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Lightning rarely strikes twice… but hardly ever thrice. But
here's the proof… A Hundred Million Stars is the record
that was a statistical impossibility. After their first two records
being very solid alt. rock forays, Snow Patrol went on to craft
two of the very finest records in modern music with Final Straw
and Eyes Open. There was no way they were going to be able
to strike that same precious amazingness a third time, but somehow,
inexplicably, they have done just that. The sound of A Hundred
Million Stars is as fresh and energetic as the last two records
have been, filled with a pop urgency that few bands manage to capture
live, much less on record. The opening track "If There's A Rocket
Tie Me To It" is a perfect example of the reason that Gary
Lightbody and company are so excellent at their craft. The song
starts softly, slowly building into an introspective and literate
reflection on a relationship before exploding into a glorious chorus
of rock and roll bliss. And if that sounds over-the-top, it really
isn't. That's really what happens. "Crack The Shutters"
is the continuation of such classic Snow Patrol tunes as "How
To Be Dead" and "Chasing Cars" - pop perfection with
dynamic musicianship. Then the band turns up the rock coefficient
for "Take Back The City", a nice tune that gives slight
nods to "vintage" British bands with its brash guitar lines
and throbbing rhythm. If you need more proof, check out "Please
Just Take These Photos From My Hands"… it's remarkable,
but it doesn't need to be with a great title like that.
Despite what the naysayers would have you believe, great Britpop
is not dead. The boys in Snow Patrol continue to create lush, powerful
pop music with a distinctly British edge… and somehow, they've
managed to do it for an entire album again. Not a throwaway song
on the entire disc. That is lightning striking that we can all agree
with.
-L. Keane
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