In It to Win It (City Lights album)

Last updated
In It To Win It
City Lights - In It To Win It album cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 8, 2011
Recorded2011
StudioCapital House Records, Galena, Ohio
Genre Pop punk, melodic hardcore, easycore
Length33:52
Label InVogue
Producer Nick Ingram
City Lights chronology
Rock Like a Party Star
(2009)
In It To Win It
(2011)
The Way Things Should Be
(2013)
Singles from In It to Win it
  1. "Where You've Been"
    Released: October 17, 2011
  2. "What It Takes"
    Released: April 16, 2012
  3. "Trophy Room"
    Released: May 24, 2012
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
SputnikMusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
MusicReview74/100 [2]

In It to Win It is the first full-length album by American punk rock band City Lights, released on November 8, 2011. It was InVogue Records first release to land on any Billboard chart, having debuted at number 29 on Alternative New Artist and 117 on Top New Artist. The album was recorded and produced by Nick Ingram at Capital House Records in Galena, Ohio. The band went through a number of line-up changes between their first EP Rock Like a Party Star and the recording of this album.

Contents

Background

Signing to InVogue Records

In 2011, bassist Chase Clymer contacted the CEO of Ohio-based record label InVogue Records, Nick Moore. Clymer negotiated a one album deal with Moore, the band signed to InVogue Records in May 2011. [3] A press release stated the band had recently signed with InVogue Records and would be releasing their debut record on July 26, [3] the album was later pushed back to November 8, 2011. [4] The first single from the album "Where You've Been" was released on October 17, 2011 in the run up to the album's release, a music video accompanied the single and was directed by Duncan Johnson. [5]

Reception

Upon release, the album received some moderate success, shooting the band onto the Billboard music charts. While some critics struggled to get on side with the album, it has become a seminal record among the easycore community.[ citation needed ] Alternative Press published a review claiming the band were "...five young men taking themselves far too seriously." [6]

Track listing

All songs written by City Lights.

No.TitleLength
1."Intro"0:51
2."Hang Out"3:35
3."Please Let Me Know"3:03
4."Where You've Been"3:54
5."Trophy Room"3:13
6."My Entire Life"3:55
7."Just in Case"2:48
8."Lawnmower"2:44
9."I Made a Song on Garage Band and All I Got Was This Lousy Record Deal"4:00
10."What It Takes"3:11
11."Lawnmower (Acoustic)"2:38
Total length:33:52

Personnel

Additional personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertical Horizon</span> American alternative rock band

Vertical Horizon is an American alternative rock band, formed in Washington, D.C. Vocalists and guitarists Matt Scannell and Keith Kane started the band in 1991 when they were students at Georgetown University. The band have undergone multiple line-up changes since their formation, with Scannell overseeing every iteration as the band's leader. Vertical Horizon are best known for their Billboard number one single "Everything You Want", the title track to their third studio album. Other notable singles from the band's career include "You're a God", "Best I Ever Had ", and "I'm Still Here".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph (band)</span> Canadian rock band

Triumph was a Canadian hard rock band formed in 1975 that was popular in the late 1970s and the 1980s, building on its reputation and success as a live band. Between its 16 albums and DVDs, it has received 18 gold and nine platinum awards in Canada and the United States. It was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including the 'Group of the Year Award' in 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1987. It was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawk Nelson</span> Canadian pop/rock band

Hawk Nelson was a Canadian rock band from Peterborough, Ontario. Formed in 2000, the band has released eight studio albums to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Last Night</span> American post-hardcore band

Our Last Night is an American post-hardcore band formed in 2004, consisting of brothers Trevor (vocals) and Matthew Wentworth and Timothy Molloy (drums). The band is known for its post-hardcore and alternative metal renditions of popular pop songs.

Before Their Eyes is an American post-hardcore band from Findlay, Ohio, United States. The band is currently signed to InVogue Records.

<i>Bad Moon Rising</i> (album) Album by Sonic Youth

Bad Moon Rising is the second studio album by American rock band Sonic Youth, released on March 29, 1985, by Blast First and Homestead Records. The album is loosely themed around the dark side of America, including references to obsession, insanity, Charles Manson, heavy metal, Satanism, and early European settlers' encounters with Native Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fireworks (punk band)</span> American rock band

Fireworks is an American rock band from Metro Detroit, Michigan. They are currently signed to Triple Crown Records.

<i>To Plant a Seed</i> 2009 studio album by We Came as Romans

To Plant a Seed is the debut studio album by American metalcore band We Came as Romans. It was released by Equal Vision Records on November 3, 2009 and was produced by Joey Sturgis. Artwork for the album was done by Paul Romano to which coincides to We Came as Romans' positive message as explained by guitarist Joshua Moore that the lyrical themes on To Plant a Seed are based-up spreading this message. A deluxe edition of the album was released on January 18, 2011 which includes one bonus track and a DVD entitled To Plant a DVD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wonder Years (band)</span> American rock band

The Wonder Years is an American rock band from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, formed in July 2005. The band currently consists of Dan "Soupy" Campbell, Casey Cavaliere, Matt Brasch, Josh Martin, Nick Steinborn and Mike Kennedy. They have released seven full-length albums, two EPs, and several splits/compilations. The group is currently signed to Hopeless Records. Their name originates from a paper that Campbell read that was written by one of his after-school educators titled "The Wonder Years."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleeping with Sirens</span> American rock band

Sleeping with Sirens is an American rock band from Orlando, Florida, currently residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band currently consists of Kellin Quinn, touring lead guitarist Tony Pizzuti, Nick Martin, Justin Hills and Matty Best. The band was formed in 2009 by members of For All We Know and Paddock Park. The group is currently signed to Sumerian Records and have released six full-length albums and an acoustic EP.

InVogue Records is an American record company based in Findlay, Ohio. It was founded by Nick Moore, lead singer of Before Their Eyes, in 2009. In the fall of 2011 InVogue Records signed a distribution deal with Independent Label Group and Alternative Distribution Alliance. In the summer of 2017 InVogue signed a new distribution deal with Sony/RED. The deal was merged into The Orchard/Sony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Color Morale</span> American metalcore band

The Color Morale is an American metalcore band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 2007. The band includes vocalist/keyboardist Garret Rapp, guitarists Devin King and Aaron Saunders, bassist Mike Honson, and drummer Steve Carey. Rapp and Carey are the only two members of the original line-up that remain in the band. The group was signed to Fearless Records before they went into a hiatus in 2018. The band officially returned in March 2020. Before the hiatus, the band has released five studio albums: We All Have Demons, My Devil in Your Eyes, Know Hope, Hold On Pain Ends, and Desolate Divine.

City Lights was an American pop punk band from Columbus, Ohio, formed in 2008. They released two EPs and two studio albums during their six-year tenure; the latest being The Way Things Should Be, released on December 10, 2013, via InVogue Records. The band signed to InVogue in May 2011. The band announced their dissolution on February 13, 2014. One year later on February 13, 2015, they released a third EP titled Acoustic EP 2. They announced that they had no intention of getting back together but if schedules permitted they would still take part in shows and put out music.

Shreddy Krueger is a post-hardcore band formed in Kelowna, British Columbia in 2011.

Courage My Love was a Canadian rock band from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Formed in 2009 the band consisted of twin siblingsMercedes Arn-Horn and Phoenix Arn-Horn in addition to bassist Brandon Lockwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beartooth (band)</span> American hardcore punk band

Beartooth is an American hardcore punk band formed by Caleb Shomo in Columbus, Ohio, in 2012. They have been signed to Red Bull Records since 2013. Their debut EP Sick was released on July 26, 2013, followed by their debut full-length album Disgusting on June 10, 2014. Their second album Aggressive was released on June 3, 2016. Their third album Disease was released on September 28, 2018. Their fourth album Below was released on June 25, 2021.

Turnover is an American rock band from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Formed in 2009, the band is signed with the Run for Cover Records label. Turnover has released five albums, two EPs and two singles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dayseeker</span> American post-hardcore band

Dayseeker is an American post-hardcore band formed in Orange County, California, in 2012. The group consists of vocalist Rory Rodriguez, guitarist Gino Sgambelluri, bassist Ramone Valerio and drummer Mike Karle. They are currently signed to Spinefarm Records and have released five studio albums. Their most recent studio album, Dark Sun, was released on November 4, 2022.

<i>We Came as Romans</i> (album) 2015 studio album by We Came as Romans

We Came as Romans is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band We Came as Romans. It was released on July 24, 2015 through Equal Vision Records. As with Tracing Back Roots, the album continues to see a departure of the band's metalcore sound found in their previous albums, in favor of an melodic rock sound.

<i>Distance Inbetween</i> 2016 studio album by The Coral

Distance Inbetween is the eighth studio album by the English indie rock band The Coral. It's their first album after a five-year hiatus, their first without guitarist Lee Southall and also the first with Southall's replacement, Paul Molloy. The album was released on 4 March 2016. The first single, "Chasing the Tail of a Dream", was released on 26 December 2015.

References

  1. "City Lights - In It To Win It (album review ) - Sputnikmusic" . Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085803/http://www.musicreview.co.za/2011/11/23/review-city-lights-in-it-to-win-it/. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2015.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. 1 2 "InVogue Records signs City Lights". InVogue Records signs City Lights. Lamb Goat. May 30, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "In It To Win It, by City Lights". City Lights. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  5. "City Lights - Where You've Been (Official Music Video)". YouTube . Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  6. "City Lights - In It To Win It - Reviews - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2015-10-12.