Snow Patrol - Final Straw

Snow Patrol. Maybe you’ve heard of them? Well, they’ve got one of the year’s best albums out right now, and there’s still a little time left to see them live in The States before they head back to the UK for festival season. So if you don’t know who they are yet, it’s time to find out. Since Final Straw is the third release from the British quartet, most people thought they had the band pegged. They weren’t expected to put out this record, and the quality of the music has caught many people, even their fans, off guard. Frontman Gary Lightbody, guitarist Mark McClelland and drummer Jonny Quinn released their debut Songs For Polar Bears in 1998 on Scotland’s Jeepster records (home of Belle and Sebastian) and then When It’s All Over We Still Have To Clean Up in 2001. When the band decided to split with their label and added a second guitarist, Nathan Connolly, they were snapped up by Polydor and set to work on Final Straw with Garret “Jacknife” Lee. There really aren’t any bad songs on this record, but there are definitely stand-outs. The tricky part is that with each listen, my favorites seem to change. One day the slow, sexy distorted grind of “Ways & Means” might be just what I’m in the mood for, and then the next day, the straight forward power-pop of “Spitting Games” might be just the ticket. But then there’s the pensive longing of “Run.” Basically, this is just a really well-crafted exploration into every mood you might have on any given day. The strength of the songs has a lump-in the-chest-inducing quality that I haven’t heard in a long time. Imagine if the best band from your youth is back; the one you used to listen to and think, “Man, this is me. This is my life.” Yeah, it’s that good. Final Straw is another example of how this is shaping up to be a pretty good year for music. With distorted guitars and precise drum beats mixed with universal slacker themes and catchy hooks, Snow Patrol have created a modern rock masterpiece. And it seems like they’ve surprised everyone with the brilliance of their third offering…well, maybe everyone but themselves. [www.snowpatrol.net]