Pep (album)

Pep (stylized as PƎP) is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Lights. It was released on April 1, 2022, on Fueled by Ramen and is her first studio album under the label (not counting Skin & Earth Acoustic). Like her previous album, Skin & Earth, the album was accompanied by a comic, titled The Clinic, which is a side story to the Skin & Earth comic.

Pep
Studio album by
Lights
ReleasedApril 1, 2022 (2022-04-01)
Length43:10
LabelFueled by Ramen
Producer
Lights chronology
Skin & Earth
(2017)		 Pep
(2022)
Singles from Pep
  1. "Prodigal Daughter"
    Released: October 20, 2021
  2. "Real Thing"
    Released: December 24, 2021
  3. "Salt and Vinegar"
    Released: February 4, 2022
  4. "In My Head"
    Released: March 17, 2022
  5. "Okay Okay"
    Released: April 1, 2022

The album debuted at number 32 on the Canadian Albums Chart,[1] being her first album not to break the top 10, as well as her first album to not enter the Billboard 200, but it did peak at number 25 on the Top Album Sales chart.[2]

Background

In an interview with AltPress, Lights stated she started writing the songs around 2019, but once the COVID-19 pandemic struck, she wanted the album to be more positive, which was inspired by her mental health worsening during that time.[3][4] Because it was her first album released through Fueled by Ramen, she revealed being on the label influenced her to make the album with less of a pop sound like her previous albums and have more of a rock and alt style.[3]

Lights said tying this album in with a comic book was because she wanted to continue the story of Skin & Earth, which she claimed was still not finished.[3] When talking about The Clinic, she claimed the comic is "a metaphor for music. We use music to get away, to escape from our realities. The Clinic is a big metaphor for an album."[4]

Promotion

Lights released the single "Prodigal Daughter" on October 20, 2021, along with the first part of an accompanying comic book, The Clinic, which is a side story to her previous comic Skin & Earth.[5] Not too long after, she announced the Baby I'm Back tour in North America.[6] The second single, "Real Thing", which featured Los Angeles-based musician Elohim, was released on December 24, 2021.[7] On February 4, 2022, the third single, "Salt and Vinegar", was released as well as the official announcement of the album.[8] On March 17, 2022, the fourth single, "In My Head", featuring Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun was released.[9]

Reception
Pep ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Clash6/10[11]
The Spill Magazine[12]
Under the Radar8/10[13]

AllMusic rated the album 4.5 stars, writing "Lights has leveled up, delivering a potent, lyrically mature, and musically colorful production that balances her empowered feminism with a sleek, take-no-prisoners pop aesthetic."[10]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Beside Myself"Lights4:11
2."In My Head" (featuring Josh Dun)
3:08
3."Prodigal Daughter"Lights2:55
4."Salt and Vinegar"Lights3:15
5."Money in the Bag" (featuring Kiesza)
2:44
6."Jaws"Lights3:17
7."Rent"Lights3:26
8."Sparky"Lights3:27
9."Real Thing" (featuring Elohim)
3:05
10."Easy Money"
  • Lights
  • Dylan Bauld
3:26
11."Okay Okay"
  • Lights
  • Bauld
3:20
12."Voices Carry"
  • Lights
  • Bauld
3:39
13."Grip"
  • Lights
  • Bauld
3:10
Total length:43:10
Lights Webstore Edition
No.TitleLength
14."Prodigal Daughter (Chill Version)" 

Charts

dEd
dEd
Studio album by
Lights
ReleasedApril 7, 2023 (2023-04-07)
Length55:00
LabelFueled by Ramen
Lights chronology
Pep
(2022)		 dEd
(2023)
Singles from dEd
  1. "Voices Carry (dEd version)"
    Released: March 24, 2023

In March 2023, Lights announced a slowed-down version of the album, titled dEd, which was released on April 7. It includes all the songs from pEp in reverse order.[14][15]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Grip (dEd Version)"
3:45
2."Voices Carry (dEd Version)"
  • Lights
  • Bauld
4:27
3."Okay Okay (dEd Version)"
  • Lights
  • Bauld
5:10
4."Easy Money (dEd Version)"
  • Lights
  • Dylan Bauld
4:14
5."Real Thing (dEd Version)" (featuring Elohim)
3:52
6."Sparky (dEd Version)"Lights4:45
7."Rent (dEd Version)"Lights (dEd Version)3:54
8."Jaws (dEd Version)"Lights (dEd Version)4:01
9."Money in the Bag (dEd Version)" (featuring Kiesza)
4:39
10."Salt and Vinegar (dEd Version)"Lights4:12
11."Prodigal Daughter (dEd Version)"Lights4:01
12."In My Head (dEd Version)"
4:22
13."Beside Myself (dEd Version)"Lights4:45

References
  1. "Billboard Canadian Albums". Billboard. 2022-04-16. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  2. "Top Album Sales". Billboard. 2022-04-16. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  3. Wilkes, Emma (8 April 2022). "LIGHTS embraced confidence and self-love for fifth album 'PEP'—interview". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  4. Roberts, Rachel (2022-04-26). ""Humanity is fucked, but we can still enjoy music and have the best time": Lights on embracing positivity and feeling like a badass on PEP". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  5. Lava, Migs. "Lights returns with new single "Prodigal Daughter" | Canadian Beats Media | Migs Lava | Promos". Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  6. "Lights Announce Spring 2022 Tour Dates -". mxdwn Music. 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  7. "Lights Shares Video for New Song "Real Thing" | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  8. Major, Michael. "Lights Announce New Album 'Pep'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  9. "Lights Shares Origins of New Single "In My Head" Featuring Josh Dun: Exclusive". Consequence. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  10. Lights - Pep Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-09-19
  11. Shodipe, Sarah (April 7, 2022). "Lights – Pep". Clash. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  12. Andujar, Samantha. "Spill Album Review: Lights – Pep". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  13. Saalman, Austin (April 5, 2022). "Lights: Pep (Fueled by Ramen)". Under the Radar. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  14. Major, Michael. "Lights Shares Reimagined Album 'dEd'". Broadwayworld. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  15. Stoddard, Cait (26 March 2023). "Lights Shares Reimagined "Voices Carry (dEd Version)"". mxdwn. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
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