Distant Lights (song)

Last updated

"Distant Lights"
Ivy-distant-lights-single.jpg
Single by Ivy
from the album All Hours
ReleasedJune 7, 2011
Recorded2011
Genre
Length5:23
Record label Nettwerk
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Adam Schlesinger
  • Andy Chase
Ivy singles chronology
"Thinking About You"
(2005)
"Distant Lights"
(2011)
"Fascinated"
(2011)

"Distant Lights" is a song by American indie rock band Ivy. It was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album, All Hours (2011). It was issued in the United States on June 7, 2011 as a digital download by Nettwerk. The single was written and produced by Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase.

Contents

After its release, "Distant Lights" received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complemented the track for being entirely different when compared to Ivy's previous material. However, one reviewer found the track to be unimaginative and dated. The track was made available as a free download for a short amount of time in support of the release of All Hours.

Background and development

After the release of In the Clear (2005), Ivy embarked on an extended hiatus to focus their time on their children and solo careers. [1] Member Adam Schlesinger was busy with his side project Fountains of Wayne, while Andy Chase was working on a new band named Brookville. In 2008, they worked on a new record, even completing most of the project. [2] However, after listening to the completed material, they found it to be "awful"; Chase stated that "it was the first time [they] doubted whether [they] even had another Ivy album left in [them]". [2]

Afraid that Ivy would become "unrecognizable" and "boring", Durand stated that "[she] really can't stand when [she sees] musicians, great songwriters, and after having kids they become so boring, [she talks] about that all day. [She doesn't] need to talk about that in [her] songs", concluding that she needed "escape". [3] Durand was determined to create "the best album yet", and set up dates and recording sessions with Chase and Schlesinger to work on what would become All Hours . [2] The album explored new genres for Ivy, including EDM and electronic music, something Chase stated "seem[ed] natural and ma[de] sense". [2]

Composition and release

"Distant Lights" was written and produced by Schlesinger and Chase. According to Nettwerk, the single "is a slow-building, hypnotic and danceable track", yet manages to sound like Ivy. [1] In a review by Lauren Stern of Pop Break, she called the single "completely different" compared to Ivy's previous material. [2] In an interview with Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone , Durand stated that "'Distant Lights' is, in a sense, the most important song on All Hours. It's the song that created and led to the direction of this record"; in the same interview, Rosen claimed that the track had a "sleek beat" and "wistful melody" that served as the background for Durand's vocals that come off "halfway between a coo and a sigh". [4]

The single was released on June 7, 2011 on iTunes, where it came with B-side single "Lost in the Sun". [5] It became Ivy's first single release since the 2005 recording "Thinking About You". In September of the same year, Nettwerk made the single temporarily available as a free download to promote All Hours. [4] A remix EP was released on January 20, 2012 in the United States and France and featured the original composition, a Douze remix and a Douze dub version of the single. [6]

Critical reception

"Distant Lights" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone praised the single for being "seductive", [4] while Frank Mojica of Consequence of Sound called the "essential" track the "perfect choice for a lead single", further stating that "'Distant Lights' is the most danceable work from Ivy yet". [7] PopMatters writer John Bergstrom was impressed by the single, stating that "it sounds deceptively effortless". [8] Kaitlyn Henaghan of Buzz Weekly found it to be "the obvious choice for a single, as it is extraordinarily catchy with a great, upbeat melody". [9] Dorian S. Ham, writing for The Agit Reader, had mixed feelings towards the single, calling it "slightly worrying" and panning the "clubby beat" as being foreign to Ivy's catalog. [10] Shawn Connelly of SecretSoundShop found the track "boring" and "outdated". [11]

Track listings and formats

American digital download [5]
No.TitleLength
1."Distant Lights"5:23
2."Lost in the Sun"3:27
American/French Remix EP [6]
No.TitleLength
1."Distant Lights"5:23
2."Distant Lights" (Douze Remix)5:43
3."Distant Lights" (Douze Dub)5:54

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from All Hours liner notes and Ivy's AllMusic discography. [12] [13]

Personnel

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
United StatesJune 7, 2011Digital download Nettwerk [5]
United StatesJanuary 30, 2012Remix EP [6]
France

Related Research Articles

Ivy was an American indie pop band composed of Andy Chase, Adam Schlesinger, and Dominique Durand. They were active between 1994 and 2012.

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<i>In the Clear</i> 2005 studio album by Ivy

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Andy Chase is an American musician, record producer, and label owner. He formed the band Ivy with Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and Dominique Durand, now his wife. Chase owns Unfiltered Records and co-owned Stratosphere Sound studio with Schlesinger and James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins.

<i>Long Distance</i> (Ivy album) 2000 studio album by Ivy

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<i>All Hours</i> 2011 studio album by Ivy

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"Disappointed" is a song by American indie rock band Ivy. It was released as the second single from their third studio album, Long Distance (2000). It was released exclusively in the United States on July 10, 2001 by Nettwerk. The release was simultaneous with the release of '"Edge of the Ocean". The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, while production was handled by the latter two and Peter Nashel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is the Day (Ivy song)</span> 1998 single by Ivy

"This Is the Day" is a song by American band Ivy, included on their second studio album, Apartment Life (1997). It was released as the record's third single in the United States on October 19, 1998 by 550 Music following its inclusion in the 1998 American comedy film There's Something About Mary. The group had just been dropped by Atlantic Records but eventually signed to 550 Music after they reissued the parent album. The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, with the latter two producing it. It is a pop and alternative pop song that features the use of horns and was compared to the works of the Smiths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Got a Feeling (Ivy song)</span> 1997 single by Ivy

"I've Got a Feeling" is a song by American band Ivy, recorded for their second studio album, Apartment Life (1997). It was released as the record's second single in the United States and Australia on October 7, 1997 and 1998 by Atlantic Records, respectively. The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, with the latter two plus Lloyd Cole and Peter Nashel handling its production. It is a pop song accompanied by light vocals and a horn section, with Durand gently singing about falling in love, over several layers of guitars and relaxed harmonies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Hate December</span> Single by American band Ivy

"I Hate December" is a song by American band Ivy, released on January 12, 1996 by Scratchie Records. The track came from the band's first extended play, Lately (1994). It was written and produced by Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger, while Dominique Durand also contributed to the lyrics and Peter Nashel handled additional production. While the version that appeared on Lately was not released as a commercial single, a remix was created and distributed as a CD single instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Know Anything</span> 1999 single by Ivy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Enough (Ivy song)</span> 1994 single by Ivy

"Get Enough" is the debut single by American band Ivy, released in 1994 by Seed Records. It was included as the opening track for their first studio album, Realistic (1995). It was composed by band members Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, and produced by the latter two and Kurt Ralske. The song was conceived while the band was creating material for their first extended play, Lately (1994), a project that Durand was initially reluctant to work on. Its production, along with the rest of Realistic, was inspired by French musicians and exhibits a folk rock and pop sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost in the Sun (song)</span> 2012 single by Ivy

"Lost in the Sun" is a song by American indie rock band Ivy. It was released as the third and final single from their sixth studio album, All Hours (2011). It was issued in the United States on April 10, 2012 as a digital download by Nettwerk and Unfiltered Records. The single was written and produced by Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Best Thing (Ivy song)</span> 1997 single by Ivy

"The Best Thing" is a song by American band Ivy on their second studio album, Apartment Life (1997). Released on September 12, 1997 by Atlantic Records, it was the band's major-label debut single and served as the parent album's lead single. The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, and was produced by the latter two. A pop song, "The Best Thing" is accompanied by several guitars and a keyboard.

<i>Lately</i> (EP) 1994 EP by Ivy

Lately is the first extended play recorded by American band Ivy, released in May 1994 by Seed Records. Developed in the same year as the formation of the group, Lately is a French pop album with acoustic and general pop influences. Originally conceived by members Dominique Durand and Andy Chase, the pair recruited Adam Schlesinger for additional production and lyrics. Sessions took place in New York City and Paris, where they recorded four original tracks and a cover of Orange Juice's 1984 song "I Guess I'm Just a Little Too Sensitive".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fascinated (Ivy song)</span> 2011 single by Ivy

"Fascinated" is a song by American band Ivy. It was released as the second single from their sixth studio album, All Hours (2011), and made available for digital download on July 26, 2011 by Nettwerk in the United States. The song was written and produced by both Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase. An electronica song, "Fascinated" uses keyboards and a repetitive, simple chorus throughout its duration; Ivy's take on the production was called "European" by one critic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivy discography</span>

American band Ivy has released six studio albums, one extended play (EP), fifteen singles, one promotional single, and eight music videos. After signing to Seed Records, Ivy released their debut EP, Lately, in May 1994. Their debut studio album Realistic was released in February 1995 and produced the singles "Get Enough" and "Don't Believe a Word", along with "Beautiful", which was issued as a promotional single. In 1995, a music video for "I Hate December", a song from Lately, was filmed and released. The song was then distributed as a single in January 1996. Ivy eventually left Seed and signed to Atlantic Records to record their second album Apartment Life, released in October 1997. To promote the album, "The Best Thing", "I've Got a Feeling", "This Is the Day", and "You Don't Know Anything" were made available as singles. Their third album Long Distance was released in Japan in 2000, and the next year in the United States. Three singles were promoted, including "Edge of the Ocean" which peaked at number 160 on the UK Singles Chart, marking their only appearance on that chart.

References

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  3. NPR Staff (September 24, 2011). "Ivy: Speaking The Shared Language Of Pop". NPR Music. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
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