Review: Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns

With the success of 2006's Eyes Open, Snow Patrol backed themselves into a corner. The album went platinum primarily on the strength of "Chasing Cars", and that song saw a lot of its success as a result of an appearance on Grey's Anatomy. So you can understand the potential pressure for a successful follow-up. But this Tuesday the Irish rockers (with normal names) release their fifth studio album A Hundred Million Suns, and anyone willing to take the time to hear the record out in full will walk away greatly satisfied, if slightly caught off-guard. Take note; this is not Eyes Open Part II

A Hundred Million Suns starts out with "If There's A Rocket Tie Me To It". The titles of the songs on this record are about as grandiose and epic as the songs themselves. Snow Patrol have succeeded where some of their Irish comrades have failed; A Hundred Million Suns is a record that not only sounds larger than life, but it's also interesting to listen to again and again. Gary Lightbody's voice soars both in pitch and in scale. While no song here matches the immediate draw that "Chasing Cars" had, across the board this album matches the high-stakes, textured beauty that song brought forth.

Unlike its predecessor, A Hundred Million Suns is a much more introverted album. Snow Patrol take the time on this record to create a texture and atmosphere on every song. That isn't to say that Snow Patrol is getting experimental on us; first single "Take Back The City" is a textbook rock number whose chorus begs to be sang out loud on the nearest rooftop available. Likewise "Disaster Button" is pure fun, no-holds-barred rock and roll, or at least as close as Snow Patrol has ever gotten. But conversely Lightbody & company offer up the acoustic singalong "Lifeboats" and the tribal "The Golden Floor" alongside the sweeping "The Planets Bend Between Us". While it might not be the radio-pandering record that people might expect or hope for, this album is fantastic, alluring, and demands to be heard over and over.

I can't end this review without mentioning the closing track, the epic 16-minute "The Lightning Strike". This is actually three songs melded together in a form that lands somewhere between The Who and Rush. I'm not sure I understand why Snow Patrol combined these songs onto one track rather than just have three gapless tracks, but it doesn't matter, since in the three times I've listened to the record, I haven't once been bored. Suffice it to say the track is aptly named, as the song appears to be the moment of pure, unadulterated brilliance.

When it comes time for me to prepare my Best Of '08 list, expect A Hundred Million Suns to be in the conversation. I feel like Snow Patrol's career is starting to mirror that of Jimmy Eat World. Both bands had massive success on one song ("Chasing Cars" and "The Middle") resulting in a platinum record and worldwide acclaim. Jimmy's follow-up Futures was a brooding, introverted affair that couldn't have been more different from its predecessor. But regardless it was a decent album that led to a continued great career for the band. Based on the marginal impact "Take Back The City" is making on radio right now, it looks like A Hundred Million Suns will be a disappointment in comparison with Eyes Open. But like with Jimmy Eat World, Snow Patrol sound like they've hit their comfort zone on this album, and when all the cylinders fire on this album, as they often do, the results are positively captivating.

Final Score: 9/10

==TJ==