Giants (The Stranglers album)

Giants
Studio album by
The Stranglers
Released5 March 2012
Recorded2011–2012
StudioCharlton Farm Studios, Bath, UK[1]
Genre
Length43:07
Label
  • Absolute (UK)
  • Ear Music (Europe)[2]
Producer
  • Louie Nicastro
  • The Stranglers
The Stranglers chronology
Suite XVI
(2006) 		Giants
(2012) 		Dark Matters
(2021)
Singles from Giants
  1. "Mercury Rising"
    Released: 29 October 2012[3]
Alternative cover
Censored album cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
AU Magazine[5]
BBC Music(8/10)[6]
FMV Magazine[7]
Mojo[8]
musicOMH[8]
Q[8]
The Skinny[9]
ThisIsNotAScene(9.5/10)[10]
ThisIsFakeDIY(4/10)[11]
Uncut[8]

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 singer 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. It was their last album to feature original drummer Jet Black and the last to be released in keyboard player Dave Greenfield's lifetime.

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 1970s era.

The album was released in the formats of digital download, CD and vinyl, with the 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 that "Time Was Once on My Side" is a single of sorts, continuing to question what makes a single in 2012.

  1. ^ "GIANTS Release 5th March 2012". thestranglers.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  2. ^ "The Stranglers – Giants (Versions)". Discogs. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Autumn single release". thestranglers.co.uk. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  4. ^ Giants at AllMusic
  5. ^ "Giants album review". AU Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  6. ^ Winwood, Ian (2 March 2012). "Punk survivors return with a reassuringly odd 19th studio album". BBC Music. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  7. ^ Butler, Mark (1 March 2012). "The Stranglers: Giants". FMV Magazine. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d "Giants album reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  9. ^ Toolan, John (28 February 2012). "The Stranglers – Giants: Review". The Skinny. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  10. ^ Wiseman, Sam (28 February 2012). "The Stranglers: Giants". ThisIsNotAScene. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  11. ^ Hunt, El (5 March 2012). "The Stranglers: Giants". ThisIsFakeDIY. Retrieved 5 March 2012.