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THE REVIEW
To replicate the success of "Final Straw" would have been a daunting task for anyone, and Snow Patrol have surpassed it. "Eyes Open" is indeed a beautiful album, blessed with immense global success (in both acclaim and sales) (even in the U.S., where "Chasing Cars" soared).
The strengths of Gary Lightbody and company (great sense of melody and a solid, smooth pop-rock writing) are not only confirmed but enriched by a quality of writing that surprisingly seems to improve over the years (a rare trait for Anglo-Saxon bands).
The first release "You're All I Have" (a moderately upbeat track, suspended between the classic "uh uh uh-uh" chorus and a sharp, incisive refrain) gained good exposure here in Italy, thanks to its use in the advertising campaign of a well-known summer festival. The following "Hands Open" flows delightfully and will emerge as the most rock piece of the album, thanks to its no-frills guitar riff. "Chasing Cars" is among the most beautiful ballads released last year, with its melodic crescendo and lighter-worthy refrain, while "Shut Your Eyes" is a guitar pop harmless yet pleasant Coldplay-like track. "Beginning To Get To Me" raises the bar and introduces us to "You Could Be Happy", a sort of lullaby seemingly accompanied by a music box.
Again, Chris Martin makes an appearance in a piano ballad like "Make This Go On Forever", which nevertheless erupts into a guitar whirl in the beautiful finale. "Set The Fire To The Third Bar" features the gentle participation of the "artistic sister" Martha Wainwright, a very special slow piece played on the intertwined vocals of the singers, accompanied by a delicate piano at first and a very particular (yet never invasive) rhythm in the end.
"Headlight On Dark Roads" retraces the theme of "You're All I Have" but presents a more impactful melodic riff, unlike the stunning "Open Your Eyes", filled with tons of U2 influence. "The Finish Line" closes the album in a subdued manner, where everything is in its place, and the quality of the offered tracks is decidedly above average.
We hope that Lightbody and company won't fall into that artistic gentrification that has mercilessly struck many of their more illustrious colleagues.
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Summary by Bot
Snow Patrol’s Eyes Open excels beyond their previous success, featuring strong melodies and refined songwriting. The album combines pop-rock elements with memorable ballads like 'Chasing Cars' and collaborations with Chris Martin and Martha Wainwright. Each track delivers high quality, showcasing the band’s growth and musical maturity. The album closes on a notably polished note, avoiding common creative pitfalls.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are a Northern Irish/Scottish rock band formed in 1994 at the University of Dundee by Gary Lightbody. After two indie releases, they broke through with Final Straw (2003) and achieved global success with Eyes Open (2006) propelled by “Chasing Cars.” Later albums include Fallen Empires (2011) and Wildness (2018).08 Reviews
Other reviews
By Adil
The task was carried out diligently and precisely, but the hopes of repeating the success of two years ago are reasonably remote.
Set The Fire To The Third Bar breaks the slight but palpable sense of monotony felt in the more introspective episodes of Eyes Open.
By Vivio
The songs on this album are indeed catchy from the start, but if listened to and re-listened to, they stay with you, giving you some beautiful sensation.
'Hands Open'... an excellent melody that immediately sticks in your head but above all a SONG in the true sense of the word, where the most important thing is to convey something intimate with the words.
