music review: Snow Patrol - Eyes Open

Snow Patrol -- Eyes Open (A&M) Snow Patrol’s last album Final Straw spawned some singles that got heavy rotation on various TV dramas and reality shows whenever they needed to insert some false drama. The songs that didn’t get a lot of play were gems, like “Spitting Games.” Consequently, the follow up kept the middling melancholy and left out the cleverness. Still, songs like “You Could be Happy,” built on a rhythm of tinkling chimes, is unique in sound if not form. This time around, their songwriting has the worst instincts of Coldplay at their most anthemic, sound and fury signifying nothing. However, I expect you’ll hear a lot of this music during the most whiny moments on The Real World. Or something.