I haven't written a review for an album in awhile. So I sorry if it isn't up to par.
Anyway, I wanted to let you guys know about a group of musicians I have been obsessing over for weeks now. Know granted this is just my opinion, so please don't hammered it down my throats that my musical taste is abit strange. I'm just giving away my opinion, if you want to listen to it, than by all means take it.
Right now I've been loving Snow Patrol... which for me is out of the norm. I first heard of this band off of the Garden State Soundtrack, but didn't really give them a second glance because both The Shins and Coldplay overshadowed Snow Patrol on this specific album.
Back when their single Chasing Cars was all over the place about a couple of years ago, I was taken back by their soft melodies and beautiful piano. After two years and their overexposure on Grey's Antomeny, which by the way picks some really good under the rader indie bands that then go on to get discover, made me sick and tired of this band. I immedinataly grouped them in as a wannabe Coldplay band.
Turn the clock back to last September, I was crusing through the internet to find out some the next new releases of my favorite bands. My favorite modern day band, Keane, was releasing an album out in early October. However they were also trying to help promote the new Snow Patrol album, A Hundred Million Suns. So I figured if it was good enough for Keane, it probably is good enough for me.
Their album didn't come out into November, but their video for their single Take Back the City was already playing VH1.
My first reaction to this video was, shit who the hell is this band? Why don't I know who this is? I was in full shock and surprised that this was actually Snow Patrol.
The video was shot in a similar fashion of O.A.R's newest video, Shattered. The whole video played off images of he city that the guys of Snow Patrol grew up in. It showed the city in a fast paced and beautfil grace. Gary Lightbody's voice is amazing over the catchy guitar riffs and upbeat tempo. This is defintely the type of Snow Patrol I want to hear. Don't get me wrong I do like moody and sumber music, but I wanted to hear something fresh and new from these guys.
So to tie me over for A Hundred Million Suns, I decided to check out some of their older work. I wanted to see if their was more than meets the eye. I didn't give these guys an equal chance because I was bias to their songs that were overplayed on the radio and media outlets.
What I found to my surprise was two earlier recordings that didn't have the proper air time they should of gotten. They were far more explosive than their last two commerical hits.
For their first release, Songs for Polarbears, Snow Patrol was considered an indie band. They were only a trio at the time. It was 1998 even though it had the feel of a made in the basement tape from 1992. It really had this lo-fi feel which was pretty in demand in the early 90's to mid 90's. I kind of understand why this album didn't sell too well in the states, but in my opinion this was top notch work.
The music is upbeat, catchy, relatable, moody, and addicting. My favorite songs are Little Hide and Velocity Girl. Both are completly different, but there is this sensuality to both these tracks that make their enjoyable. Little Hide is an in your face love song. The use of heavy guitar riffs over Gary's voice shows that this is about the struggle, the tension, and the attraction of two people in love. To me that's sexy.
Velocity Girl is more downtempo and bit more mellow. The tone is still pretty much sexual but there is this sadness to it.
Note worthy songs: Little Hide, NYC, Jj, Sticky Teenage Twin, 100 Things You Should of Done, Mahogany, Starfighter Pilot, and Velocity Girl.
Because this album was their very first it might be harder to find. iTunes took this album off. It took me a long time to find a copy of Songs for Polarbears, so you might have to download this album off of a site like Limewire. I was lucky to find this album at a local record store.
For their second album, When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up, there is still this same sense of feel to this album like their debut. There is this mix between mellow and post grunge. However like their first album, their sound is pretty out dated for the time. This album came out in 2001, but sounds right out of the 90's. Now I'm not saying that it wasn't a good sound, but because the mainstream was moving on from grunge inspired music and the post-alternative era was starting, Snow Patrol was getting shifted.
One of my favorite tracks on this album has to be Making Enemies, I like the mixing qualities of this song. There is also Firelight, which for me is one of the most beautiful songs on the record. Since there is no music video to this song, I'm defintely making one. I like the rawness of Black and Blue, but the sweetness & sensitvity of An Olive Grove Facing the Sea. Make Love to Me Forever is in a sense a lullaby.
Note worhty songs: Making Enemies, An Olive Grove Facing the Sea, Make Love to Me Forever, Black and Blue, Ask Me How I Am, Firelight One Night Is Not Enough, On/Off.
After listening to these two albums, I have came up with the conclusion that Snow Patrol was and still is the real deal. Behind their flashy first singles was a well seasoned group of musicians with true talent and terrfic song writing from Gary Lightbody.
I'm pleases with there work, hopefully they keep it up.
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