Snow Patrol was my favorite little secret until their one little song blew up and I was forced into a blizzard of Snow Patrol overload. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those people who doesn’t wish a band success and these guys have earned it. I’m just annoyed that it took one of their least interesting songs (it barely used over three notes) to propel them to that level of success.
On their fifth studio album A Hundred Million Suns, Snow Patrol seemed to struggle with a choice between continuing with the simple pop rock sound that they know will sell their records like “Chasing Cars” or embracing their indie rock sound that has in the past brought us a hauntingly beautiful duet with Martha Wainwright.
The album delicately teeters as Gary Lightbody decides what direction to take the band. The anthemic “If There’s A Rocket Tie Me To It” starts the album out with a pulsating chorus, but the reigns are pulled in a bit for the more lullaby-like “Crack the Shutters.” First single “Take Back The City” kicks up the amp and the rock level.
“Lifeboats” seems a little out a place to follow the upbeat single, but the gloomy chords juxtaposed with Lightbody’s poppy voice has the power to linger in your mind long after the song is over. Although the lyrics, “Dreaming only leads to more and more nightmares,” emulate the gloomy chords, the closing lines of “Send your lifeboats out for me,” carries the optimism and hope prevalent on the rest of the album.
Not wanting to stay in a downtroddern mood too long, the flamenco styled track “The Golden Floor” and the incredibly radio friendly “Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands” picks the tempo back up, although they are paced by gentler “Set Down Your Glass.” Lightbody’s voice quavers over the acoustic guitars, “When your eyes meet mine, I lose simple skills.” The “Chasing Cars” fan club will love this number.
Next is the synth and string heavy “The Planets Bend Between Us.” Lightbody stretches out the romantic lyrics, which loan the album it’s title. The electronic effects of this song loan a transition into “Engines,” which is a bit of a departure for the band, but an interesting one that reminds me of “Spitting Games” if it was slowed down and electronic heavy.
Although I found the beginning of the album to lack in substance, the end of the album has the strongest songs. “Disaster Button” features surprisingly harsh lyrics: “Ripped up ticket stubs confettied on the floor,” starts off one verse. It isn’t until later that Lightbody admits, “I am just a ripped up ticket stub.” The album closes with the 16 minute “The Lightening Strike.” This is easily the best reason to listen to the album. A piano rolls in the rest of the instruments like storm clouds are rolled into the sky.
A Hundred Million Suns has some great songs, but it lacks consistency and a sense of cohesiveness when looked at as a whole. If you are a fan of any of the band’s previous works, you’ll be sure to find a song you’ll like. However, be warned: the old Snow Patrol is present on this album, but it is also the development of something new. Part two experiments with looping. Part three is more atmospheric and Lightbody’s voice breaks in. Light chimes dust this heavenly number.
A Hundred Million Suns is available today, October 28, 2008.
Tracklisting:
01. If There’s A Rocket Tie Me To It
02. Crack the Shutters
03. Take Back The City
04. Lifeboats
05. The Golden Floor
06. Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands
07. Set Down Your Glass
08. The Planets Bend Between Us
09. Engines
10. Disaster Button
11. The Lightening Strike: (i) What If The Storm Ends? / (ii) The Sunlight Through the Flags / (iii) Daybreak
Snow Patrol: website | myspace
Written by: Bethany
If nothing else, the album art is pretty attractive.