Eyes Open
by Snow Patrol
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 75 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 75
  3. Negative: 3 out of 75

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  1. TOL
    Jun 12, 2006
    4
    Have you heard final straw? Great, aint it? If the answer to the previous question is 'God, yes' then avoid this album. You have already heard it all before, albeit in a far more pleasant and rounded package with genuinely good songs... If you want to hear snow patrol at their most inventive, touching and humourous then dig out 'Songs for polar bears'- an album worthy Have you heard final straw? Great, aint it? If the answer to the previous question is 'God, yes' then avoid this album. You have already heard it all before, albeit in a far more pleasant and rounded package with genuinely good songs... If you want to hear snow patrol at their most inventive, touching and humourous then dig out 'Songs for polar bears'- an album worthy of everyones attention. If you want cheesy mainstream stuff with baffling lyrics and predictable hooks then buy eyes open. Easy really.… Expand
  2. AndyB
    May 9, 2006
    5
    It is not that this album is bad, it is more that it is far too much like Final Straw....hit a comfort zone, which is not necessarily a bad thing as the formula does work, but remember that this is their fourth (not second) album so you would think they would want to step up a gear by now. They even use the same lyrics in this album as they did in Final Straw! hummmmm
  3. JohnN
    May 10, 2006
    4
    This is a boring ballad filled album does not have the balance of Final Straw which kept your interest you just zone out after a while listening to this. Take out Set Fire to the Third Bar and it simply sucks.
  4. PeterV
    May 16, 2006
    4
    Really, people rating this album 7 or higher must be 16 or younger. This is such an easy pop-album..
  5. MattD.
    May 8, 2006
    5
    I don't usually use these words, but this does seem like a sell out album. There's monochromatic production here (even on a less radio friendly song like the duet,) and only "You're All I Have" and "Shut Your Eyes" have melodies that are memorable. There's nothing really bad, but what a letdown after Final Straw.
  6. CraigP
    Jun 28, 2006
    5
    Unlike the new Guster album this one is a big letdown after Final Straw. they seem to be making they're bid for the big-time but what get's lost on the way are great tunes. I found myself quickly forgetting these song's after a few listens and found the polished production killed all that was unique about the band. There is not one song on here with the emotional resonance Unlike the new Guster album this one is a big letdown after Final Straw. they seem to be making they're bid for the big-time but what get's lost on the way are great tunes. I found myself quickly forgetting these song's after a few listens and found the polished production killed all that was unique about the band. There is not one song on here with the emotional resonance of "Run" or "Chocolate"for that matter. It may sound great but is quickly forgettable.… Expand
  7. KrisS
    Jul 12, 2006
    6
    There are some good songs on this album, but they definitely took a step back. After sitting down and listening a couple of times, it felt like they were more focused on releasing an album, then releasing a "good" album. There is so much potential sitting in these tracks that with a few more sessions could have turned around this album. In likelyhood it could have been on par with Final There are some good songs on this album, but they definitely took a step back. After sitting down and listening a couple of times, it felt like they were more focused on releasing an album, then releasing a "good" album. There is so much potential sitting in these tracks that with a few more sessions could have turned around this album. In likelyhood it could have been on par with Final Straw, but instead it gets left behind.… Expand
  8. Raindog1972
    May 30, 2006
    4
    A real disappointment...instead of branching out...Lightbody seems to be content to hold his ground,...lyrically and musically.
  9. BrianB
    May 8, 2006
    4
    I can't hear this album without thinking of Nada Surf's "Let Go,"which is in the same vein of cleanly-produced, sensitive-guy rock. but is an absolute masterpiece. Even "Hands Open," a pretty decent single, sounds limp is comparison to that album's "Treading Water." On "Let Go" the ordinary guy persona works; on this album it crosses the line to crowd-pleasing cliche. On I can't hear this album without thinking of Nada Surf's "Let Go,"which is in the same vein of cleanly-produced, sensitive-guy rock. but is an absolute masterpiece. Even "Hands Open," a pretty decent single, sounds limp is comparison to that album's "Treading Water." On "Let Go" the ordinary guy persona works; on this album it crosses the line to crowd-pleasing cliche. On the other hand, "Eyes Open" is better than Nada Surf's more recent album.… Collapse
  10. Johnm
    Jul 7, 2006
    6
    I have to agree that this album does not have the heart of Final Straw or Songs for Polar Bears. It's their attempt at the bigtime. Hopefully their next effort will be better. Bear in mind that this band has been around for nearly 10 years. I can't blame them for wanting to pay the bills. I hope they get back to making music like Fifteen Minutes Old.
  11. KG
    Jun 19, 2007
    6
    meh it was a ok thought it was quite boring with some songs sounding the same
  12. davim
    Apr 30, 2015
    5
    Probably the best example of an album that starts and finishes strongly, yet dies a painful death in the middle. Openers 'You're All I Have' and 'Hands Open' give them album character, yet this character is quickly blown away by the dull tracks in the middle of the albums such as 'It's Beginning To Get To Me' and 'Make This Go On Forever' that drag on and send you to sleep. The penultimateProbably the best example of an album that starts and finishes strongly, yet dies a painful death in the middle. Openers 'You're All I Have' and 'Hands Open' give them album character, yet this character is quickly blown away by the dull tracks in the middle of the albums such as 'It's Beginning To Get To Me' and 'Make This Go On Forever' that drag on and send you to sleep. The penultimate track 'Open Your Eyes' is the standout track on the album, and gives the album a near-epic finish. In 2006, a very good year for British indie music, 'Eyes Open' was definitely not a stand out album by any means.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Most Discussed Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Dot Music
    70
    As enjoyable as anything this calculated can be.
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  2. Drowned In Sound
    60
    To sum them up in one word, "reliable" would be the most appropriate.
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  3. musicOMH.com
    60
    Eyes Open takes the formula of the last album and magnifies it.
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