Snow Globe is the fifteenth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released by Mute Records on 11 November 2013 in the United Kingdom and on 12 November 2013 in North America.[1] The album has a holiday music theme, including classic Christmas carols with original tracks written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell and is produced by longtime collaborator Gareth Jones.[2]
| Snow Globe | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 11 November 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:45 | |||
| Label | Mute | |||
| Producer |
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| Erasure chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Snow Globe | ||||
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Background
editThe band purposely went with a "stripped-down" and "eerie" feel to many of the tracks, including traditional Christmas ballads "Silent Night" and "White Christmas". Clarke stated, "Everything about Christmas has been written already. We thought it would be more interesting to look into the darker side of the season. For a lot of people, Christmas is not a happy time."[2]
"Blood on the Snow" starts with a staccato style waltz, whilst "Silver Bells" features an android-like orchestra from the future and explores dark imagery of coal, ash and blood, that give way to a bright star and three gifts.[2]
Singles
editSnow Globe, launched two singles, with the first single "Gaudete" on 28 October, a dance floor take on the on 16th century medieval Latin carol that was also a hit for Steeleye Span in 1973. The second single is the jubilant "Make it Wonderful".
Deluxe edition
editThe second CD of the limited edition of Snow Globe includes an acoustic cover version of the 1980s Christmas pop hit "Stop the Cavalry" by Jona Lewie, the traditional spoken piece editorial of Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, as well as several other acoustic versions and remixes.
Commercial reception
editSnow Globe appeared briefly at the lower reaches of the albums charts, peaking at number 49 in the UK and number 100 in Germany.[3] The album reached numbers 5 and 30 on the UK and US indie albums charts, respectively.
Track listing
editSnow Globe was initially released as a standard CD, a digital download, and a limited edition 3-CD box set which includes the original album as well as alternative versions.[1] The box set, produced in a single run of 3,000 copies, contained an autographed Christmas card, red 'Erasure' branded Christmas tree ornament, a desktop calendar, postcards, 'Erasure' branded balloons (one red, one green), windows stickers, a bag of sweets, and a cocktail book. It sold out via pre-orders before the official release date.
In 2014, an extended Deluxe Nutcracker Edition digital download was made available, including the album, all additional tracks from the second disc of the box set, as well as additional remixes - comprising 29 tracks in all, as well as the videos for "Gaudete" and "Make It Wonderful".
In 2016, to follow BMG's commemoration of the band's 30th anniversary in releasing all previous albums on vinyl (both reissues, and first-ever pressings), Snow Globe was also issued for the first time on vinyl in an extended 2-LP set of which the first pressings were on white vinyl. The second disc contained a selection of previously released alternate versions and remixes.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bells of Love (Isabelle's of Love)" | Andy Bell, Vince Clarke | 3:59 |
| 2. | "Gaudete" | Traditional | 2:43 |
| 3. | "Make It Wonderful" | Bell, Clarke | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Sleep Quietly" | Ruth Heller | 2:52 |
| 5. | "Silent Night" | Joseph Mohr, Franz Xaver Gruber | 3:53 |
| 6. | "Loving Man" | Bell, Clarke | 3:23 |
| 7. | "The Christmas Song" | Mel Tormé, Robert Wells | 2:26 |
| 8. | "Bleak Midwinter" | Gustav Holst | 4:27 |
| 9. | "Blood on the Snow" | Bell, Clarke | 3:43 |
| 10. | "There'll Be No Tomorrow" | Bell, Clarke | 3:39 |
| 11. | "Midnight Clear" | Edmund Sears, Richard Storrs Willis | 3:32 |
| 12. | "White Christmas" | Irving Berlin | 3:29 |
| 13. | "Silver Bells" | Jay Livingston, Ray Evans | 3:05 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Gaudete" (A Cappella version) | 2:21 |
| 2. | "Stop the Cavalry" (Acoustic version) | 2:57 |
| 3. | "Silent Night" (Instrumental version) | 3:53 |
| 4. | "She Won't Be Home" (2013 Redux) | 3:09 |
| 5. | "Make It Wonderful" (Acoustic version) | 3:53 |
| 6. | "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (2013 Redux) | 3:20 |
| 7. | "White Christmas" (Instrumental version) | 3:33 |
| 8. | "Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" (spoken word piece) | 3:49 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Erasure Christmas Radio Show" (Recorded Live Inside The Snow Globe) | 51:52 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Gaudete" (Dave Audé Extended Club Mix) | 6:38 |
| 2. | "Make It Wonderful" (Noel Sanger vs Koishii & Hush Remix) | 7:38 |
| 3. | "Loving Man" (Knocking Ghost Remix) | 3:26 |
| 4. | "Gaudete" (Ikon Remix) | 6:45 |
| 5. | "Sleep Quietly" (Maps Remix) | 7:12 |
| 6. | "Make It Wonderful" (Bright Light Bright Light Remix) | 3:53 |
| 7. | "Gaudete" (The Storks Remix) | 4:45 |
| 8. | "Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" (Jeff Barringer vs. Skerik Remix) | 4:16 |
Re-release vinyl edition
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "She Won't Be Home" (2013 Redux) | 3:09 |
| 2. | "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Acoustic version) | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Make It Wonderful" (Acoustic version) | 3:53 |
| 4. | "Stop the Cavalry" (Acoustic version) | 2:57 |
| 5. | "Sleep Quietly" (Maps Remix) | 7:12 |
| 6. | "Gaudete" (Dave Audé Extended Club Mix) | 6:38 |
| 7. | "Make It Wonderful" (Bright Light Bright Light Remix) | 3:53 |
| 8. | "Loving Man" (Knocking Ghost Remix) | 3:26 |
| 9. | "Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" (Jeff Barringer vs. Skerik Remix) | 4:16 |
Charts
edit| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[4] | 100 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[5] | 57 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[6] | 49 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[7] | 5 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] | 30 |
| US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[9] | 162 |
| US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[10] | 40 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[11] | 46 |
References
edit- ^ a b "ERASURE – SNOW GLOBE ALBUM". Erasure Information Service. September 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ^ a b c Nagy, Evie (28 October 2013). "Erasure Dances With 'Darker Side' of Christmas on 'Snow Globe'". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ^ "Snow Globe". Official Charts. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – Snow Globe" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Erasure Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Erasure Chart History (Top Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Erasure Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Erasure Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.