Puneet Varma (Editor)

Giants (The Stranglers album)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
5 March 2012

Length
  
43:07

Release date
  
5 March 2012

Genres
  
Punk rock, Post-punk

Recorded
  
2011–2012

Artist
  
The Stranglers

Label
  
Absolute Records

Giants (The Stranglers album) louderthanwarcomwpcontentuploads201201Giant

Producer
  
Louie Nicastro, the Stranglers

The Stranglers albums
  
Suite XVI, Norfolk Coast, About Time, Aural Sculpture, Dreamtime

Freedom is insane the stranglers


Giants is the seventeenth studio album by English rock band The Stranglers and continues the band's return as a four-piece after the departure of Paul Roberts. Lead vocals are shared between guitarist Baz Warne and bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel. The album was released on 5 March 2012 and was supported by an extensive UK tour by the band.

Contents

The album continues the shift to a more recognisable sound seen in the previous album, Suite XVI, but also builds on a sound much more akin to the band's 70s era.

The album was released in the formats of digital download, CD and vinyl with the a deluxe edition of the CD being released with an additional live acoustic disc for the same price. In an interview, Burnel stated that the album has few overdubs so that they can play all the songs live without using any 'trickery', he also stated 'Time Was Once on My Side' is a single of sorts, continuing to question what makes a single in 2012.

The album was better promoted than the previous with JJ Burnel appearing on The One Show and also appearing on BBC 1 breakfast with Baz Warne to talk about the album. There was also 19 billboard advertisements put up around London using an alternate image to the album art.

The band worked on the album for two years on and off between festivals, gigs and going off places. "...But some of the ideas stem back to 10 years ago. You can't always make a decent song with just one idea and we've been mulling over some ideas for quite a few years," JJ Burnel remarked.

The bassist said he was delighted with the initial reaction to their album in the media. "This record seems to be taking off big time. We're having to go to Paris to do 50 or 60 radio shows and they've asked us to do a dozen live performances. After that we've got to go to Berlin because interest's picking up there well so this record – which hasn't come out yet – seems to be getting quite a lot of attention," he remarked prior to the release.

Another camden afternoon the stranglers


Reception

Upon its release, the album received generally good reviews from music critics. Aggregating website AnyDecentMusic? reports a score of 6.3 based on 9 professional reviews.

Personnel

  • Jet Black – drums
  • Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, vocals
  • Dave Greenfield – organ, keyboard
  • Baz Warne – guitar, vocals
  • Songs

    Another Camden Afternoon4:03
    Freedom Is Insane6:13
    Giants3:42

    References

    Giants (The Stranglers album) Wikipedia