Late Night Tales: Snow Patrol
Encyclopedia
Release and reception
The album was released on 28 September 2009 in the UK and 3 November 2009 in the US. in two formats, CD and Digital download. The download was available in MP3MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
and WAV
WAV
Waveform Audio File Format , is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs...
formats, each set priced at £7.99. The album booklet contains the story behind the song selection, and a short story detailing how Lightbody and Simpson first met; a party Lightbody went to where Simpson was DJing. Album compilers Lightbody and Simpson (along with Richard Colburn
Richard Colburn
Richard Colburn is the drummer of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Before he joined Belle & Sebastian, he used to sell pies on match days outside Celtic Park and study Music Business at Stow College. He was also a semi-professional Snooker player. His nickname is "Rico" and he also...
of Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...
) played a DJ Set at the album's launch party at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's The Old Queens Head pub. The event was held on 13 November 2009 between 8pm–2am and was free for everyone.
Critical response towards the album was generally positive. Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
felt that the band had made "New Sensation" as their own song, saying it was "well and truly patroled". The album was received quite favorably by Nick Annan of Clash Music
Clash (magazine)
Clash is a popular music and fashion magazine based in the United Kingdom. Its magazine title is published 12 times a year. It has a circulation of around 40,000....
, who called the song selection "cracking". Though he didn't feel the songs would work well in a party environment, he felt they were "prime" for a listening session and rated the album 6 out of 10. The Epoch Times
The Epoch Times
The Epoch Times is a multi-language, international media organisation. As a newspaper, the Times has been publishing in Chinese since May 2000. It was founded in 1999 by supporters of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline....
noted that the "decent" selection if songs showed how knowledgeable the band was about music. Reviewer Patrick Healy called the opening selection, "Observatory Crest" (by Captain Beefheart), an excellent track from the musician's forgotten "sane" period. Other highlights of the album to him were "I Walk the Earth" (by King Biscuit Time) and "Download" (by Super Furry Animals). He was satisfied with the song selection and wrote that the album was "rarely off target". He awarded the set 3.5 stars out of 5. Allmusic's Andrew Leahey awarded the album 3 stars out of 5. He called the album "surprisingly moody, stylish, and fairly danceable". He said the songs "slyly" blended into each other and praised the compilers' (Lightbody and Simpson) DJing abilities. He noted that there is a constant nocturnal ambiance present throughout the album, which was necessary for a Late Night Tales release. He found the band's cover of "New Sensation" a close match to the quality of the remaining album. He suggested "Observatory Crest", "Last Train" and the cover of "New Sensation" as track picks. The Pitt News
The Pitt News
The Pitt News is an independent, student-written and student-managed newspaper for the main campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland which has been active in some form since 1910. It is published Monday through Friday during the regular school year and Wednesdays during the summer...
reviewer Azia Squire felt that the only "mishaps" of the album were Snow Patrol's cover of "New Sensation" and Miracle Fortress' "Next Train". She said though they were strong songs, they sounded "awkward" on the compilation, as their energy was not high enough. She however, praised the band saying it was proof that Snow Patrol could make "excellent music."
Personnel
- Gary LightbodyGary LightbodyGary Lightbody is an Northern Irish musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol.- Early life :...
– compiled by, producer - Tom SimpsonTom Simpson (musician)Tom Simpson is a Scottish DJ and musician, best known as the keyboardist of the Northern Irish alternative rock band Snow Patrol. He has been with Snow Patrol as a touring member since 1997 and became a permanent one in 2005. In 2007, he was arrested on drug charges, but was later...
– compiled by, producer
Release history
| Country/Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | 21 September 2009 | iTunes |
| United Kingdom | 28 September 2009 | Compact disc |
| Worldwide (Except US) | Digital download | |
| 20 October 2009 | Compact disc | |
| United States | 3 November 2009 |