Snow Patrol
surprised everyone by becoming the Sebadoh it was
okay for your grandmother to like with their third
album Final Straw. Not only did it follow
on from Coldplay and thus create a niche for itself,
but it sold in America by pushing what they created – indie
rock – back to them.
The Scots who moved to Ireland certainly turned
their frontman Gary Lightbody into quite the pin-up,
and that continues apace on Eyes Open, and
album that ups the ante somewhat on its predecessor,
but is nevertheless straight down the line throughout.
Sacking his songwriting cohort and band cofounder
on bass, Mark McClelland, has certainly made Lightbody’s
songs the central focus for Snow Patrol.
Single and opening cut “You’re All I Have” works
well, and it’s clear from the get go that Eyes
Open is an amped-up Snow Patrol. “Set the Fire
to the Third Bar” is a duet with Martha Wainwright
while “Hands Open” references Sufjan Stevens, so
indie credibility is tentatively grasped at, but
this is an album very much about positioning Snow
Patrol as a mainstream act. They do it well – the
emotive songs clutch and strain for the hearts, while
the stompers have plenty of energy. There’s no doubt
that Eyes Open is a far more M.O.R. effort
than in the past: “Chasing Cars” and “You Could Be
Happy” (complete with sickly sweet glockenspiel)
are straight down the line ballads, while “Beginning
to Get to Me” is a pure radio hit waiting to happening.
The only time danger comes near to Eyes Open is
on the gospel choir of “Shut Your Eyes” and the mega-ballad “Make
This Go On Forever”, which is a particularly strong
song. So Snow Patrol have seen the promised land,
and realised that to get there you must play the
game and deliver radio hits and songs that don’t
offend, don’t challenge, and don’t offer up anything
new. They’re strong and catchy and everything a mainstream
rock band should deliver on the follow-up to their
breakthrough album. Strong on melody, the focus has
most certainly become Lightbody’s pleasingly plaintive
voice, and that pushes Snow Patrol into a straight
direction into the mainstream.
