Snow Patrol - Final Straw

The warm melancholy of Gary Lightbody's voice makes for a versatile instrument on Snow Patrol's Final Straw, artfully balancing bright, anthemic rock with disparate reference points like Belle and Sebastian and My Bloody Valentine. Aching with loves both lost and leaving, it's a voice that producer Garrett Lee uses as a jumping-off point, dropping fat guitars, electronic noise, and eclectic instrumentation in with Lightbody's breathy, moody depth. The band plays around with wild shifts of texture: "Gleaming Auction" veers in seconds from a relaxed shuffle to a shoegazing crunch, while a blanket of fuzzbox swagger calls forth the ghost of T. Rex on "Tiny Little Fractures." But just when you're ready to throw the record on random shuffle with Electric Warrior or maybe Heaven Tonight, the band lays down a pastoral ballad like "Same." Somehow it holds together beautifully, stuffed with songs that reward repeat listens and ear candy that keeps you full for days. --Matthew Cooke Amazon.com

A Hidden Gem!

That is how I describe a band that I stumble upon (thank you Grey's Anatomy) and fall in love with. Snow Patrol hit my radar while I was starting to lose faith in the music industry in finding new, exciting and unique bands. I can't tell you the last time I'd found a new band to be excited about (this was in 2006)...Snow Patrol renewed my faith in music and unique, modern, worthy bands.

I bought Eyes Wide Open first and loved it so much that a month later I bought Final Straw. While this CD is not as good as Eyes Open, it's still a pretty damn good CD! I think in this CD they may have sort of been honing their skills and finding their nitch, style. But with a talented lead singer and musicians, and great songs...you can't go wrong. I think in part what makes Snow Patrol songs so likeable, are the lyrics and that many of the songs are relatable. Some of my favorites are: How to be Dead, Chocolate, Wow, Spitting Games and Grazed Knees.

If you like alternative rock, alternative or indie, I'd highly recommend Snow Patrol. You might want to start with Eyes Open though if you don't already have it. Thank god for new, youthful, unique bands, this is like a breath of fresh air!!

July 9, 2008

Run--Don't Walk--To Buy This Album!

The 3rd album for Snow Patrol, 2004's "Final Straw," was the album that first got this amazing Irish group noticed. Gary Lightbody & crew serve up a healthy dose of melodic, breathtaking rock, decorated by impressive production work too, such as various tape effects, etc. Standouts include the sing-song quality of "How To Be Dead," the gorgeous, anthemic "Run", the sinister rock of "Ways & Means," and the wistful but effective finale, "Same." Lightbody's breathy voice is amazing, and his lyrics are sharp. He & his bandmates play this material to perfection, too. Just one curio: nine of the album's twelve songs don't mention the song titles in the lyrics. "Grazed Knees" is a great song, but why is it called "Grazed Knees"? Why is "Gleaming Auction" called "Gleaming Auction"? Why is "Tiny Little Fractures" called "Tiny Little Fractures"? Somebody get Gary Lightbody on the phone! But other than that, this is a truly great album. "Final Straw" shows that Snow Patrol are truly a musical force to be reckoned with. January 28, 2008

Dark new wave rock

It beats me why people compare this band to Travis, Coldplay and Keane. They are about as far from the classic pop sound of those bands - esp. Travis and Keane - as you could get. Instead, Snow Patrol have a driving, bass-heavy barre-chord driven sound with simple song structures. It brings out the beat, where Travis's songs bring out the strumming guitar and delicate chord changes. I guess the similarity lies with the emotional nakedness of Snow Patrol, which is what really makes them - and this cd - special. They are nowhere near as melodic as Keane, and, in fact, some songs verge on a kind of tedious blandness. But there is an obvious intelligence to the lyrics and an open anger that reminds me more of early Pub Rock or New Wave - Elvis Costello type stuff. I wouldn't mind a few more effective hooks (like the guitar riff in "Gleaming Auction"). This is driving rock - not the fairly light Britpop we've been listening to. November 19, 2007

NICE

NEVER HEARD OF THIS BAND, FELL IN LOVE WITH ONE SONG, BOUGHT THE DISC AND LOVED IT ALL

GREAT NEW SOUNDS September 18, 2007

Start your Snow Patrol Collection here

Don't bother with anything earlier than this album with Snow Patrol. This is really where they finally got their act together. Get this one and Eyes Open and you'll be set. June 27, 2007

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