. Parsons III – drums
Production and design
- Neal Avron – producer, recording
- Bradley Cook – recording
- Bill Mims – assistant
- Travis Huff – Pro Tools engineer
- Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
- Femio Hernández – mix assistant
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Chris Bilheimer – art direction, photography
- Max Vadukul – band photograph
{{col-2}}
Additional musicians
- Printz Board – trumpet (track 7)
- Natalie Maines – additional vocals (track 13)
- Christine Choi – string arrangement (track 13)
- Rodney Wirtz – string arrangement (track 13)
- Mark Robertson – violin
- Liane Mautner – violin
- Tritia Lee – violin
- Sam Fischer – violin
- Michaela Keating – violin
- Alyssa Park – violin
- Grace Oh – violin
- Paul Henning – violin
- Rodney Wirtz – viola
- Jerome Gordon – viola
- Brett Banducci – viola
- Christine Choi – cello
- Victor Lawrence – cello
- Paul Wiancko – cello
- Nick France – bass
- Cathy Cho – flute
- Amy Tatum – flute
- Don Foster – clarinet
- Teag Reves – horns
- Danielle Ondarza – horns
- Dave Costello – trumpet
- Nick Stoup – percussion
{{col-end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Album
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for Lights and Sound !scope="col"|Chart (2006) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|6|artist=Yellowcard |album=Lights and Sounds|rowheader=true|refname=AUS}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|67|artist=Yellowcard |album=Lights and Sounds|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|4|artist=Yellowcard|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|84|artist=Yellowcard |album=Lights and Sounds|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|11|artist=Yellowcard |album=Lights and Sounds|rowheader=true|refname=NZ}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|73|artist=Yellowcard |album=Lights and Sounds|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|UK|59|artist=Yellowcard|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|5|artist=Yellowcard|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
Singles
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for singles from Lights and Sound !Title !Year !Chart !Position |
| scope="row" rowspan="5"|"Lights and Sounds"
|rowspan="5"|2005 |align="left"|50 |
|---|
| US Hot Modern Rock Tracks
|align="left"|4 |
| UK Singles Charts
|align="left"|56 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart
|align="left"|23 |
| Australian Singles Chart
|align="left"|24 |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|"Rough Landing, Holly"
|rowspan="2"|2006 |US Hot Modern Rock Tracks |align="left"|27 |
| Australian Singles Chart
|align="left"|49 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
Notes and references
Footnotes
{{reflist|group="nb"}}
Citations
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD6cHXCIzMSb7mLGByY8S2Q8ViIsa9JMH Lights and Sounds] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
- [http://roomthirteen.com/features/234/Yellowcard_interview.html Interview] at RoomThirteen
{{Yellowcard}}
{{good article}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lights And Sounds}}
Category:Capitol Records albums