Final Straw

by

Snow Patrol

Edit

The year 2004 has seen a rapid increase of great bands in Britain. At the start of the year Franz Ferdinand released their self-titled debut album which has brought a distinct freshness back to the UK charts. Along with male-fronted bands such as Keane, Maroon 5 and the Scissor Sisters, who have both enjoyed great success with their debut albums, I have to say that so far this year I am impressed with the majority of music. And then there's Snow Patrol...

For me Snow Patrol are the greatest 'new' talents of 2004 and also proudly boast the greatest album of the year so far. With their third and latest album "Final Straw," this great band have exploded big time onto the scene. With two virtually unheard albums behind them, these boys zoomed in on their talents and emerged with one of the most promising albums in recent years. I initially ignored this band, thinking them of nothing more than another Coldplay rip-off (their music more than resembles that of Chris Martin's band) but since I bought this album I've seen them in a completely new light.

The UK's best radio station, Radio 1, have hyped this album more than anyone else and their mass appeal has paid off, resulting in a multi-platinum smash hit. Lead singer Gary Lightbody's voice on "How To Be Dead," the album's opener, sets the tone for the rest of the album. The morbid title is metaphorically speaking of a relationship that's dead in the water. The lyrical composition is catchy and the beat gradually builds towards the second minute. This is swiftly followed by the masterful "Wow." There's not a greater title for this song, because it simply makes you go Wow! The intro is ambiguous and rather distant before the drums kick in and the Placebo-like vocals take over. The lyrics are superb ("Everything we have is all we need") and the chorus is a complete rocking anthem. "Gleaming Auction" has a driving bass that you can hum along to majestically with a driving guitar. The lyrics are brilliant and I adore the bridge. "Whatever's Left" starts instantly after the last track finishes, and continues the trend in grand style. I love the lyrics and the catchy way they're arranged ("A feeling I've had, many times before") with the rocking chorus.

The first four tracks average around two and a half minutes each in length, giving a brisk-paced start to this fine album. Then things begin to change with the next song, "Spitting Games." This was the song that really caught my ear and determined whether or not I would buy the album. With its startling beat and brash guitars, the song is very Britpop in its approach. The lyrics are superb, and the catchy way they're arranged is just genius. The vocals are soft and very self-critical. Basically the guy is saying he's a loser and can't approach the girl he fancies. The verses build the foundations of the song, before the amazing chorus carries it up and away into the clouds. It's free and its visceral in its simplicity - the kind of song a truly great band would take ten years to produce. "Chocolate" continues the upbeat trend with its beautiful phrasing and gentle vocals. The guitars are very catchy here and the vocals seem to be raised by almost an octave, proving a refreshing change from the usual 'miserable' vocals. "Run" is the album's center masterpiece and was the song that propelled this band into the British spotlight. Yes, the song is very slow and the vocals are depressing, but the lyrics are beautiful and gorgeous that they outshine what may be seen as the negatives. "Light up, light up, as if you have a choice. Even if you cannot hear my voice. I'll be right beside you dear. Louder, louder. And we'll run for our lives. I can hardly speak at all. Understand why you can't raise your voice to say."

After that near-six minute musical masterpiece, "Grazed Knees" lifts the dark atmosphere. With its moving lyrics and gentle guitar it becomes a great chill-out song but ultimately not a highlight. "Ways & Means" opens with an ear-catching keyboard beat that plods in. There's a certain glamour to this song, a little camp-factor that makes it very theatrical. The result, ultimately, is a very cool and cultural song with great guitar-moans in the back. "Tiny Little Fractures" startlingly calls forth the ghost of T.Rex (Mum, your fave band!) and with claps and harmonizing aplenty, created is an album highlight. "Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking" is a rather strange song with vocals rising and falling amongst a background vocal-repeat of "I could do most anything." The album closes with "Same," which is rather reminiscent of Coldplay's closing song "Amsterdam" on A Rush Of Blood To The Head. It might just be me, but Coldplay are definitely seen on this song but that is no bad thing. This is a great ending to my favourite album of 2004 so far.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

I'm not sure if this album will still be my favourite of the year by December, as I expect the forthcoming album from Bjork to oust it, but it's still going to be high up there. America is, once more, oblivious to a great British talent and will probably go by unnoticed. If you're reading this now you must be interested and thinking of buying it, so just go ahead and do it! Major credit has to go out to Garret Lee, the album's producer, who often drops in shocking and swift blips and bleeps that catch the listener off guard. Overall this is a brilliant and refreshing album and needs no other excuse than the fact that it is brilliant. File under 'Essential.'

First off, I definitely don't understand all the perfect 5 star ratings. This disc, even the most dedicated followers of SP can admit, is absolutely not at the same quality of a 'White Album' or 'OK Computer' or 'Moon and Antartica.'

Just listen to the lyrics for two seconds. And its not that Lightbody isn't capable, the album shows a lot of his true talent, but sometimes, you have to wonder what he was...or...wasn't, actually...thinking. Its like he thought he only had to write solidly HALF the time.

But, the album is certainly listenable. Everyone has mentioned 'Chocolate,' 'Spitting Games,' and 'Run.' There are definitely some good songs on here, but there are surely some missteps.

Not the best album of the year, for sure. Not even the best album of the season (see: Modest Mouse 'Good News for People Who Loves Bad News'). But it IS worth 10 or 12 bucks. If nothing else, its harmless at least.