Eyes Wide Open
When I first heard Snow Patrol's "Spitting Games" in 2004, I was immediately transported back to high school. No longer was I that self-assured 30-something with good eyebrows. Suddenly, I was once again a socially awkward 15-year-old misfit. Lines like "I broke into your house last night/And left a note at your bedside/I'm far too shy to speak to you at school/You leave me numb and I'm not sure why," accurately depicted my misguided infatuation with the golden-boy captain of the varsity football team. Not that I ever broke into the object of my affection's house, but I certainly wanted him to know of my "undying love." In hindsight, I'm thankful I never mustered the courage to tell him such a silly thing.
That song stuck in my head and the next day I purchased their album Final Straw. After one listen, the lads from Glasgow (by way of Northern Ireland and Dundee, Scotland) became part of what I like to call my "Tartan Music Trio." Along with fellow Scottish bands Travis and Belle & Sebastian, Snow Patrol's unique blend of guitar-driven alt rock, coupled with singer Gary Lightbody's identifiable, hypnotic brogue became a mainstay on my play list. I listened repeatedly to "Games," "Run" and "Wow," never tiring of the exquisite, heartbreaking lyrics about love and loss, nor the atmospheric guitars. I attended their 2004 Irving Plaza show solo, which befit my mood; I had just gotten dumped (again) and wanted to get lost among the crowd of the fellow heartsick.
Unlike "bed wetters" extraordinaire, Coldplay, to which they are often and unjustly compared, Snow Patrol doesn't keep putting out the same album. Their latest, Eyes Open showcases how much they've grown musically and lyrically. Although it takes a few listens to really knock you for sixes, it nevertheless packs a musical wallop. The atmosphere is still there, as are the poignant lyrics, but the band ventures outside the box, utilizing the Glasgow Choir on several tracks, adding strings and keyboards to a few others ("Open Your Eyes" is a standout) and having Martha Wainwright channel Kate Bush on a lovely duet with Lightbody ("Set Fire to the Third Bar"). One wonders if local girl Wainwright will join the lads on stage for their upcoming New York City gig.
While the songs on Eyes may not have as big an impact as "Spitting Games" did, listening to Snow Patrol still conjures up memories of relationships, and the heartbreak that inevitably comes with them. Once again, I will be one of the many lovesick in the crowd.