Stamping Their Authority
So the eagerly awaited Snow Patrol album is with us. On the face of it, it's an obvious and expected observation to make that this is a more mature sounding record. It's not an amazing departure from 'Final Straw' in terms of style of songs, if you love Snow Patrol then you won't be disappointed by what they've returned with, but the new record has a swagger and confidence about it. The huge success of the last couple of years, and the undoubted pressure this brought, has been channeled in such a way that has seen them far from becoming chokers. As was hinted by Gary Lightbody last year on the band's website, this new record is "bigger and bolder except the quiet ones which are as fragile as sugar paper."
The first few tracks are as good as any album opening you'll hear all year, and covers all aspects of the band's sound, giving a perfect snapshot of how the whole album unfolds. The record opens with two of the real rock anthems, UK single 'You're All I Have' which has already become a classic, and 'Hands Open' which is getting much love on K-Rock in the US. The latter has a heavier power behind it, evidence of the swagger and confidence which oozes from the very core of Snow Patrol's music in 2006.
The track which stands head and shoulders above the rest is one of the earliest tracks that was completed and given a name. 'Chasing Cars' is likely to be labeled as this album's 'Run', but it is a much finer track than that. Opening with Lightbody and a guitar, the song builds throughout, but just when you think it has finished, the full band appear to give this a storming climax before it closes as it began, just Lightbody and the guitar. They played this on their trip to America last year to support U2, and 'Chasing Cars' will become a giant in the setlist for years to come.
Any of the opening five tracks will make for great singles, the first already has of course. 'Shut Your Eyes' has the feel of the cooler end of eighties pop about it, the backing vocals provided by a choir will lend themselves perfectly to audience participation when they tour this album.
'It's beginning to get to me' is not unlike 'You're All I Have' or 'Chocolate', bouncy indy rock with a real feel good factor about it. Although musically Snow Patrol are an uplifting band, lyrically they can at times have quite a dark mood. Relationships are an often-covered topic, and this is a record that will connect with those who aren't having the perfect ride on that front.
The latter stages of 'Eyes Open' doesn't have the same grab factor as earlier tracks, but with a few listens this is certainly a more complete body of work than 'Final Straw. Slower highlights include 'Finish Line' and album closer 'Warmer Climate', with the rock desire being satisfied by 'Headlights on Dark Roads'.
Snow Patrol will now be hitting the road for some of their biggest ever shows, including an appearance at T on the Fringe and the Eden Project. They then have a series of arena dates in November. Having exploded on to an unsuspecting world at the end of 2003, Snow Patrol are now firmly placed as one of British music's big boys, 'Eyes Open' merely confirms their status as an alternative band who can definitely cut it in the mainstream.