Formed from the ruins of synth pop outfit the Incredible Moses Leroy, the SoftLightes came together in the fall of 2004. Two years later, their debut album, Say No to Being Cool. Say Yes to Being Happy, was released.
“Gorgeous, evocative electro-pop” – LA Times
“Softlightes is under under-the-radar. Still, Fontenberry, the former singer for another obscure-but-brilliant band the Incredible Moses Leroy, is a minor cult hero… One listen establishes the laundry list of musicians he’s got something in common with: a gift for melody reminiscent of the Eels’ E, a rasp that recalls the Polyphonic Spree’s Tim Delaughter, and a penchant for out-there noises on par with Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips… All together, the album signals a previously unknown rocker coming into his own.” 4/5 – Metromix
“the Softlightes have an extremely comfortable sound, and there’s something to be said for that. This is Flaming Lips lite. This is Elf Power strapped to a vocoder. This is power pop with saccharine vocals à la Brian Wilson, only shot through with a healthy dose of synthesizers and robots… those first few spins are delicious.” – All Music Guide
“Say No to Being Cool, Say Yes to Being Happy is a real gem. It mixes the perfect amount of whimsical electronica pop with a sweet helping of thoughtful lyrics and a good amount of earnest, computer-generated musical genius.” Grade A – Playback:stl
“Softlightes make delicate, charming, and somewhat spiritual pop songs that hint at the sun. Fans of The Flaming Lips, Grandaddy, and Beck will love their songs… these indie-poppers are here to bring out the sun in any dark club that they grace you with their presence.” – 4/5 – Crashin’ In