CD Review: Snow Patrol, "Up to Now"

Whether you love Snow Patrol, or have never heard of them before, they're debuting their first compilation album, "Up to Now" of their favorite hits from two of their past records. Although it's not their greatest hits, it's the ones that make them unique and prove their talent and mark in the music industry. The album includes thirty songs, with three brand-spanking new ones.

With tones that are romantic and sad, and somewhat hopeful at times, Snow Patrol comes with their own sound, singings of broken hearts and childhood memories. Their single, "Set the Fire to the Third Bar" is currently on the trailer for Dear John and taking the movie industry by storm with their music also appearing in Spider Man 3 and Grey's Anatomy.

"Up To Now" features a few singles that made the band famous, including "Chasing Cars" and "Chocolate." "Chocolate" was Grammy-nominated and one of the most hopeful and upbeat songs of the band, with unique and unusual lyrics about having a name he'd never choose and holding a lie underneath the roof of his mouth. The song sounds beautiful, but turns tragic as you realized he's lovesick for someone he's hurt.

"Just Say Yes" is an unusual track, with a different sound than the rest of the album. Again, it's romantic, but sounds like it could be played in a club and is a bit bland. It's with less instruments and more synthesizers, maybe showing the band isn't afraid to step outside of their own box and get creative, but instead it backfires.

A surprising feature of the compilation are the band's covers, including Beyonce's "Crazy in Love." They succeed in making it sound like the original, but in their own sound and style.

"Up to Now" is perfect for those looking to make a mix-tape to a lover, ex-lover, future lover, or friend. Snow Patrol allows itself to use many different instruments in most of their songs, but still seem to withhold outstretching their arms lyrically by keeping the songs restricted to romance as a melodramatic group of Irishmen.

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com