The Listening is the debut full-length studio album by the Canadian electro-pop artist Lights (a.k.a. Valerie Anne Poxleitner), released on Sire Records in September 2009, a sub-label of Warner Music Group. Lights was awarded the Canadian Juno Award for New Artist of the Year.
To quote from the Cross Rhythms review: “What made Lights’ “The Saviour” stand out from pop’s current crop of bump-and-grind sensualists was the lyric ‘I just want to run to you/ And break off the chains and throw them away. I need a saviour’.” Lights’ surprise mainstream hit turned out to be no flash in the pan. The loops and synth washes here perfectly compliment Valerie Anne Poxleitner’s brittle little voice while the more one listens, the more one hears spiritual motifs woven into the electro-pop immediacy with «The Listening» and «Lions!» both likely to connect with believers. Will Lights fade from the scene as quickly as she’s emerged? I’ve no idea. What I am sure about though is that the Canadian singer/producer has created one of the most appealing pop debuts for quite a while. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, December 2010]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-listening-bonus-track-version/333345573)
CD tracklist:
01. Savior – 3:30
02. Drive My Soul – 3:22
03. River – 3:04
04. The Listening – 3:37
05. Ice – 2:56
06. Pretend – 3:23
07. The Last Thing On Your Mind – 3:21
08. Second Go – 3:17
09. February Air – 3:50
10. Face Up – 3:27
11. Lions! – 3:19
12. Quiet – 3:16
13. Pretend (Reprise) – 3:05
“Saviour” (MUSIC VIDEO)
“Saviour” (Adam Young Remix) (MUSIC VIDEO)
“Drive My Soul” (MUSIC VIDEO)
“Ice” (MUSIC VIDEO)
“Second Go” (MUSIC VIDEO)
“February Air” (MUSIC VIDEO)
