Following up its 2004 breakthrough album, FINAL STRAW, the Ireland-bred/Scotland-based rock band Snow Patrol opted for an even more accessible sound on EYES OPEN. Frontman Gary Lightbody has always shown a penchant for crafting pop-savvy tunes, but this 11-track set takes his songwriting to new heights, as best revealed on the energetic anthems "You're All I Have" and "Hands Open." While these songs display grandeur on the scale of U2 and Coldplay, Lightbody also knows how to ease into a tender ballad, most notably the chiming "You Could Be Happy," which features delicate Bjork-like backing. Though much of the record is upbeat, Lightbody's melancholy sensibility still comes into play on the brooding "Shut Your Eyes" and "Set Fire to the Third Bar," a haunting duet with Martha Wainwright. Longtime fans may miss Snow Patrol's indie-pop quirkiness (a la "Get Balsamic Vinegar...Quick You Fool" from SONGS FOR POLARBEARS), but in its place is a mature and assured approach that is sure to appeal to a wide audience.

The anthemic indie rock sound of Snow Patrol provides a bit of hope and promise among the many acts attempting to fit into a certain genre or scene. Snow Patrol belongs to their own scene, and their third album, 2004's Final Straw, proved that with several global hit singles such as "Run," "Chocolate," "How to Be Dead," and the reissue of "Spitting Games." British fans once more proclaimed their beloved Snow Patrol as a true rock & roll band while American audiences finally took notice of the Scottish collective. The band's fourth album, Eyes Open, doesn't fall short from where they left off; in fact, Snow Patrol's hungry rock sound only gets bigger and better this time around. All guitar hooks and singalong choruses are firmly in place, and Gary Lightbody is an underrated frontman. On Eyes Open, he once again writes songs that are from the heart and true to self-reflection without getting too sappy and too overjoyed. From the playful name-dropping of Sufjan Stevens on "Hands Open" to their passionate delivery on "It's Beginning to Get to Me" and "Shut Your Eyes," Snow Patrol's approach is epic. They are the kind of band that embraces simplicity as beautiful and human flaws as art. The lullaby-like "You Could Be Happy" and the passionate buildup of "Make This Go on Forever" are evident of that. This 11-song set is a masterpiece, so keep your ears and eyes open for Snow Patrol. They're onto something big. ~ MacKenzie Wilson