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| A Hundred Million Suns | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 69 reviews)
Sales Rank: 326
Category: Music
Artist: Snow Patrol
Publisher: Geffen Records
Studio: Geffen Records
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
Label: Geffen Records
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 001215602
UPC: 602517852624
EAN: 0602517852624
ASIN: B001F290EE
Release Date: October 28, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | If there's a rocket tie me to it | | • | Crack the shutters | | • | Take back the city | | • | Lifeboats | | • | The golden floor | | • | Please just take these photos from my hands | | • | Set down your glass | | • | The planets bend between us | | • | Engines | | • | Disaster button | | • | The Lightning Strike - (i) What if this storm ends? (ii) Sunlight through the flags (iii) Daybreak |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
SNOW PATROL - A Hundred Million Suns - (Polydor/Fiction/Geffen Records)
The album is preceded by the fantastic single "Take Back The City", which comes with a video shot in East London courtesy of acclaimed video director Alex Courtes (White Stripes "Seven Nation Army").
Gary Lightbody (vocals/guitars) says, ""I'm so proud of this record. Everybody played out of their skin. Garret (Jacknife Lee) continued his progression from maverick genius to one of the best producers in the world. Musically, lyrically and sonically the best record we've made"
The Grammy-nominated band's fifth studio album was recorded throughout the Summer of 2008 in Hansa Studios in Berlin (where Bowie recorded "Low," "Heroes" and "Lodger") and at Grouse Lodge deep in the Irish countryside. Written by Snow Patrol, the album was produced by Garret "Jacknife" Lee (Bloc Party, REM, U2).
Snow Patrol are one of the biggest selling UK bands this decade and A Hundred Million Suns follows up the 2006 Number One, seven-times platinum phenomenon Eyes Open which sold 2.1 million copies in the UK and over 1 million in the US. Eyes Open achieved platinum awards across the world from the US and Canada to Germany, Australia and beyond, selling over 4.5 million copies. Their single "Chasing Cars" has just received its 2 millionth download in the US. Snow Patrol Photos
Amazon.com
The Snow Patrol we meet on A Hundred Million Suns is a band facing the same dilemma that Coldplay met on 2008?s Viva la Vida; having conquered the world with a rousing, melancholy brand of MOR indie, where now? On the surface, A Hundred Million Suns seems to suggest, nothing especially new: producer Jacknife Lee, who first worked with the band on 2003's Final Straw and went on to work with the likes of U2 and REM returns to the fold; and an opening brace of songs suggest that a successful formula--chiming guitars, gentle builds, and Gary Lightbody's quavering, tremulous vocal--persists. Still, ?Take Back The City", a windswept, electronic-tinged rocker, rather does for this band what ?Dakota" did for Stereophonics, proving that a spot of sleek, synthetic motorik is not beyond their grasp, and there's a new, bright optimism to Lightbody's lyrics that sets the likes of ?The Planets Bend Between Us" in light relief to some of Snow Patrol's earlier work. If you want experiments, though, you'll have to wait until the closing ?The Lightning Strike", a 16-minute track in three parts that investigates Phillip Glass-style minimalism and electronic beats with some aptitude. --Louis Pattison
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| Customer Reviews: Read 64 more reviews...
good cd June 13, 2009
bought it for one song but have fallen in love with he rest of the music
Something is different; but everything is the same June 10, 2009
This album has been dubbed as a departure from their other albums, but do not be fooled into thinking that Snow Patrol has changed their sound or their material drastically. Gary's voice still has a wonderful juxtaposed harmony with the music, and his songwriting shows a more matured side to the band. Even though they became more successful stateside with the release of "Final Straw" and then seemed to be propelled to everyone's radios and music players with "Eyes Open", the band already had experienced success in their homeland and throughout Europe. This album is not a big departure, not a coming to terms with success, and not a masterpiece. There is only band that I can compare Snow Patrol with... and that is Snow Patrol. The band has its own unique sound, and they have not lost it with this album. I thought it would only be fair to go through the songs that make up this album.
If There's A Rocket Tie Me To It: I think this track does a good job of setting the tone for the album.
Crack The Shutters: What would a Snow Patrol album be without a love song? This track is probably one of my favorites. The music is classic Snow Patrol beats, and the lyrics are beautiful.
Take Back the City: This track is upbeat and pop, musically. Lyrically, this track was written about Belfast, which Lightbody explains in Q Magazine, "Going out in Belfast is very more-ish and I'm a moth to the flame of it. The music scene is growing at a ludicrous rate and I can usually be found checking out one of a dozen great new bands."
Lifeboats: This is the track that slows down the album. The refrain has a dark undertone compared to other Snow Patrol songs. Listening to the album in its entirety makes this track feel like an interlude; but you really must slow down and listen to track on its own rather than a part of the journey to the end of the album.
The Golden Floor: This track has an interesting beat, which reminds me of mainstream R&B. Before this track, I had not heard a song use the word "eke". There is something beautiful about the words that Gary is singing and how they blend with the music, but this is probably not one of my priority songs when listening to this album.
Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands: The first time that I listened to the album in its entirety I was a bit confused about this track. It feels like it doesn't belong. The beat is uplifting and it sounds like the album is moving back towards more "Take Back the City" type songs. Maybe I'll have to give myself more time for this track to grow on me.
Set Down Your Glass: Ah, no, what happened to the upbeat sound of the previous track? This track, yet again, slows down the sound of the album. Luckily, this song sounds beautiful and has amazing lyrics to match; how can you not fall for Snow Patrol when you hear the lyrics "And I'm shaking then I'm still When your eyes meet mine I lose simple skills Like to tell you all I want is now". This track is definitely one of my favorites.
The Planets Bend Between Us: This song has more depth, musically, than other slower Snow Patrol songs. I think this track captures Gary's voice beautifully. Even though this song is slow, it is very uplifting, lyrically, "I will race you to the waterside And from the edge of Ireland shout out loud So they could hear it in America".
Engines: This track has a strange sound, and because of that is probably not one of the songs I will go out of my way to listen to on this album. The lyrics make me want to change my mind, though.
Disaster Button: Oh, no, an F-Bomb! This song feels like a blend of "Tack Back the City" and some experimental sounds.
The last track is, in my opinion, a brilliant way to go out on this album. You feel as though you took a journey with the band; experiencing the uplifting sounds of regaining control with "Tack Back the City" and "Disaster Button" and got a little personal with "Crack the Shutters" and "The Planets Between Us". As a listener, you experience something a little different with this album than you experience with other Snow Patrol albums.
There are a few tracks on here that seem like they are experimenting with their sound, but many more tracks that reassure their fans that what they are is what they always will be. And you would be crazy not pick up this album.
Thanks for reading my review :)
 not their best work May 25, 2009
While it doesn't make me entirely give up on the band, this felt more like they were trying to put SOMETHING out to hold on to whatever bit of buzz they had going after "eyes open". Previous CD's have been much better and I would say that if you're trying to get something new from them and haven't listened to their previous work, go there first.
That said, brilliant artwork on the sleeve.
 No dog in this fight...... May 17, 2009
I had no exposure to Snow Patrol prior to this work, so no comparisons. This is one of my favorite albums of all time - Lightbody's poetry and imagery and romaticism is world class and the music is inspired. The Lightening Strike is an incredibly beautiful song. I recommend this music highly.
Boring May 6, 2009
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Yes, it is a boring album, and that's not a matter of taste. I used to be
(and I still am considering the two previous cds) a fan of this band.
But listening to this one I was driven to search for something more interesting and I found: WINTERSLEEP from Halifax, Canada. they have everything what SP is lacking now.
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