Fallen Empires (album)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fallen Empires
Interscope
  • Island (US)
  • ProducerJacknife Lee
    Snow Patrol chronology
    Up to Now
    (2009)
    Fallen Empires
    (2011)
    Greatest Hits
    (2013)
    Singles from Fallen Empires
    1. "Called Out in the Dark"
      Released: 2 September 2011
    2. "This Isn't Everything You Are"
      Released: 14 October 2011
    3. "New York"
      Released: 20 December 2011
    4. "In the End"
      Released: 13 February 2012
    5. "Lifening"
      Released: 5 July 2012

    Fallen Empires is the sixth

    studio album by Northern Irish-Scottish rock band Snow Patrol. The album was released on 11 November 2011[1] (10 January 2012 in North America). The album became the first to feature future member Johnny McDaid, who was credited as guest musician and songwriter in the album liner notes, and would officially join the band following the tour.[2] It is also the last album to feature keyboardist Tom Simpson, who would later depart the band in 2013. American singer Lissie
    provided additional vocals for six songs on the album ("I'll Never Let Go", "The Weight of Love", "The Garden Rules", "Fallen Empires", "Berlin", and "Those Distant Bells").

    Background and development

    When asked about the writing process for the album, Gary Lightbody commented by saying "It's the longest album we've ever made by far but also the best. We took our time and I also had some bouts of writer's block. It's the first time it's happened for such a long time. I've had days when I haven't been able to write. Since 2009, I've gone through three writer's blocks but I'm glad because the results are great afterwards. They probably made me write better songs."

    The song is also played in "

    Singles

    • "Called Out in the Dark" was released as the first single from the album on 2 September 2011 in the UK as an EP.[10] A video was released for the song before its release date on 17 August 2011.[11]
    • "This Isn't Everything You Are" was announced as the second single from the album on Snow Patrol's official site.[12] It was released on 14 October 2011.
    • "New York" was the third single from the album released in America on 20 December 2011.[13]
    • "In the End" was released as the fourth single on 13 February.
    • "Lifening" was the fifth single and was released on 5 July.

    Reception

    Critical reception

    Professional ratings
    Aggregate scores
    SourceRating
    Pitchfork
    4.8/10[21]
    Rolling Stone[22]
    Spin5/10[23]
    Toronto Star[24]

    Fallen Empires received mixed reviews from critics.

    weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average review score of 58/100, based on 25 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews".[14]

    James Christopher Monger wrote a favorable review for

    Allmusic, stating that the album "establishes an expansive vista of sound early on, bathing fairly simple melodies in waves of fastidious loops and sparse percussion."[15] Mike Haydock wrote a positive review for BBC Music, analysing that "Best of all are the moments when Snow Patrol blend the two approaches together, combining their own aesthetic with an Achtung Baby adoration."[25] Entertainment Weekly's Melissa Maerz wrote that "For all the sentiment, it's the simplest stuff that rings true."[17] The New York Times's Nate Chinen praised the songwriting, saying that "What makes this all feel reasonably unforced is the abiding earnestness in the songwriting."[26] The A.V. Club wrote that the album "it's comforting at worst and occasionally fantastic."[27]

    Dave Simpson wrote an average review, saying that "Although the variation in styles doesn't make for the most cohesive album, the default mood is still downbeat but anthemic--songs for couples to cling tightly to one another while raising mobiles in the air."

    Pitchfork Media thought that "the results are goofy."[21] The Daily Telegraph criticized the album for "stick[ing] too rigidly to the formula."[14]

    Commercial performance

    In 2011, Fallen Empires sold 269,000 copies in the UK.[29] The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 31,000 copies. It became the band's highest debut on the Billboard chart and the second album to reach the top-ten.[30]

    Track listing

    All lyrics are written by Gary Lightbody; all music is composed by Snow Patrol and Jacknife Lee, except "New York" by Snow Patrol, Lee and Johnny McDaid

    Fallen Empires track listing
    No.TitleLength
    1."I'll Never Let Go"4:44
    2."Called Out in the Dark"4:01
    3."The Weight of Love"4:16
    4."This Isn't Everything You Are"4:58
    5."The Garden Rules"4:29
    6."Fallen Empires"5:20
    7."Berlin"2:05
    8."Lifening"3:53
    9."New York"4:01
    10."In the End"4:00
    11."Those Distant Bells"3:17
    12."The Symphony"6:07
    13."The President"4:35
    14."Broken Bottles Form a Star (Prelude)"1:30

    There was also a special digipak version of the album showing highlights of the band playing live at the Royal Albert Hall on 25 November 2009 on their 'Reworked' tour. The track listing is as follows:

    First half highlights:

    No.TitleLength
    1."Finish Line" 
    2."An Olive Grove Facing the Sea" 
    3."Give Me Strength" 
    4."You Could Be Happy" 
    5."Take Back the City" 

    Second half highlights:

    No.TitleLength
    1."Dark Roman Wine" 
    2."Spitting Games" 
    3."Run" 
    4."Lifeboats" 
    5."The Planets Bend Between Us" 
    6."Chasing Cars" 

    Personnel

    Snow Patrol

    Other personnel

    Charts and certifications

    References

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    2. ^ "Johnny McDaid". Threee. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
    3. ^ "Snow Patrol: 'We've already written our next album'". NME. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
    4. ^ "Snow Patrol announce opening dates of Fallen Empires tour". metro.co.uk. 17 September 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
    5. ^ See occurrences on Google Search.
    6. ^ "Grey's Anatomy - Snow Patrol 'New York' S08E10". Retrieved 2 September 2013 – via YouTube.
    7. ^ "Grey's Anatomy 8x10 'Suddenly' Final Scene". Retrieved 2 September 2013 – via YouTube.
    8. ^ See occurrences on Google Search.
    9. ^ "Vampire Diaries 4x10 'After School Special'". Retrieved 2 September 2013 – via YouTube.
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    12. ^ "FIRST PLAY OF 'THIS ISN'T EVERYTHING YOU ARE' TONIGHT". Snow Patrol. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
    13. ^ "New York - Single". iTunes.
    14. ^
      CBS Interactive
      . Retrieved 20 January 2012.
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    16. ^ "Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires". Clash Magazine. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
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    22. ^ a b Stacey Anderson (10 November 2011). "Fallen Empires - Album Reviews - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone.
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