Lights and Sounds is the fifth studio album by American rock band Yellowcard, released on January 24, 2006, in the United States through Capitol Records.

Lights and Sounds is Yellowcard's first concept album, which was inspired to reflect what the band was feeling at the time of production and how they have matured in the process.

In December 2004, vocalist Ryan Key and bassist Peter Mosely moved to New York City to write songs for their upcoming album,[2][4][5] while the rest of the band remained in Los Angeles.

[5] It was also during this time that Key and Mosely began to turn their apartment into a studio, adding a drum kit, guitar amps, and even including a piano.

Recording was handled by Bradley Cook and Avron, with assistance from Bill Mims and Pro Tools engineer Travis Huff.

Tom Lord-Alge mixed the recordings, with assistance from Femio Hernández, at South Beach Studios in Miami, Florida.

Ryan Key, in discussion of this, said that Ocean Avenue was about "finding your place in the world" and explained that Lights and Sounds was about "realizing that you've gotten lost".

[5] Yellowcard also credit Aphex Twin, Mouse on Mars and Explosions in the Sky for inspiration, regarding the music sound in the album.

"[6] Printz Board of The Black Eyed Peas collaborated with Yellowcard on the song "Two Weeks from Twenty" where he played a trumpet solo.

[17] According to Peter Mosely, the band liked the Chicks' and even thought of collaborating with Maines on Ocean Avenue for the song "View from Heaven".

[23] During discussion of the track listing in Lights and Sounds, Yellowcard revealed that "Two Weeks from Twenty" stretched the "limits" for them and explained that it was a "jazz-lounge anti-war song".

[10] The band also explained that the song is a narrative of a young soldier named Jimmy, from New Jersey, who is killed in the Iraq war.

"[25] In August 2005, Yellowcard announced the songs, "Lights and Sounds", "Sure Thing Falling", and "Two Weeks from Twenty", that were going to be featured in the album.

[20] "Lights and Sounds" debuted as part of the soundtrack to Burnout Revenge, before made available for streaming through the band's website on September 14, 2005.

[3][32][nb 1] The music video for the title-track was featured on a Verizon Wireless Vcast commercial around the time of the album's release.

[37] In April and May, the band embarked on the Virgin College Mega Tour alongside Mae, Over It, and Strike Fire Fall.

[44][45] In September 2006, the band went on a headlining tour of the US with support from Anberlin and Reeve Oliver, and appeared at the X96 Big Ass Show and Bamboozle Left festivals.

[34] Ben Breier of Kent News wrote: "One thing is certain: The Yellowcard you grew to know and love circa Ocean Avenue is no longer with us.

The band has vastly matured when compared to past records, but it comes at a price – members forgot what made them occasionally catchy and addictive in the first place.

"[11] Now magazine claimed that the band "may be in the right place, it's clear they're simply incapable of realizing this clumsy faux magnum opus.

"[49] Sputnikmusic gave the album 3.5 out of five stars, writing: "It's pop-punk, and fairly unambitious stuff at that ... What keeps this record on its feet is the lyricism, the production and the simplicity of it all.

"[51] Billboard magazine gave the album 8 out of 10 stars, and claimed that Yellowcard made a "strong effort that trades sunny-sounding rockers and breakup songs for weightier concerns of war and family, 'Lights' conveys that maturity without seeming strained.

"[56] McClanahan revealed that he was not looking forward to listen to the album, but admitted once he heard he knew it embraced the band's "strengths" and that they "greatly expanded the subject matter of its songs.

"[56] Lights and Sounds debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and Top Internet Albums' charts,[57][58] and sold over 95,000 copies in its first week of release.

[1] Internationally, Lights and Sounds peaked at number four on the Canadian Top Album Chart,[58] making it Yellowcard's highest debut in Canada.

[61] When asked about the disappointment of sales that Lights and Sounds received, Sean Mackin said: I think that the band went on ... maybe not a tangent, but we had a goal in mind, and at the end of the recording process, we were so proud of how artistic we were.

[62] The second single, "Rough Landing, Holly", was released on May 6, 2006, reached 27 on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks, and peaked at number 49 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) chart.

All music by Key, Sean Mackin, Ryan Mendez, Pete Mosely, and Longineu W. Parsons III, except where noted.