Search - Snow Patrol :: When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up

My Favorite From Snow Patrol

Snewk | Indiana | 03/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have all of their albums including "Songs For Polar Bears" and "Final Straw," and while each is filled with great, memorable songs, Snow Patrol's sophomore release, "When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up" sounds more connected and uses has a bigger variety of musical styles than the other two.



You begin the CD with a series of palm mutes, followed by a spacey riff and the soft, almost whispered voice of frontman Gary Lightbody. "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again" and "Ask Me How I Am" are only around 2:15 each; The album doesn't seem to begin until "Making Enemies," beginning with a distorted, reversed introduction.



I like this album more because it mixes a lot of rock songs and ballads. For a harder, rough, almost grunge sound, look towards "Black And Blue," "Last Ever Lone Gunman," and "Chased By... I Don't Know What." While no song sticks out like "Run" on Final Straw, "If I'd Ever Found The Right Words To Say," and "An Olive Grove Facing The Sea" (a hauntingly beautiful song with a brass ensemble playing towards the end) certainly make up for it.



For me "One Night Is Not Enough" is the stand out track for me. This is the track with the best guitars and the best lyrics. Lightbody sings about the hardship of lying to a lover (which he seems to be best at doing): "Have I held out for something, That is never going to happen?, It's not me that you love."



It won't happen on the first listen, but these songs will catch on to you quickly. When "Final Straw" begins to sound boring (and it will eventually), pick up "When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up." It may be expensive but it was a great choice for me."

This band is one of the best finds in ages

Colleen A. Sayer | Sydney, NSW Aust | 08/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought Music for Polar Bears some time ago, and recently bought Final Straw, and this album is just as good as them all. It does have a different sound/feel to it, but thats what makes it all the better. It has short, sharp lyrics, with a variety of sounds that come together perfectly.Some songs come together quickly, and some you have to wait for the "good part", but its all good. Worth the money and the wait, and if you ever know of the boys coming near your area, make sure you do whatever it takes to see them live, by far the best group of this genre i ve seen."

Spare Yourself the Disappointment

Joshua Downham | Muncie, IN United States | 05/10/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"If you loved Final Straw and Eyes Open, you'll hate When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up. Trust me. Like the majority of Snow Patrol's new fans, I discovered the underrated rock group when watching Live 8. So we bought Final Straw and were not disappointed. It's a great album and in my opinion is better than Eyes Open, although that too is an album worth checking out.



When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up is not. Like many, I thought Final Straw was Snow Patrol's first album and was happy to learn that they had two other albums, one released in 1998 and another in 2001. My joy died the moment I played this album. Don't get me wrong. I didn't expect it to sound like Final Straw and I love it when rock bands experiment with their sound, but When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up is without doubt Snow Patrol's worst album thus far. If you absolutely must buy one of Snow Patrol's early albums, buy their first - Songs for Polar Bears. It's a good debut with some memorable, catchy tunes. What's more, it proves to Snow Patrol's critics that the band can really rock hard when they want to. While it's not as good as Final Straw or Eyes Open, Songs for Polar Bears is a masterpiece compared to this one. You've been warned."