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After treading through the indie wilderness, and emerging
from the thriving Glasgow music scene, Snow Patrol
must feel there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Three albums in and they're still here. Labeled as a
much maligned 'evening session indie band' Gary Lightbody
and co have returned with arguably their most promising
work to date. Interestingly named the 'Final Straw'
(a veiled reference?) the set mainly consists of material
from new album 'Final Straw', this is textbook songwriting
at its best. The choruses soar, the key changes run
like clockwork and Snow Patrol give you 3 minute gems
that you could set your watch by, whilst Gary's vocals
tug at the heartstrings ever so politely. Finally out
of the indie undergrowth, but still down to earth. 'Christ
this place is big' he exclaims in between his excessive
'thank you's' to the crowd. Sorry Mr Healy, I give you
the new nicest man in 'indie'.
Proving they aren’t just indie, the scuzz induced offerings
of 'Wow' and 'Tiny Little Fractures' blur past and the
moody and pained vocals in 'Somewhere A Clock' offers
a darker, moody contrast. 'Spitting Games', a stand
out track on the album, isn't captured on the night
and is overshadowed by forthcoming single, 'Run'. In
the vein of the singalong, 'Run' is all about the key
changes and Lightbody's lingering vocals that brings
the set to an unfortunate end.
With songs so simple yet infectious, Snow Patrol look
to finally be realising their potential. You get the
feeling when Gary sings 'Maybe I can do it if i put
my back into it' that he and Snow Patrol are finally
taking their own advice.
Sherief Younis
www.snowpatrol.net
www.brixton-academy.co.uk
Sherief Younis for Crud Magazine 2003©
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