a totally self indulgant review... (A Hundred Million Suns - Snow Patrol)

Member Name: pania22

Product:	A Hundred Million Suns - Snow Patrol
Date:	28/05/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: snow patrols best album yet.

Disadvantages: i can't listen to it at work!!!! oh, and the absolute clanger of "engine fire"

Snow patrols rise to stratospheric levels of fame began with the release of their track "run" early in 2003. MTV, Sunday morning, hung over, a video about a motorbike and a man with an amazing distinctively outstanding voice. It was that moment there, RIGHT there that I fell in lyrical love and Run remains to this day a song that carries immense emotional significance for me. Lead singer Gary is a strange old bean and as mad as a jumping one, but a singer who is as entertaining as they come. He carries out every performance whether it be a concert, tv appearance or in the studio with such an air of fun and joviality that his listeners cant help but smile. His on stage antics come highly recommended!!

Prior to Run's release came two albums that it would be fair to say received a luke warm reception. A change of record label later and things dramatically improved. Final straw and eyes open quickly followed. both containing immensely successful tracks. Now onto the present day.

A hundred million suns is far and away the richest sounding, most advanced album that the band have released so far. Receiving critical acclaim and Just missing the number 1 spot, the album is full of varying sounds. From the amazingly upbeat (and frequently sung in the shower, loudly and badly) "take back the cities" to my personal favourite the melancholic and ambient "lifeboats"

Now I'm not going to sit here and critique this album track by track. I am nowhere near experienced enough in the world of music to do such a disservice to the band, but will point out some gems contained that may other wise be skipped over.

First up we have lightning strike, a collaboration of 3 pieces of music grouped together to form one long story. The inspiration for the lyrics came from a long nights song writing, during which an electrical storm lit up the room that they were sitting in. And the lyrics most certainly reflect this. The 3 pieces chart the progress of a relationship with Lightbody praising the love in front of him throughout. Featuring fantastic choral and instrumental arrangements, the whole segment is 16 minutes long.
Initially dismissed out of hand by me as "too ambient" and "not the snow patrol I know and love!" I re-visited these pieces after the "take back the cities '09" tour where they were presented behind the most amazing back drops I've seen. The atmosphere in the arena during the performance was electric and on listening again following the concert I completely fell in love with these 3 tracks. So if you have dismissed them as not typical snow patrol then try them again. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Next on the list is "the planets bend between us" a gentle, melodic piece that is a world removed from the hands in the air feet tapping beats snow patrol usually reveal. In fact I have to be honest and say that I've always been a "slow patrol" fan over a "snow patrol fan!" The listener pretty quickly finds themselves swimming in the warm depths of both the melodic musical arrangement and garys gentle irish lilt. With touching lyrics such as "I will meet you by the water side, and standing on Irelands shore, I'll shout across to America that I did all this for you" an absolute blinder of a song that shows off Gary's vocal skills and that you wont want to end.

Snow patrol have often been criticised for failing to experiment, for not being "cutting edge" and not standing out from the crowd. A hundred million suns without exception crashes through this criticism and chucks a musical 2 fingers at their critics. The constant diversity of the tracks, along with the experimentation of lightning strike and the vocal range of all the tracks shows our snow patrol boys are proving their musical worth.

Oh and Gary, if you read this. If you ever fancy dinner.... ;0)

Summary: Marmite music at its finest.. but 200,000 fans can't be wrong!!