Strangeland | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 4 May 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2011–12 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | Alternative rock, indie pop | |||
Length | 45:08 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Producer | Dan Grech-Marguerat | |||
Keane chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Strangeland | ||||
|
Strangeland is the fourth studio album by English alternative rock band Keane, released on 4 May 2012 through Island Records. It is their first full-length album since Perfect Symmetry (2008), as well as the first to feature bassist Jesse Quin as an official member.
Two singles were released preceding the album's release: "Silenced by the Night" and "Disconnected". The former was released internationally on 13 March 2012, while the latter was released on 27 April 2012. The video for "Disconnected" won Best Video at the Q Awards on 22 October 2012. The album received generally mixed reviews from critics but became Keane's fifth consecutive number-one album on the UK Albums Chart.
"It's a very emotional album. The title track is about setting off in a certain path in life and thinking it's going to go one way, but finding out life's taken a detour. Pretty much every song on the album is about that. (But) it's a more hopeful record than it might sound!"
Keane began working on demo tracks for Strangeland in 2010. In May 2011 the band met up with English producer Dan Grech-Marguerat, who according to Tim Rice-Oxley is "a massive Keane fan". [1] The producer said the band wanted to "[go] back to the songwriting of their first two albums", while making an album that sounded "rich and simpler". [2] According to Rice-Oxley, the album is inspired by The Vaccines' album What Did You Expect from the Vaccines? (2011), which was produced by Grech-Marguerat: "We loved what Dan Grech did on The Vaccines album. It had just come out. He'd also done stuff with Radiohead and produced the second Howling Bells album, which I loved." [1]
Compared to Keane's previous full-length studio album Perfect Symmetry (2008), the album focuses more on songwriting: "We wanted it be less production led and focus on making sure that the songs were great. You write a lot of shit songs to get to the good ones." Tom Chaplin also said the sound of the album is reminiscent of earlier Keane, calling Perfect Symmetry "a bit self-indulgent". [1]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 60/100 [3] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B [5] |
Daily Express | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Digital Spy | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Knoxville News Sentinel | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
musicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 6/10 [11] |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
PopMatters | 6/10 [13] |
Strangeland received generally mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60 based on 17 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". [3] Chuck Campbell of the Knoxville News Sentinel stating that Strangeland features "songs [that] are more complex, their messages more complicated and the sonic nuance saturated in emphatic shine", praising producer Dan Grech-Marguerat for "giving balance to the drama and letting melody and message envelop the listeners and carry them away." [9] Sputnikmusic gave the album three and a half stars out of five, commenting that while "there is nothing overtly impressive going on in the instrumental department here (or on the entire album)", Strangeland had "varied song structures, interesting lyrical concepts, and a cohesive feel", concluding that it "is a good but not great album that will be enjoyed by fans of classic Keane." [14]
Helen Lear from The Music wrote that Strangeland "will still sound to some like middle-of-the-road indie-pop" and "pretty much what you would expect from Keane", but "the tempo is noticeably more upbeat and the style more diverse than previous albums" and "offers some more fun in a grown-up style that may attract new fans to take a listen." [15] Chris Roberts of the BBC criticised Strangeland as "an unabashed scurry back to the comfort zone", and that "Keane lack blood, guts and muscle", with the album ultimately classed as "a somewhat saddening step backwards." [16] John Murphy of musicOMH rated the album two stars out of five, where "melodies are stodgy and predictable", with "a whole bucket of cliches piled in", calling Strangeland "proof positive that playing it safe is not always the best option." [10] Ian Gittins of Virgin Media felt the album was "major musical step back from the wilful experimentalism of Perfect Symmetry , a record that saw Keane hiring dance producer Stuart Price and leaping far out of their comfort zone", commenting that the album "finds them fairly back in the middle of the road". [17]
In the United Kingdom, Strangeland debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 47,839 copies. [18] It is Keane's fourth consecutive number-one album, a record only beaten at the time by ABBA (eight), Led Zeppelin (eight), The Beatles (seven) Oasis (seven) and Eminem (six). [18] The album has sold over 200,000 copies in the UK, being certified gold. [19] The album also reached number one in Ireland and the Netherlands, becoming their second number-one album in both countries. [20] [21] It debuted and peaked at #17 in the US. [22]
"Silenced by the Night" was released as the album's lead single worldwide except for the United Kingdom on 13 March 2012. [23] Keane performed "Silenced by the Night" for the first time on 12 March on American talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! . [24] The song was sent to US adult alternative radio stations on 26 March 2012. [25] In the United Kingdom, the single was released on 15 April 2012 after the release date had been brought forward from 30 April 2012. [26] [27]
The second single, "Disconnected", was released on 27 April 2012 in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. [28]
"Sovereign Light Café" was released as the album's third single on 23 July 2012. [29] The title is taken from, and the song influenced by, the seaside resort of Bexhill-on-Sea on the East Sussex coast not far from Battle where the band grew up. The café itself does exist on the west end of the town's seafront, opposite the offshore Sovereign Lighthouse, where it gets its name.
All tracks are written by Keane
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "You Are Young" | 3:35 |
2. | "Silenced by the Night" | 3:16 |
3. | "Disconnected" | 3:57 |
4. | "Watch How You Go" | 3:40 |
5. | "Sovereign Light Café" | 3:38 |
6. | "On the Road" | 3:56 |
7. | "The Starting Line" | 4:12 |
8. | "Black Rain" | 3:46 |
9. | "Neon River" | 4:52 |
10. | "Day Will Come" | 3:11 |
11. | "In Your Own Time" | 3:43 |
12. | "Sea Fog" | 3:25 |
Total length: | 45:08 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Strangeland" | 4:36 |
14. | "Run with Me" | 3:30 |
15. | "The Boys" | 3:33 |
16. | "It's Not True" | 3:49 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Strangeland" | 4:36 |
14. | "Run with Me" | 3:30 |
15. | "The Boys" | 3:33 |
16. | "It's Not True" | 3:49 |
17. | "Myth" | 4:55 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
17. | "Myth" | 4:55 |
Packaged in a hardback A4 size coffee table book, the Deluxe Box Set includes: [33]
"Myth" was released as the B-side to "Silenced by the Night", as well as on the Japanese and US iTunes editions of the album.
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [63] | Gold | 213,165 [64] |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Germany [65] | 4 May 2012 | CD, digital download | Island Records |
United Kingdom [2] | 7 May 2012 | ||
United States [2] | 8 May 2012 | Cherrytree Records, Interscope Records | |
Japan [31] | 9 May 2012 | Island Records | |
Australia [66] | 11 May 2012 |
Under the Iron Sea is the second studio album by the English rock band Keane, released on 12 June 2006. During its first week on sale in the UK, the album opened at number one, selling 222,297 copies according to figures from the Official Chart Company. In the United States, the album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, selling 75,000 copies in its first week there. Since its release, the album has sold over three million copies worldwide.
The discography of Keane, a British alternative rock band, contains five studio albums, two live albums, ten extended plays and 28 singles.
Forget the World is the debut studio album by Dutch music producer and DJ Afrojack. It was released on 16 May 2014. Afrojack said of the album title, "It's basically a message not just to my fans, but also to myself, to always remember to keep following your heart, keep following your path, and never try to let the things around you get you down."
Perfect Symmetry is the third studio album by English rock band Keane, released on 13 October 2008 in the United Kingdom.
Hopes and Fears is the debut studio album by the English alternative rock band Keane. It was released on 10 May 2004 in the United Kingdom and topped the UK Albums Chart upon release. It was the UK's second best-selling album of 2004, behind the Scissor Sisters' self-titled debut album, and has since been certified 9× Platinum by the BPI. The album returned to the top of the charts after winning a Brit Award for Best Album in February 2005.
The Beginning is the sixth studio album by American musical group the Black Eyed Peas, released on November 26, 2010 by Interscope Records. It is a prequel to the group's previous album The E.N.D. (2009), and their last credited as "the" Black Eyed Peas. Its lead single, "The Time ", was released on November 9, 2010. The second single, "Just Can't Get Enough" was released on February 18, 2011, while its third and final single, "Don't Stop the Party", was released on June 24, 2011.
Bad as Me is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits, released on October 21, 2011, by Anti- Records. The album is known to have been recorded as early as February 2011 and was officially announced for release on August 23, 2011, on Waits' official web site and various social media networks. On the same day, the title track, "Bad as Me", was released as the album's first single on iTunes.
Daniel James Grech-Marguerat, is an English-Maltese recording engineer, record producer and mixer.
The Temper Trap is the second studio album by the Australian indie rock band of the same name, The Temper Trap, released in Australia through Liberation Music on 18 May 2012. A deluxe edition of the album was also released on iTunes Store, containing three bonus tracks: "Want", "The Trouble with Pain" and "Everybody Leaves in the End".
"Silenced by the Night" is a song by English rock band Keane from their fourth studio album Strangeland. It was released worldwide as the album's lead single on 13 March 2012, except for the United Kingdom where it was released on 13 April 2012. The song was written by Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin, Richard Hughes, Jesse Quin and produced by Dan Grech-Marguerat.
Night Visions is the debut studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was released on September 4, 2012, through Kidinakorner and Interscope Records. The album was primarily produced by the band themselves, as well as English hip-hop producer Alex da Kid and Brandon Darner of The Envy Corps and formerly of the metal band Slipknot. According to frontman Dan Reynolds, the album took three years to finish, with six of the album's tracks being previously released on multiple EPs. Musically, Night Visions exhibits influences of folk, hip hop and pop.
#3 is the third studio album released by Irish pop rock trio, the Script. The album was released in Ireland on 7 September 2012, in the United Kingdom on 10 September and in the United States on 9 October. The album was preceded by the release of the single "Hall of Fame", a duet with will.i.am, who was, at the time, lead singer Danny O'Donoghue's co-judge on The Voice UK. The album reached number one in Ireland, number two in the UK, and number 13 in the US, but received generally unfavourable reviews.
Global Warming is the seventh studio album recorded by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull. It was released on November 16, 2012 through Mr. 305, Polo Grounds and RCA Records. A teaser for the release was first released onto Pitbull's official Facebook and YouTube channel on September 17, 2012. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Afrojack, Sir Nolan, DJ Buddha, Adam Messinger and Nasri. The album also features guest appearances by Christina Aguilera, Usher, Kesha, Chris Brown, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira among others.
Long Way Down is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Tom Odell. It was released on 24 June 2013 and serves as the follow-up to his 2012 extended play, Songs from Another Love. It serves as his first release with a major record label, and was released with Columbia.
The Best of Keane is the first official compilation album by British group Keane. It was released on 11 November 2013 through Island Records. The album contains all of the singles from the band's first four studio albums, Hopes and Fears, Under the Iron Sea, Perfect Symmetry and Strangeland, plus two new songs: "Higher Than the Sun" and "Won't Be Broken", written during the Strangeland era. The deluxe version of the album includes a second disc with all B-sides and an unreleased song titled "Russian Farmer's Song".
Meet the Vamps is the debut studio album by British pop band the Vamps. It was initially released in Australia and New Zealand on 11 April 2014, and released in the United Kingdom through Virgin EMI Records on 14 April. The album includes the UK top-five singles "Can We Dance", "Wild Heart", "Last Night" and "Somebody to You". The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. It debuted at number two in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was the 23rd-best-selling album in 2014 in the UK.
5 Seconds of Summer is the debut studio album by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released by Capitol Records on 27 June 2014 in Europe and on 22 July 2014 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The album was supported by four singles: "She Looks So Perfect", "Don't Stop", "Amnesia", and "Good Girls". Musically, the album is rooted in the pop punk, pop rock and power pop genres. Before the album's release, the band was the opening act for One Direction in from 2013-2015 on three of their concert tours. To promote the album, 5 Seconds of Summer embarked on their first global headlining tour, entitled Rock Out with Your Socks Out Tour, between May and September 2015.
Listen is the sixth studio album by French DJ and record producer David Guetta. It was released on 21 November 2014. It features collaborations with artists from the R&B, hip hop, alternative rock and pop worlds such as Sam Martin, Emeli Sandé, The Script, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Nico & Vinz, Ryan Tedder, Sia, Magic!, Bebe Rexha, South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ms. Dynamite, Elliphant, Birdy, Jaymes Young, Sonny Wilson, Vassy, and Skylar Grey. It also features additional production from Guetta's frequent collaborator Giorgio Tuinfort, Avicii, Afrojack, Nicky Romero, Showtek, and Stadiumx among others, with additional writing credits from Austin Bisnow, Jason Evigan, Julie Frost, and The-Dream among others.
Badlands is the debut studio album by American singer Halsey. It was released on August 28, 2015 through Astralwerks. Musically, Badlands is an electropop, dark pop, alternative pop, synth-pop, and pop record featuring industrial undertones. Halsey wrote every song on the album when she was 19, while production was handled by a number of producers. Norwegian producer Lido was one of the main producers on Badlands.
Honk is a compilation album by the Rolling Stones, released on 19 April 2019 through Promotone BV and Universal Music. It features tracks from each of their studio albums since 1971. Honk includes all 18 tracks from the 1993 compilation Jump Back. The standard edition includes 36 tracks, while the deluxe edition adds 10 bonus tracks of recent live recordings. The iTunes edition contains the Digital deluxe version tracks along with the deluxe edition's live tracks but with the addition of "Living in a Ghost Town" as the album's first track. It reached the top ten in nine countries, peaking at No. 23 in the US.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)