A Hundred Million Suns

by

Snow Patrol

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After their silently brilliant "Final Straw," and pleasant rocker "Eyes Open," Snow Patrol has carved out their place in the crowded Brit Rock circle. "A Hundred Millions Suns" only solidifies the band's place, with the only major style change being more optimistic tunes, but the album still blends in with the band's previous work, which will surely please fans, and attract more fans with every radio single.

Gary Lightbody, not to be confused with Gordon Lightfoot, writes with a modern, but pleasant charm with each track as showcased in "If There's A Rocket, Tie Me To It," "Crack The Shutters," and "The Planets Bend Between Us." And while the band does have one of its more sleepier moments in "Set Down Your Glass," they still know how to rock. The first single, "Take Back The City" never fails to satisfy, delivering on the verses, and bringing their A-Game on the chorus. It's catchy and fun, only overshadowed by the album's highlight "Please Take These Photos."

In fact, the only major misstep is the aptly titled "Disaster Button." Maybe it's the out-of-place lyrics, or the tiring music, but the song just seemed to rub me the wrong way. The very definition of an epic song, "The Lightning Strike," which clocks in at 16 minutes, also misses its mark, at least until the `Daybreak' segment. Another critique you could give the album is that it is highly unoriginal. So much in fact, it's been done before by the band, take it or leave it at that. I was also completely perplexed at the strange "The Golden Floor," which sounded rather like a poor excuse for Radiohead-lite.

"A Hundred Million Suns" doesn't set out to drastically reinvent the band, as their contemporaries Keane and Coldplay have done. Instead, the Snow Patrol is on full cruise control, and it all looks good from here, as fans will be pleased, and the band will inevitably gain new followers. The album at least equals "Eyes Open" in quality, and while no distinctive "Chasing Cars"-type song seems to be in the mix, the album delivers along the same lines. In either case, at $12 or less, the album is certainly worth it, and at the current price of $9 on Amazon, you certainly don't have anything to lose. I just can't decide what's the better band name, "Polar Bear," or "Snow Patrol?"

I have been a fan of Snow Patrol since Polar Bears, being one of my closet favorite bands (the one you explain to girlfriends, but conveniently leave out when talking to the boys). So many of their songs have lived on in my mind, long after the iPod has been turned off. I spend so much time singing their words as I fall asleep that I could replace Gary Lightbody without a noticeable slip.

However, I do have some reservations about their latest release. The album just feels rushed, intended for the halls of epic Scottish concert castles rather than the windy emotional fields overlooking a vast ocean. Snow Patrol has always been the soundtrack of the introspective life, undoubtably the vaunted thought stream of a conscious and experiencing individual. However, with Hundred Million Suns, rather than define the moment, this album is merely playing in the background giving force to the rest of life. The music has taken a backseat. The writing and melody has definitely taken a more steady beat than previous releases, as Eyes Open or Final Straw. Many cords and similar choruses remain, but no longer have the same startling or stirring effect.

They have been slowly on this pop-y, over-guitar-ed path for some time now. You could definitely see it coming with Eyes Open, a compilation intended to draw wider audiences. While an appreciatable work of art, Suns is more a stumble than another true, original step. Gary is lost, his boots are muddy with promises, and he's trying to muster enough energy to keep going. I really hope he does, and I look forward to Snow Patrol's next release.