Fallen Empires

Snow Patrol | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: January 10, 2012
• Release Date: January 10, 2012
• Label: Island Records
• Copyright: (C) 2011 Polydor Ltd. (UK) Under exclusive license in the United States to The Island Def Jam Music Group
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 57:06
• Genres:
• ASIN: B006N512OO
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)
  • #15 in MP3 Downloads > MP3 Albums > Alternative Rock

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Snow Patrol--more focused, tighter, and rockin' out, January 10, 2012

By 

Storylover (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fallen Empires [Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

Snow Patrol had cautioned fans that they should expect the band to take a new musical direction, so it was with a sense of concern that I approached this album. I need not have worried. Lightbody is still singing his heart out, his beautiful tenor floating and soaring and giving me chills. The music is a little more back to basics, rockier, but still fully accessible to fans who have been following them. Stand out tracks for me include "New York", which has an aching intro that harks back to some of the best moments of Snow Patrol, and "In The End", where Lightbody intones "In the end, there's nothing more to life than love, is there?" over a thrumming bass and a hard drumbeat. Ultimately, if you've been loving Snow Patrol, don't be scared. This is still classic Britrock with the melodic sensibilities that we have loved before. I think that this record will welcome a new set of fans into the fold. Very enjoyable, accessible record.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Snow Patrol Are Back, and In Fine Form, January 11, 2012

By 

Rudy Palma "The Writing Fiend" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fallen Empires [Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

Credit must be given where it is due. Snow Patrol have taken a creative risk by bathing new studio album "Fallen Empires" in electro beats and flirting ever so carefully on several tracks with a sound that's a bit more radio-friendly.

Regardless, what really works for "Fallen Empires" is the general lack of a dour, self-serious vibe that often plagues the work of decidedly "arty" rock artists at this approximate time of career. Gary Lightbody and company do not project any more than a necessary self-consciousness into the material, so nothing is cloying or overly sentimental. The music breathes.

Singles "Calling Out in the Dark," "This Isn't Everything You Are" and "New York" all have pep, rhythm, melody and sparkle with glistening choruses and considered, poetic lyrics that transform them into impressive, easy-to-listen-to pop/rock anthems.

They are not where the record's merit ends. "In the End" is profoundly stirring, with strong percussion from Jonny Quinn and husky guitars from Nathan Connolly propelling the pathos-fused melody and lyric onward. Lightbody's vocals are sincere and rife with passion. The nervy, jangly title track, with vocal modulations and rapid-fire drumming, works nearly as well.

The particularly electro-infused opener "I'll Never Let Go" is as intriguing and idiosyncratic as the more simply-produced anthem "Lifening," which breathes easily, simply presenting Lightbody's unique take on the meaning of life atop a highly evocative guitar.

"Berlin" also spots a unique worldbeat feel with a mixed-gender choral background, while "Those Distant Bells" sets the balmy, deeply felt tone its title implies.

"Fallen Empires" may lose Snow Patrol some fans, but it may gain them some as well. It is a slick, adventurous and artistically sincere set of solid tunes crafted by inarguably talented musicians.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars super awesome, January 20, 2012

By 

Daniel Kauwe "dkkauwe" (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fallen Empires (MP3 Download)

i'm very happy with this album. i feel like most artists/groups degrade with time and fail to maintain momentum. snow patrol continues to deliver incredible music time and time again. i can easily say that i love all of the songs on this album, and it's hard to pick a favorite.

one thing that i have to note is that it's a little unsettling that the majority of the songs (both for this album and other albums) uses a lot of personal referents (like you, yours, etc), and thus it really feels like gary is talking directly to the listener, which maybe he is. unsettling might be a overly negative word choice, unusual might be better - there is an unusually high degree of personable lyrics such that the over all experience of listening feels very intimate and almost like a private series of songs - a nice effect.