They're good, and they just got better. Eyes Open, Snow Patrol's first album after the departure of bassist and keyboardist Mark McClelland, is a new sound for this Northern Ireland band.
Eyes Open features several deviations from the three preceding albums. With former Terra Diablo member Paul Wilson on bass, there is a rougher edge to their usually mellow, intimate sound.
New also to the line-up is keyboardist Tom Simpson. His gentle, flowing melodies help to balance Wilson's vigorous bass-playing. The result is six downtempo tracks and five head-bobbing alternative rock songs.
How well these two musicians complement each other stands out in track seven: Make this go on Forever, in which a piano riff interlaid with synth effects is supported by a faint bass echo. Combined with Gary Lightbody's passionate singing, this song will leave a feeling of melancholy and loneliness reverberating in your soul.
You Could be Happy is another highlight. The carefully orchestrated hand-bells in the background frame Lightbody's mournful crooning and give the impression of falling snow. This lends a surreal effect to the song.
If you're into alternative rock and are looking for a good CD that's not too challenging, Eyes Open is a fair bet.