Snow Patrol - Eyes Open Review
Posted by Mitch Michaels on 06.07.2006
Will the new album by these Irish rockers have you “Run”ning to your nearest music store?
My Story
Like most folks Stateside, I first heard Snow Patrol through their stellar hit single "Run" in 2004. I downloaded the song free as one of iTunes' "Single of the Week" offerings a little before it broke big, and I really dug the sound. I didn't hear much from Snow Patrol after "Run", though, so when I first heard about the new album coming out a couple months ago, my initial inclination was "one hit wonder." Was I wrong?
Their Story
Irish vocalist/guitarist Gary Lightbody and bassist/keyboardist Mark McClelland first got together in the mid-90's when they met while attending college in Dundee, Scotland. The pair shared a love for 90's alternative rock, and soon, with the addition of drummer John Quinn, Snow Patrol was becoming a household name in their small part of Scotland, thanks to a great, epic sound and Lightbody's knack for clever songwriting.
It didn't take long for the band to secure a recording contract, and, in 1998, Songs For Polar Bears was released on the Jeepster label. The album, featuring an early version of the band's now signature blend of indie rock and pop, became a huge hit throughout the UK and signaled good things to come for Snow Patrol. Comparisons to other Irish favorites, like indie rock darlings Belle & Sebastian, soon followed, but the band wouldn't be pigeon-holed for long.
Following the band members' graduation, the unit moved their base of operations from Dundee to Glasgow. 2001 saw the release of When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up, an album that expanded on the lush pop of Polar Bears by adding a distinctly guitar-rock oriented feel. The result not only helped Snow Patrol appeal to an even broader audience, but it set them apart from so many other British indie pop stars who were making merely "pretty songs". Snow Patrol's music was epic and broad.
Following the release of When It's All Over, Snow Patrol added second guitarist Nathan Connolly and signed on to major label Polydor. The band enlisted help from famed mixer Chris Lord-Alge and up-and-coming producer Garrett Lee for their major label debut. 2004 saw the release of Final Straw, an album that once again expanded on Snow Patrol's previous work by adding to the anthemic atmosphere of earlier songs with layered orchestration. The result was a smash, and with the single "Run" and its sing-a-long chorus, Snow Patrol had their first US hit. The album managed to chart two more Top 40 Mainstream Rock Track singles and wound up charting #91 on the Billboard 200. Final Straw also did gangbuster business in the UK, selling over 2 million copies and becoming one of the biggest albums of the year.
2005 was a whirlwind year for Snow Patrol. Founding bassist Mark McClelland left the band that March, and was replaced by Paul Wilson. The band also added keyboardist Tom Simpson, who had been touring with them for the past few years. The new line-up was road tested in a high profile way when the band was signed as an opener for U2's European leg of the Vertigo tour. Following the successful run of shows, Snow Patrol headed back into the studio to start work on a new album.
The Album
On May 9, 2006, A&M Records released Eyes Open, the fourth album by Snow Patrol and the follow-up to 2004's breakthrough Final Straw. The album is their second with producer Garrett "Jackknife" Lee. Eyes Open is available in both the standard version and as a CD/DVD set. The CD/DVD set contains a video for the song "You're All I Have", as well as other band footage. The UK version of the album contains two bonus tracks, "Warmer Climate" and "In My Arms". The UK Limited Edition CD/DVD version contains live videos for "Chasing Cars", "You're All I Have" and "Run", as well as an interview with the band.
The Band: 9.0
Gary Lightbody: vocals, guitar
John Quinn: drums
Nathan Connolly: guitar
Paul Wilson: bass
Tom Simpson: keyboards
I've used the word "epic" a couple of times in this review, and that's exactly how Snow Patrol sounds on Eyes Open. The band just has a talent for playing these big anthems that rock your soul if you're paying enough attention. Final Straw gave the world a glimpse of this, and the new record plays off of that feeling. Jackknife Lee does a great job behind the boards again, and he seems to know just the elements to add to boost a great sing-a-long into an almost timeless hymn.
The addition of Wilson and Simpson is seamless, as both do a serviceable job replacing founder McClelland. With the loss of one of the band's two founders, you may think that the heart of the group may show some scars here, but if anything, Snow Patrol sounds more like a band on this album than any of their previous efforts. Nathan Connolly and Gary Lightbody really shine when the songs call for a big guitar part, but they also know when to keep things understated, like on the ethereal track "The Finish Line", and when to bring in the alt-rock crunch, like on "You're All I Have", Eyes Open's lead single in the UK.
Lightbody's vocals are also in top form on this album. With songs as anthemic as Snow Patrol's, Lightbody could easily add some melancholy or bombast to his vocal delivery, but he instead keeps things right down the middle, letting the small inflections of his Irish accent drive the sweet melodies, and the songs are all the better for it. Folk-pop artist Martha Wainwright adds her gentle vocals to the song "Set The Fire To The Third Bar" and that songs comes off as a beautiful duet.
In short, Eyes Open has been put together and played expertly.
The Songs: 8.5
1. You're All I Have
2. Hands Open
3. Chasing Cars
4. Shut Your Eyes
5. It's Beginning To Get Me
6. You Could Be Happy
7. Make This Go On Forever
8. Set The Fire To The Third Bar (feat. Martha Wainwright)
9. Headlights On Dark Roads
10. Open Your Eyes
11. The Finish Line
Let me put it this way: if you liked "Run", you're in for a treat on this album. Eyes Open is full of great lyrics, memorable guitar hooks and big sing-a-long choruses that are bound to stick in your head for days. The hardest thing is getting through the whole album without pressing the "Back" button to repeat a song. The album kicks off with the rocker "You're All I Have", which features a great vocal hook and when the "Gimme a chance to hold on" part kicks in, you're dying to know what's coming next. The song does not disappoint. It's an uplifting song that shines a light on the frailty that is the strength of the human race.
"Hands Open" is a little heavier, but similarly catchy. The opening lines ("It's hard to argue when you won't stop making sense") is just a small example of Gary Lightbody's great songwriting ability. Actually, there are great, memorable opening lines on over half of the songs on this album. "I want somethin' that's purer than the water/Like we were" ("It's Beginning To Get Me"), "For once I wanna be the car crash" ("Headlights On Dark Roads"), "Please don't let this turn into something that it's not" ("Make This Go On Forever"), etc.
Seriously, this album kicks off and does not let up. There are a few songs I could do without, though, mostly the trippier stuff like "The Finish Line", but I understand that that is a necessary pallet cleanser, and a nice break from the all-out "song that will get stuck in your head" assault. In all, I can't really describe a specific genre that Snow Patrol fits in, but I guess that's the point. The band simply makes good music. Go check it out.
The 411: Snow Patrol’s Eyes Open is nearly a masterpiece, an album of great music that folks in the UK have been anticipating for two years and people in the US might be caught off-guard by. There are some really great songs on this album, like “You’re All I Have”, “Hands Open”, “Chasing Cars” and several others. If you enjoy smooth indie-style rock with introspective lyrics (that aren’t whiny) and beautiful, catchy pop sing-a-longs, then you absolutely can’t go wrong with Snow Patrol.
