Light Upon The Lake

Whitney - Light Upon The Lake
Critic Score
Based on 24 reviews
2016 Ratings: #137 / 1004
Year End Rank: #33
User Score
Based on 490 ratings
2016 Rank: #130
Liked by 23 people
June 3, 2016 / Release Date
LP / Format
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
Clash
In its relentless fixation upon youth ‘Light Upon The Lake’ seems to have stumbled across the timeless.
90
Loud and Quiet

I could list every track and rhyme off a whole catalogue of touchstones so let me keep this simple: ‘Light Upon The Lake’ is a beautiful thing. Its melodies are beautiful and its honesty of emotion is beautiful. Make it a part of your life.

85
Paste
The weird thing about labeling this record as a breakup album is that it’s both accurate and—paradoxically—widely off-base.It’s not angsty, or hastily prepared in a few drunken nights off of some fit of red-eyed nostalgia.
85
The 405
A better summertime album will be hard to find this year. You can expect to see Whitney's name on a lot of year-end lists and deservedly so.
83
Pitchfork
Whitney might not reinvent anything, but they sound perfect right now, and it’s hard to argue with being in the right place at the right time.
83
Consequence of Sound
Their dulcet, vintage tones intoxicate and overwhelm the senses, while the cutting lyrics set the table for a thoroughly emotional listening experience.
80
The Skinny

Light Upon The Lake is a transient pleasure – but a vivid one while it lasts.

80
The Guardian
Those with a low tolerance for winsome male falsettos may wish to steer clear, but anyone who loves the strain of American pop that began when the Byrds started branching out in 1966 and 1967 should rush to hear this delightful confection.
80
The Line of Best Fit

For a band trying to embody the mindset of an “old-ass dude living alone” you’ll be surprised at just how warm and inviting Light Upon the Lake is, as well as the size of the smile it leaves on your face.

80
DIY
No doubt about it, ‘Light Upon the Lake’ is a record thousands will hold dear. The record’s finest moments relate to everyone’s lives, in one way or another. Whether it’s golden youth or present day regrets, there’s something to cling onto.
80
NME
All 10 tracks on ‘Light Upon The Lake’ share a serene, peaceful bond, with Ehrlich’s startling falsetto bringing to mind Bobby Charles and Shuggie Otis, two genial artists whose personalities have always shone through on their records.
80
AllMusic
The album wades into jam band territory on occasion, but for the most part hovers between a singer/songwriter-friendly indie rock club and somewhere on the dial of '70s AM radio. It proves a pretty comforting place to be.
80
PopMatters
A welcome presence in the story of summer 2016, Whitney will be an underdog I’ll be rooting for well into their sophomore release.
75
Pretty Much Amazing
Whitney knows what you and I am going through—because they’ve gone/are going through the same thing too.
70
Under the Radar

This is a debut record that focuses less on establishing identity and more on crafting its own picturesque little world. Light Upon the Lake hasn't a care in that world; it innocently rolls around some of the loveliest, sunniest country songs you're likely to hear all year.

70
Drowned in Sound
Are Whitney destined for long-term success? Instinct says no they’re not. Pleasant but forgettable-in-the-long term albums are, after all, a dime a dozen. But this does stand out as one of the best.
50
God Is in the TV

Despite being a pleasant album to relax to in a summer afternoon in June, Whitney’s cliched concept and lack of unique sound will make it hard them to stand on their own two feet away from the name complexities.

Jallen2035
86

Such an enjoyable record that radiates hope and positivity.

caitofgoodhope
95

this record sounds exactly like something my dad would play on a saturday morning in the beginning of spring

dearsongs
NR

The instrumental melodies on this thing are really really great... The key is Julien Ehrlich needs to grow a bit as a vocalist and songwriter. IMO this band has huge potential and I hope they have been hard at work on a sophomore effort. Three years later (to the day) we are still waiting for a follow up, but they have a big tour coming up so I'm hopeful a new album will be announced in the near future.

Phoenix
NR

Pretty chill.

FAVORITE TRACKS: NO WOMAN, DAVE'S SONG, LIGHT UPON THE LAKE.

barcacool
79

I just wanted to listen to Whitney Houston, but I landed here and I like it.

THEVOID
89

wow I didn't expect it to be so good

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Track List

1No Woman
3:57
93
2The Falls
2:20
79
3Golden Days
4:02
86
4Dave’s Song
3:01
84
5Light Upon the Lake
3:09
78
6No Matter Where We Go
2:41
81
7On My Own
2:14
82
8Red Moon
1:42
67
9Polly
3:26
75
10Follow
3:26
74
Total Length: 30 minutes
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Added on: March 23, 2016