• Reviews

• All
• Music
• DVDs
• Live
• Cinema
• TV
• Books
• Comic Books
• Video Games

May 23, 2018 Web Exclusive By Matt the Raven

After a seven-year hiatus and a track record showing Snow Patrol achieving varying degrees of success with past projects, listeners will no doubt approach Wildness with some trepidation.

After a few spins any fears of disappointment are soon realized. Gone is the arena-ready, anthemic pop-rock and art-school trendiness that made Snow Patrol so appealing; replaced instead with an acoustic/electric mix of mid-tempo, unremarkable adult rock with few redeeming qualities.

It seems that the band may have peaked with 2006’s Eyes Open, when they drew comparisons to U2, Coldplay, and Elbow with crafty, high energy indie rock and radio-friendly hooks. Frontman Gary Lightbody still has that polished, rock-star voice which can be both passionately rousing and intimately reflective, but it’s not used as effectively on Wildness as it was on past releases.

One hopes that a comeback after a long break would reveal a new musical direction or at the very least a passionate return to form. Unfortunately, opener “Life on Earth” tends to ramble on aimlessly with no direction. First single “Don’t Give In” sounds less like Coldplay and more like the Americana rock of Philadelphia band The War on Drugs, although not quite as stirring. “Wild Horses,” while a good song, only hints at the glory years. Meanwhile, “Empress” and “A Dark Switch” are the only two tracks that capture past magic with elements that are immediately fetching, some slick bass lines, moody passages, and smoldering guitars. But the album as a whole is frustratingly disappointing for a band with so much talent and past successes. (www.snowpatrol.com)

Author rating: 3.5/10