Anthemic rock from Snow Patrol

Maybe it is because Coldplay’s Chris Martin is so busy playing daddy these days to his two kids with Gwyneth Paltrow that anthemic rock has lately not been getting the attention it deserves. This is most unfortunate because I honestly believe this form of rock is really the closest contemporary music comes to the classics.

This is like seeing dance music as the waltz of 200 years ago or the pop ballads as the etudes of Chopin. In that case System of a Dawn is Beethoven while the likes of Coldplay and Keane are Mozart. They make music that provides ways of emoting to the joys and pains of a devastating romance while staying cool and hip.

Such is also the case with Snow Patrol whose new album Eyes Open is now available. Although this is the first one to draw attention to the band locally, it is actually their fourth album. These guys made their debut in 1999 with Songs for Polar Bears followed by When It’s All Over We Still Have to Clean Up two years later. I have not had the chance to listen to the first two releases but I did have the pleasure of hearing the lyrical Final Straw. It is with this that the group hit big time in 2004 and it is against the standard set by this album that fans are now measuring Eyes Open. Happily, the new release not only stands up against the scrutiny. It surpasses all expectations.

Eyes Open is pure ear candy. It plays up to the listeners’ emotions with songs that alternately caress, cajole, poke fun, punch and even explode in ecstasy. I grant that while heartfelt, the writing seems to limit itself to heartbreak. But then, it is also a fact that listeners enjoy putting themselves in the songs they listen to and most of them have been at one time or another heartbroken. Snow Patrol offers a lot of that in Eyes Open. The beat may be catchy light pop, a driving alternative or a soaring anthem but no matter, this band surely hits the mark where it matters.

Thanks to the tightly hewn arrangements and the sad, wistful vocals of lead singer Gary Lightbody, here is one album that should change the minds of those who still think of rock music as just noise. The first single out is the rocking You’re All I Have. Good choice. Another one with hit single potential is Hands Open. My favorite though is the ballad Chasing Cars. I heard this first in the TV show Grey’s Anatomy and was surprised to find out it is by Snow Patrol.

The other songs included are Shut Your Eyes, It’s Beginning to Get to Me, You Could be Happy, Make This Go on Forever, Set the Fire to the Third Bar featuring Martha Wainwright, Headlights on Dark Roads, Open Your Eyes and The Finish Line.

Snow Patrol is made up of Lightbody, lead singer and songwriter, Nathan Connolly on guitar and backing vocals, Paul Wilson on bass and backing vocals, Tom Simpson on samples and keys and Jonny Quinn on drums. But as all those who have listened to their music already know by now, recording sessions are big events that include lots of strings and even a choir the better to highlight the emotive music. Those who haven’t, make sure you get a copy of this one. Then hope that Final Straw is also available because you simply have to listen to Run.

Awit Awards on MTV

MTV Philippines, which co-hosted the recent Awit Awards with the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) will air the awards night on July 2 at 8 p.m. There will be replays on July 6 at 8 p.m. and on July 8 at 4 p.m. See the winners, presenters and the star-studded line-up of performers in hot production numbers.

Sandwich and the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band do Sugod. Best New Group nominees Pupil, Dicta License, Stonefree and Hale perform together. M.Y.M.P., Sitti, Top Suzara and Jed Madela will render a medley of hit duets. 6Cyclemind, Urbandub and Bamboo show off their nominations in the Best Rock Recording Category. Regine Velasquez pays tribute to Dangal ng Pilipino awardees Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano. To close the event, Orange & Lemons let loose with last year’s theme song Pinoy Ako.