To Lose My Life...

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox album | name = To Lose My Life... | type = studio | artist = White Lies | cover = To Lose My Life.PNG | alt = Three pipes can be seen rising out of the ground, in front of a black and white street backdrop. | released = 19 January 2009 | recorded = May–September 2008 | venue = | studio = ICP Studios, Brussels<br />Kore Studios, Acton, London | genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|post-punk revival}} | length = 44:50 | label = Fiction | producer = {{hlist|Ed Buller|Max Dingel}} | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Ritual | next_year = 2011 | misc = {{Singles | name = To Lose My Life... | type = album | single1 = Unfinished Business | single1date = 28 April 2008 | single2 = Death | single2date = 22 September 2008 | single3 = To Lose My Life | single3date = 12 January 2009 | single4 = Farewell to the Fairground | single4date = 23 March 2009 | single5 = Death (re-issue) | single5date = 29 June 2009 }} }} '''''To Lose My Life...''''' (also known by extended title of '''''To Lose My Life or Lose My Love''''', or shortened as '''''To Lose My Life''''') is the debut album by the British indie rock<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/white-lies |title=White Lies - To Lose My Life|magazine=Clash|accessdate=March 21, 2011}}</ref> band White Lies. It was released on 19 January 2009 by Fiction Records.<ref name="gigwise review">{{cite news|url=http://www.gigwise.com/reviews/albums/48521/White-Lies---To-Lose-My-Life-Fiction-Released-190109|title=White Lies - 'To Lose My Life' (Fiction) Released: 19/01/09|last=Gregory|first=Jason|date=2009-01-05|work=Gigwise.com|accessdate=2010-09-06|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106080837/http://www.gigwise.com/reviews/albums/48521/White-Lies---To-Lose-My-Life-Fiction-Released-190109|archivedate=2010-11-06}}</ref> The album was produced by Ed Buller and Max Dingel, and was recorded at ICP Studios in Belgium and Kore Studios in London.

The album produced four singles: "Unfinished Business", "Death" and "To Lose My Life", prior to its release, and "Farewell to the Fairground" in the months following. "Death" was reissued in June 2009, with "From the Stars" appearing as iTunes's "Single of the Week" during December 2008.<ref name="AM Nuggets">{{cite web|url=http://www.wnew.com/2008/12/am-nuggets-free.html|title=A.M. Nuggets: Free Download on iTunes - From the Stars by White Lies|first=Matt|last=Simpson|publisher=wnew.com|date=30 December 2008|accessdate=31 December 2008}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> The album was released in the United States on 17 March 2009.<ref name="Kiwi interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.kiwibox.com/article/39447/2|title=White Lies Exclusive Interview|publisher=kiwibox.com|date=2009-03-10|accessdate=2009-03-22|first=Steven|last=Horowitz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009211900/https://www.kiwibox.com/article/39447/2|archive-date=2018-10-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History and production== The album was recorded at ICP Studios in Brussels, Belgium,<ref name="NME Exclusive">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/white-lies/40724|title=White Lies announce album details - exclusive|magazine=NME|date=2008-10-29|accessdate=2008-11-27}}</ref> and Kore Studios, Acton, west London.<ref name="polydor bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.polydor.co.uk/group_artists.php?id=26|title=White Lies - Artists - Biography|publisher=Polydor Records|accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> It was produced by Ed Buller and Max Dingel, who previously worked with Suede, the Killers and Glasvegas. Further mixing was completed by Alan Moulder.<ref name="state">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.state.ie/2009/11/features/interview-with-white-lies/|title=Interview with White Lies|last=Crowther|first=Sophie Ann|date=2009-11-04|magazine=State|accessdate=2009-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109233009/http://www.state.ie/2009/11/features/interview-with-white-lies/|archive-date=2009-11-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album featured a 20-piece orchestra,<ref name="Newsbeat">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7713000/7713878.stm|title=White Lies 'proud' of debut album|work=BBC News|access-date=27 November 2008 | date=2008-11-07}}</ref> later stated as a 25-piece, arranged by Buller.<ref name="gigwise">{{cite news|url=http://www.gigwise.com/article.php?id=48703&page_no=2|title=The Truth Is Out - White Lies|last=Gregory|first=Jason|date=2009-01-14|work=Gigwise.com|accessdate=2009-12-21}}</ref> Upon entering the studio, the band only had five early demo versions of tracks "Death", "E.S.T.", "Farewell to the Fairground", "From the Stars" and "Unfinished Business"; the rest of the songs were written and recorded during studio time.<ref name="fly january">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.authoritydesign.com/whitelies/white_lies_the_fly.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707191607/http://www.authoritydesign.com/whitelies/white_lies_the_fly.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2011-07-07|title=The Great Depression|last=Doherty|first=Niall|date=January 2009|magazine=The Fly|pages=21–24|accessdate=2010-03-13}}</ref>

==Promotion and release== On 22 September 2008, the band played nine of the 10 released tracks at Manchester's Night and Day Café. Reviewing the gig, ''NME'' described the album by its provisional title of ''To Lose My Life or Lose My Love''.<ref name="Manchester Night & Day">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/white-lies/39901|title=White Lies preview debut album at Manchester show|magazine=NME|accessdate=January 27, 2008}}</ref>

The album was released on 19 January 2009 in the United Kingdom on CD and 12-inch vinyl, as well as in a number of other limited-edition forms, including one housed in a green cardboard box. Pre-orders bought from online retailer Play.com were packaged in a slipcase exclusive to that website, while the iTunes Store released the album with a number of bonus tracks and remixes previously only found as B-sides. White Lies' official website packaged the first 500 purchases with a green companion booklet, containing studio pictures and individual essays written by members of the band and production team. The site also published the album in a deluxe boxset, which contained the album on six 7-inch vinyl discs, along with an extra 7" containing demo versions of "The Price of Love" and "Nothing to Give". On 13 February 2009, the band announced the release of an instrumental version of the album, free with iTunes and physical purchases.<ref name="instrumental">{{cite web|url=https://www.pushentertainment.com/192|title=White Lies - To Lose My Life|publisher=pushentertainment.com|accessdate=2009-03-25}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> The album's artwork was nominated alongside 49 others for Best Art Vinyl 2009 by website Artvinyl.com. Finishing seventh in the overall poll,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artvinyl.com/en/nominate/nominations.html|title=Best Art Vinyl 2009 : The Winners|publisher=artvinyl.com|accessdate=2010-06-16|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106094828/http://www.artvinyl.com/en/nominate/nominations.html|archivedate=2010-01-06}}</ref> the artwork was displayed in multiple exhibitions in Birmingham and London during November 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artvinyl.com/en/events.html|title=Art Vinyl - Coming Events|publisher=artvinyl.com|accessdate=2010-06-16|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623130341/http://www.artvinyl.com/en/events.html|archivedate=2010-06-23}}</ref>

On 17 April 2010, the band released ''The Remixes'', an EP containing remixes of songs from ''To Lose My Life...''. The five-track EP was limited to 500 copies and released as part of Record Store Day 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgigs.co.uk/view/review/4786/White_Lies_The_Remixes_Ep_Review.html|title=The Remixes - White Lies EP Review|last=Pledger|first=Paul|date=2010-04-21|publisher=allgigs.co.uk|accessdate=2010-06-16}}</ref>

==Reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/to-lose-my-life-r1471052 |title=To Lose My Life... - White Lies |website=AllMusic |date=2009-01-12 |accessdate=2012-03-12}}</ref> | MC = 58/100<ref name="metacritic2">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/to-lose-my-life/white-lies|title=Reviews for To Lose My Life|work=Metacritic|accessdate=15 August 2015}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Clash'' | rev2Score = (positive)<ref name="Clash review">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/white-lies|title=White Lies - To Lose My Life|last=Diver|first=Mike|date=2008-12-18|magazine=Clash|accessdate=2010-06-16}}</ref> | rev3 = Drowned in Sound | rev3Score = (7/10)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/13872/reviews/4136023|title=White Lies - To Lose My Life|last=Dourlay|first=Dom|date=2009-01-27|magazine=Drowned in Sound|accessdate=2010-06-16|archive-date=28 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428110723/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/13872/reviews/4136023|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Fly'' | rev4Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/reviews/album-reviews/3790/white-lies|title=Album Review: White Lies / 'To Lose My Life' (Fiction)|last=Thomsett|first=Sophie|date=2009-01-09|magazine=The Fly|accessdate=2010-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613062657/http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/reviews/album-reviews/3790/white-lies|archive-date=2011-06-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Guardian'' | rev5Score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jan/16/white-lies-to-lose-my-life|title=White Lies: To Lose My Life|last=Rogers|first=Jude|date=2009-01-16|work=The Guardian|publisher=guardian.co.uk|accessdate=2010-06-16}}</ref> | rev6 = ''The Independent'' | rev6Score = (favourable)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-white-lies-to-lose-my-life-fiction-1298906.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-white-lies-to-lose-my-life-fiction-1298906.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Album: White Lies, To Lose My Life, (Fiction)|last=Price|first=Simon|date=2009-01-11|newspaper=The Independent|accessdate=2010-06-16}}</ref> | rev7 = ''NME'' | rev7Score = (8/10)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/white-lies/10047|title=White Lies|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|date=2009-01-16|magazine=NME|accessdate=2010-06-16}}</ref> | rev8 = Pitchfork | rev8Score = (4.0/10)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12801-to-lose-my-life/|title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: White Lies: To Lose My Life...|last=Hogan|first=Marc|date=2009-03-16|website=Pitchfork|accessdate=2010-06-16}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Spin'' | rev9Score = {{rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/white-lies-lose-my-life-fictiongeffen|title=White Lies, 'To Lose My Life...' (Fiction/Geffen)|last=Walters|first=Barry|date=2009-02-28|magazine=Spin|accessdate=2010-06-16}}</ref> | rev10 = ''The Sunday Times'' | rev10Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article5516223.ece|title=White Lies: To Lose My Life review|last=Edwards|first=Mark|date=2009-01-18|newspaper=The Sunday Times|accessdate=2010-06-16}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> | rev11 = Yahoo! Music | rev11Score = {{rating|8|10}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/090112/33/220f9.html|title=White Lies To Lose My Life Album Review|last=Kharas|first=Kev|date=2009-01-12|publisher=Yahoo! Music|accessdate=2010-06-16|archive-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613162548/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/090112/33/220f9.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> }}

===Critical=== Initial critical response for ''To Lose My Life...'' was mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 58, based on 17 reviews.<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/whitelies/tolosemylife | title=White Lies:To Lose My Life... (2009): Reviews | work=Metacritic | publisher=CNET Networks, Inc | accessdate=2009-04-02 }}</ref>

=== Chart performance === ''To Lose My Life...'' debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, making White Lies the first British act in 2009 to achieve a No. 1 album.<ref name="Clash 2009 tour">{{cite news|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/news/white-lies-reveal-massive-uk-tour|title=White Lies Reveal Massive UK Tour|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=2009-06-08|work=Live|publisher=Clash|accessdate=2009-06-08}}</ref> It was the first 2009 album to debut at No. 1.<ref name="Scotsman Barrowlands">{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Music-review-White-Lies-.5236635.jp|title=Gig review: White Lies|last=Richardson|first=Jay|date=2009-05-06|work=Gig Reviews|publisher=The Scotsman|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref> Worldwide, the album charted in 11 countries, including six top 40 positions in Europe.<ref name="acharts world">{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/album/41383|title=White Lies - To Lose My Life - Music Charts|publisher=αCharts.us|accessdate=2009-11-23}}</ref>

==Track listing== {{track listing | all_music = White Lies | title1 = Death | length1 = 5:01 | title2 = To Lose My Life | length2 = 3:11 | title3 = A Place to Hide | length3 = 5:01 | title4 = Fifty on Our Foreheads | length4 = 4:21 | title5 = Unfinished Business | length5 = 4:18 | title6 = E.S.T. | length6 = 5:01 | title7 = From the Stars | length7 = 4:52 | title8 = Farewell to the Fairground | length8 = 4:16 | title9 = Nothing to Give | length9 = 4:11 | title10 = The Price of Love | length10 = 4:38 }}

{{track listing | headline = iTunes Store bonus tracks | title11 = You Still Love Him | note11 = "Unfinished Business" B-side | length11 = 3:22 | title12 = Black Song | note12 = "Death" B-side | length12 = 3:47 | title13 = Taxidermy | note13 = "To Lose My Life" B-side | length13 = 3:17 }}

{{track listing | headline = Limited 6 x 7" edition bonus tracks | title1 = Nothing to Give (Demo Version) | length1 = 4:12 | title2 = The Price of Love (Demo Version) | length2 = 3:44 }}

{{track listing | headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks | title11 = Death (Crystal Castles Remix) | length11 = 4:47 | title12 = Farewell to the Fairground (Yuksek Remix) | length12 = 4:21 | title13 = To Lose My Life (Filthy Dukes Remix) | length13 = 5:42 }}

{{track listing | all_music = White Lies | headline = To Lose My Life (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) CD2 | title1 = Taxidermy (B-Side) | length1 = 3:16 | title2 = You Still Love Him (Demo) | length2 = 3:21 | title3 = Black Song (B-Side) | length3 = 3:50 | title4 = Farewell to the Fairground (Demo) | length4 = 4:33 | title5 = Unfinished Business (Chess Club Single Version) | length5 = 4:10 | title6 = From the Stars (Demo) | length6 = 4:43 | title7 = To Lose My Life (Live) | length7 = 3:11 | title8 = E.S.T. (Live) | length8 = 4:28 | title9 = A Place To Hide (Live) | length9 = 5:01 | title10 = Death (Crystal Castles Remix) | length10 = 4:59 | title11 = Nothing To Give (M83 Remix) | length11 = 6:22 }}

==Personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;White Lies * Harry McVeigh – lead vocals, guitar * Charles Cave – bass guitar, backing vocals * Jack Lawrence-Brown – drums {{col-2}} ;Additional personnel * Ed Buller – production * Max Dingel – production {{col-end}}

==Charts and certifications== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Austria|57|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|24|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Denmark|10|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|31|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|France|119|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|50|id=104414|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Ireland2|23|artist=White Lies|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Italy|37|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|40|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Norway|22|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|3|date=20090125|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|73|artist=White Lies|album=To Lose My Life...|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|1|date=20090125|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|146|artist=White Lies|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|4|artist=White Lies|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2021}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20090104/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=3 November 2021}}</ref> | 89 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{certification Table Top}} {{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Denmark|artist=White Lies|title=To Lose my Life|award=Gold|certyear=2011|relmonth=01|relyear=2009|accessdate=14 April 2019}} {{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Ireland|artist=White Lies|title=To Lose my Life|award=Gold|certyear=2009|relyear=2009|accessdate=28 February 2020}} {{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=White Lies|title=To Lose my Life|award=Gold|certyear=2013|relyear=2009|id=9499-2737-2|salesamount= 229,575|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.musicweek.com/live/read/white-lies-announce-10th-anniversary-brixton-show/075700l|magazine=Music Week|title=White Lies announce 10th anniversary Brixton show |first=James|last=Hanley|page=3|date=22 March 2019|accessdate=14 April 2019}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

Category:White Lies (band) albums Category:Albums produced by Ed Buller Category:2009 debut albums Category:Fiction Records albums Category:Geffen Records albums