Alex Henry Foster's 'Standing Under Bright Lights' Impacts Billboard Sales Charts Worldwide Amidst Global Acclaim
Alternative, post-rock’s Alex Henry Foster impacts album sales charts worldwide with his live triple-vinyl / double-CD and concert film Standing Under Bright Lights following its release April 16. In its first week available at digital and streaming outlets everywhere from Hopeful Tragedy Records, the recording hit No. 4 in Canada (No. 1 iTunes Top Albums), debuted at No. 6 in Australia and reached No. 13 in the UK. The album also landed at No. 18 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists and No. 31 on its Current Album Sales charts while fans also quickly depleted the vinyl collector's boxes available at his label's store.
From Montreal and now residing in the highlands of Virginia, Foster’s full production, 11-piece band concert Standing Under Bright Lights was recorded live in front of a sold out Club Soda (July 2019) while Foster headlined the Montreal International Jazz Festival. The concert was named one of the top five events not to be missed by Canada’s national TV/Radio broadcaster CBC. Originally set to release October 8, 2020, which would have been his late father’s birthday, Foster decided to utilize the extra time the worldwide pandemic would give him to produce the recording and concert film.
With Rolling Stone labeling the album’s lead single, “The Son of Hannah,” “simply fascinating,” and the Montreal Gazette hearing “a remarkable buzz around the world with his challenging alternative rock,” Foster’s Standing Under Bright Lights has garnered acclaim across the globe. Along with an NRT Now “Next Big Thing” podcast interview, Foster has been recently featured by Prog Magazine, ICI Premiere (CBC), Louder Than War, BrooklynVegan, Between The Grooves, PAN M 360, FYI Music News, TVK, Rebel Noise, All Rock, Mr. Vinyl and many more.
“[Standing Under Bright Lights] captivated concert-goers every second with improv, emotions, darkness, poetry laden lyrics, spoken word vocals and experimental music that transported everyone in attendance to a different plane.” - American Songwriter
“This is the kind of live album that used to establish artists...” - Vancouver Sun
“An Intimate, Impassioned, Astonishing record.” - Metro UK
“Standing Under Bright Lights is a deeply spiritual hymn to the warmth and light that burns inside us all.” - 3 Songs & Out
“Think Pink Floyd visiting Radiohead…” - Le Devoir
“…an avalanche of progressive alternative rock music… feverish poetry and progressive impetus which defends our spirit at each listening.” - ARP Media
“Standing Under Bright Lights is…a mesmerizing experience. …the event feels vibrant, it grips you even…” - Le Soleil
“Alex Henry Foster has earned his due and has helped transcend post-rock into a realm of prog possibilities encompassing the world where Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree meet Godspeed You! Black Emperor.” - Glide Magazine
“…this is a release of such absolute quality, such exquisite poise…It is an absolute statement piece that, if there is any justice, will place Alex Foster Henry into a place where he will be rightfully regarded amongst the creme of emerging talent on the world stage." - Uber Rock
“…one of the most dedicated and passionate works of art from a musician in recent memory.” - Interview Under Fire
“Just like the crescendo of the song ‘The Son of Hannah,’ there is a raw, cathartic release of tension that is born of anger, but released as hope.” - Montreal Rocks
“Rarely are we presented with such raw emotion in music or performance.” - Sound Vapors
“Standing Under Bright Lights: An Intense and Genuine Journey” - Journal de Québec / Montréal
Along with lead singles “The Son of Hannah” and “Winter Is Coming In” that have received hundreds of thousands of plays across numerous playlists, Standing Under Bright Lights features every song from Foster’s debut solo album, Windows in the Sky, which hit No. 1 multiple times on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, staying in the Top 40 on the chart for a full year after its release. The songs from this celebrated album were re-invented for the live recording as the band performed along with a movie projection produced by Foster. Almost 2 hours and 30 minutes long, the concert at which Standing Under Bright Lights was recorded is now considered among the best concerts throughout the 40 years of the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Playing the new music and fan favorites on tour, Foster and his band are preparing to tour internationally with 23 dates in Europe set to begin next month, pandemic allowing.
