I'm a big fan of acoustic versions of songs. There's something about the pure, intimate simplicity of them. Too Poppy favorite Snow Patrol did some acoustic versions for Biz Sessions across the pond. Enjoy.
Chasing Cars
Crack The Shutters
Just Say Yes
Run
Snow Patrol's new single, Just Say Yes, in advance of their new album, Up To Now, coming to the UK on November 2, 2009. No US date announced yet.
Pre-order Up To Now import @Amazon.
Pre-order Up To Now Limited Edition import @Amazon
It's hard not to like these guys. Enjoy.
Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes
There's something about Chris Martin that makes me want to ruffle up his hair and say, "it's alright, buddy, don't let the anemia get you down." It's an urge, what can I say. Regardless...
Coldplay hit Des Moines Friday night for a packed performance and they delivered. Decked out in their thrift-store Sgt. Pepper's garb, the band surpassed my modest expectations. When I've seen Apple's dad and his band perform on TV I've been quite underwhelmed, particularly with Viva La Vida. On TV, Martin could never quite deliver as he did in the studio. He did quite a bit better Friday night in person but still didn't nail it. What's with bands being unable to perform their biggest songs live?
No matter - virtually everything else worked, particularly if you were rating it on crowd reaction alone. As someone who first noticed the band with their debut Parachutes, you might not be surprised to hear that Yellow was by far the highlight for me. Even dropping cheesy yellow balloons on the crowd with bright yellow lights accentuating the band's summerless complexions couldn't ruin it. I was even able to stomach the always dreadful first two-thirds of Fix You knowing the last third would be worth it - and so it was. The band's mid-set interlude into the backseats near me was much appreciated, which included their little ditty to Iowa and of course the crowd-favorite cover of I'm a Believer. An absolutely stellar Death and All His Friends finished things off before a surprisingly short two-song encore. I was sincerely disappointed when the lights came up.
I like to kid about Coldplay mostly because they're asking for it! There's no doubt of their aspirations to be the next best-rock-and-roll-band-in-the-world ala U2 (Magnificent was an obvious pre-show setup tune), but they don't quite yet have the sense of grandeur to pull it off. The stage and lighting were disappointingly underwhelming. I wasn't expecting a giant lemon, but they could've done much better than giant lighted balls that reminded me a bit too much of Christmas decorations and not enough of rock 'n' roll. Martin is no Bono, but do we really need another Bono? He fed the crowd with plenty of energy, spastic running-around, and pained expressions to obviously highlight his emoting without resorting to fly sunglasses and meaningful lyrics. Kudos - just keep the aspirations grounded and get the guy some spinach.
Coldplay's Complete Setlist
I was nearly as excited that Snow Patrol was the second opener (Howling Bells was the first, which I missed and hardly deserves a mention considering TheirSpace indicated they were playing in Des Moines, IDAHO Friday night - c'mon) and they did exactly what I wanted them to do. No surprises - just faithful and loud renditions of their best tunes. Run made it all worthwhile, yet for me they sealed it when they played TV-soundtrack-favorite Open Your Eyes, which for some reason I did not expect. Killer tune in a great set. Their songs all reek of sameness, but why complain when they're good songs? I expected a bit more personality from a band with more albums than their headliner, but perhaps it's just a matter of time before they live up to the near-spectacle that is Moses' pop.
Finally, two completely irrelevant complaints that I have to include here so I can put them to rest:
1 - What's up with the terrible t-shirt selection from both bands?
2 - What's up with closing down of every beer vendor on the upper floors after Coldplay started?
Sheesh. Thank you - I am vented.
Snow Patrol announced this week they will be supporting Coldplay on the North American leg of their tour, which includes Des Moines. This will make my June 12 so much better - a twofer!
Why do I feel guilty about liking Snow Patrol? A Hundred Million Suns has yet to wow me, though.
Today only (28 October), get Snow Patrol's new album, A Hundred Million Suns, for only $3.99 at the Amazon MP3 store.
Or if you prefer the deluxe version with extra songs & videos, or you read this after October 28th, buy from iTunes.
I haven't listened to the album yet (as it's currently downloading), but will sure to post a review at some point.
Previously...
Snow Patrol <3's Super Furry Animals:
"If Nirvana made me pick up a guitar, Super Furry Animals made me think about what I had say with it," he said. "I think they're our generation's Beatles.Snow Patrol is not our generation's Beatles or U2 for that matter, but they toss out a good anthem now and again. Hopefully there will be a few on their new album due out October 28.
According to their record executive, Snow Patrol's new album will be available from iTunes as an "interactive album application" which will include artwork, behind-the-scenes images, lyrics and more for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Certainly interesting, depending on what exactly the extras are and the all important price tag.
Update:MusicWeek has more details.
For some reason I feel as if Snow Patrol is a guilty pleasure, but I appreciate how honest they seem in their mainstream appeal. If ever a band was to be classified simply as Rock, Snow Patrol is it. Their last two albums became so ubiquitous that during one season, I'm pretty sure I heard Open Your Eyes in ER and Grey's Anatomy, and I don't even watch those shows. Run was featured as one of the first free single downloads on iTunes and I was immediately captured by the drama of it all - the likes of which (outside of U2) I had not really heard since Live. Selling the drama works.
Well, they're releasing a brand new album that is sure to soundtrack a year's worth of commercials and CW shows.
"Musically, lyrically and sonically the best record we've made," frontman Gary Lightbody says of the set, produced by longtime collaborator Garret "Jacknife" Lee.A Hundred Million Suns comes out October 28.
Pitchfork reports that The Grey's Anatomy House Band Snow Patrol, Silversun Pickups, and OK Go are touring together. Nice lineup, although OK Go are just, well, ok. Naturally, no Iowa date. Bastards.
Remaining dates:
03-01 San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
03-02 Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
03-03 San Diego, CA - San Diego State University Open Air Theatre
03-05 Magna, UT - Great SaltAir
03-06 Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
03-08 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
03-09 Grand Prairie, TX - NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prarie
03-10 Austin, TX - Stubb's Bar-B-Q
03-11 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
03-19 Coral Gables, FL - BankUnited Center
03-20 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
03-21 Duluth, GA - Arena at Gwinnett Center
03-23 Washington, DC - Bender Arena at American University
03-24 Camden, NJ - Tweeter Center on the Waterfront
03-26 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden
03-27 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden
03-28 Boston, MA - Agganis Arena at Boston University
03-30 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
03-31 Toronto, Ontario - Ricoh Coliseum
04-01 Detroit, MI - State Theatre
04-02 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
04-04 St. Louis, MO - Pageant
04-05 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
04-06 Minneapolis, MN - Northrop Auditorium
04-07 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Burton Cummings Theatre
04-09 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwan Hall
04-10 Edmonton, Alberta - Shaw Conference Center
