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THE REVIEW
Two years after the unexpected success of the previous Final Straw (over two million copies sold and a prestigious Mercury Prize for the best album), the pressure surrounding the quintet led by Gary Lightbody seems to have played a bad trick on Snow Patrol. The eleven songs of Eyes Open, starting with the first single You're All I Have (a track with a tense yet extremely melodic pace), only partially convince. The second track, Hands Open, with its prominent rhythm section from the very first bars and a simple yet striking guitar riff, perhaps deserved to open the album instead of the already mentioned You're All I Have. The subsequent Chasing Cars, despite emanating the quiet romanticism that so appeals to the Anglo-Saxon audience, is not the most convincing ballad of the album. Set The Fire To The Third Bar, especially due to the presence of a female voice (Martha Wainwright), breaks the slight but palpable sense of monotony felt in the more introspective episodes of Eyes Open.
The faster and driven tracks like Headlights On Dark Roads and It’s Beginning To Get To Me, while reminiscent of older Snow Patrol singles (Spitting Games, to name one), ultimately remain the best parts of this work. The penultimate song, Open Your Eyes, with its engaging final crescendo, sounds almost like an (unintentional?) tribute to U2’s The Joshua Tree. Apparently, opening the European concerts of Bono's band left a mark on Lightbody's songwriting. The finale is entrusted to a track – The Finish Line – that feels much like a lullaby.
What else to say? The task was carried out diligently and precisely, but the hopes of repeating the success of two years ago are reasonably remote.
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Summary by Bot
Snow Patrol’s Eyes Open arrives under the weight of expectations after their successful album Final Straw. While some tracks like Hands Open and Open Your Eyes stand out, the album overall feels somewhat monotonous and less convincing. Collaborations and faster songs add interest, but the record doesn't quite recapture the earlier magic.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 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.
By GrantNicholas
"Eyes Open" is indeed a beautiful album, blessed with immense global success (in both acclaim and sales).
"Chasing Cars" is among the most beautiful ballads released last year, with its melodic crescendo and lighter-worthy refrain.
