20th May 2006
Snow Patrol: Eyes Open
I discovered Snow Patrol last year by hearing “Ways & Means” on Pandora. “Final Straw” proved to be a power pop album with lots of depth.
The opening cut on the new album is “You’re All I Have”. With its thumping bass and Beach Boy-esque harmonies, it serves notice that this band hasn’t gone soft. It’s pop, but not overly so. “Hands Open” reminds me of The Cars meets Nirvana.
The thing that gives Snow Patrol a lot of its distinctiveness is the lyrics and vocals of Gary Lightbody. I like the imagery of “both of my shoulders are heavy from the weight of us both” and the couplets in Warmer Climate. In a nutshell, the guy can write about pain without sounding like a frikken whiner, and the songs draw you in (such as “Make This Go On Forever”).
I’m looking forward to seeing them at The Warfield next month in San Francisco. Give ‘em a listen!
