Snow Patrol — Eyes Open

Glasgow's Snow Patrol aren't the kind of group you listen to while piercing your eyelid or battling poisonous snakes. No, they're Ford Freestar rock stars, perfect for those tender me-moments between when you drop off the dry cleaning and pick the kids up at gymnastics. Tepid ballad "Chasing Cars" is basically a Celine Dion tune. You can practically envision Leonardo DiCaprio clutching a floating hunk of ice as Gary Lightbody emotes? It does, however, mesh flawlessly. Under the guidance of U2 producer Jacknife Lee, the group craft big beautiful anthems that sincerely detail tumultuous relationships over rocky guitars, chiming background vocals (provided by Martha Wainwright on the pretty "Set The Fire To The Third Bar") and epic string and choral arrangements.

Get it from