After two sporadically brilliant albums, 2001โs When Itโs All Over We Still Have To Clear Up and 1998 debut Songs For Polarbears, Snow Patrol have polished their compelling power pop thanks to a new producer (dance/rock fusionist Jacknife Lee) and a new member (second guitarist Nathan Connolly). The result is the bandโs most coherent album to date. Opener โHow To Be Deadโ is an exquisite ballad on dysfunctional relationships and โWays & Meansโ edgy Sebadoh-esque rock. The highlights, though, are โRunโ and โSomewhere A Clock Is Tickingโ, which begin delicately and build into epic rock. A remarkable return.
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