They are from Scotland. They have two other releases titled Songs for Polar Bears, and When it's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up. They have a deceiving song called "Chocolate" that is more about pining for a lost relationship than a Hershey bar (unless the songwriter has a fetish with all things made of cocoa). That was all the knowledge that I was equipped with before I listened to Snow Patrol's third album Final Straw.
Stickers on CD wrappers are absolutely useless; it is improbable that someone will pick up a band's album just because the sticker says, "FEATURING THE HIT SONGS..." especially if the songs are not on the radio. After listening to the entire album, however, I realized the three songs listed on the sticker, "Spitting Games," "Run," and "Chocolate," are the most radio-friendly songs on Final Straw. Gary Lightbody's voice sounds too soft to sing the rock anthems on the album; when he tries to be raucous, it still seems like he's pleading politely to his band mates to tone down their parts so that his voice can be heard.
The album starts with a lifeless track with the ironically titled "How to be Dead"; Lightbody sings listlessly attempting to passionately explain himself, while the band keeps the trite melody throughout the song. In the next track "Wow," Snow Patrol try to emulate an average garage band from New York with lo-fi vocals and distorted guitars; Lightbody even tries singing as if he is sneering, but at least the volume of his vocals is challenging the rest of the band. "Gleaming Auction" appears poorly arranged, because Lightbody's fragile voice is buried by roaring guitars and rough drumming. The chilling piano chords, random static, and awkwardly placed synths make "Ways and Means" a peculiar song, yet they also make it the most interesting track on the album.
Catchy hooks and well-crafted pop melodies in "Spitting Games" and "Chocolate" bring them out as the highlights of the album. The vivacity of the instrumentation and the fluidity of Lightbody's vocals create a complimentary balance in the songs. While as, the songwriting in the slow-tempo songs "Run" and "Grazed Knees" sound more advanced with the suitable string arrangements. The strings balance out the chords which allow everyone's part to shine in the lush songs. Coldplay's influence can be heard so dramatically that I almost could hear Chris Martin's croon gliding over the smooth melodies.
They sound like your average alternative rock band. There is nothing wrong with Snow Patrol, but there is nothing that makes them stand out from the hundreds of bands that have the same sound.
