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TyronneSnow Patrol open their eyes
May 23rd 2006 03:12
Artist Review
It is definitely a thing of beauty when you discover a band full of quality, a band that is able to create albums that do not drop at any point. Unfortunately Snow Patrol isn't one of them. So close, yet just not... there. Nevertheless, their latest release, Eyes Open, is an album worthy of a listen, even if they aren't the greatest band out there. Their debut, Final Straw, was a mix of acoustic pop, power-pop, and Placebo-esque vocals. The new release is very different, and yet Snow Patrol still haven't hit it.
The majority of the album, however, is generally good. "Hands Open" is a surprisingly rocky power-pop piece, with that little tinge of over-happy harmonies to remind you that you're listening to Snow Patrol. Elements of indie pop and indie folk seem to have crept in, with the harmonies of "Shut Your Eyes" becoming much more choir-based in the strain of Sufjan Stevens. The proceeding track, "It's Beginning to Get to Me" begins with a very Coldplay instrumental, though the remainder of the song seems to get dragged behind it, though the idea of mellow instrumentation continues into "You Could Be Happy," a sweet lullaby to the tune of xylophones and strings.
Nevertheless, I simply can't help but feel that maybe this album was a little too poorly produced. The songwriting in "Make this Go On Forever" is pure brilliance, melding typical Snow Patrol with Coldplay, Sufjan and pure emotion-building that could be awe-inspiring.Unfortunately, it isn't. The song seems to take too much time in getting to the core of the song, a recurring melody
The second last track on the album, "Open Your Eyes," sees the return of the instrumental and the prominence of emotion-building, a new technique that simply adds to the texture of the album as a whole, and adds a new dimension. The final track, "The Finish Line," is another lullaby, subtle strings and mellow harmonies that make me want to fall asleep, a sharp contrast to the rockier tracks on the album. Overall, the album is definitely worth a listen though its ability to last and become a favourite is compromised by bland and rather typical songs in the Snow Patrol strain. Nevertheless, this album is a sign that the band, unlike so many others, is evolving and will definitely find its musical comfort zone.
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