This album is getting some surprisingly mixed reviews here which is a shame. I am not the biggest SP fan, BUT this album does feel like they were on a roll when writing and recording it. I even think this could be their 'Sargeant Pepper' moment - it's that consistently strong if a little dark and gloomy at times. Tracks like 'This isn't everything you are', 'Fallen Empires', 'New York' and 'Called out in the dark' are both anthemic and somewhat menacing. Snow Patrol are almost becoming the thinking man's Colplay, but still seem to play second fiddle to them.
However, compared with Coldplay's somewhat overproduced Mylo album, this album is rich in texture and style. 'Fallen Empires' for example is like being hit between the eyeballs with something heavy - it's just very powerful stuff. Is there a 'Chasing Cars' on here? Well no, but there are plenty of close to moments when you feel Gary Lightbody is a fine songwriter and lyricist. 'New York', for example, contains a load of great lyrics about loneliness ... 'if you were here instead of...'.
So, it's definitely not an album to get out at a party but then we have plenty of stuff like that around. This is more deep and meaningful and very welcome for that.