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Moved 10 reviews to {{Album reviews}} template (after the Infobox); Common Fixes Applied (shutoff)
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| Label = [[Fiction Records|Fiction]] (UK)<br>[[A&M Records|A&M]] (US)
| Label = [[Fiction Records|Fiction]] (UK)<br>[[A&M Records|A&M]] (US)
| Producer = [[Jacknife Lee]]
| Producer = [[Jacknife Lee]]
| Reviews =
⚫
*[[Allmusic]] {{Rating|4|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r683942|pure_url=yes}} link]
⚫
*''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' {{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1977 link]
⚫
*[[Entertainment.ie]] {{Rating|4|5}} [http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Snow-Patrol---Final-Straw/2864.htm link]
⚫
*''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' (favourable) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,604998,00.html link]
⚫
*[[Pitchfork Media]] (6.7/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21851-final-straw link]
⚫
*[[PopMatters]] (unfavorable) [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/snowpatrol-final link]
⚫
*''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' {{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/snowpatrol/finalstraw link]
⚫
*''[[Rolling Stone]]'' {{Rating|2|5}} [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/snowpatrol/albums/album/5198097/review/5941571/final_straw link]
⚫
*''[[Sunday Tribune]]'' (favorable) [http://www.tribune.ie/article/2003/aug/03/pop-rock link]
⚫
*''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' {{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/snow_patrol/reviews/6317 link]
| Last album = ''[[When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up]]''<br/>(2001)
| Last album = ''[[When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up]]''<br/>(2001)
| This album = '''''Final Straw'''''<br />(2003)
| This album = '''''Final Straw'''''<br />(2003)
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}}
}}
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
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|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r683942|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
⚫
|rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1977 Blender review]</ref>
|rev3 = [[Entertainment.ie]]
⚫
|rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Snow-Patrol---Final-Straw/2864.htm Entertainment.ie review]</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
⚫
|rev4score = (favourable)<ref>[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,604998,00.html Entertainment Weekly review]</ref>
|rev5 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
⚫
|rev5score = (6.7/10)<ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21851-final-straw Pitchfork Media review]</ref>
|rev6 = [[PopMatters]]
⚫
|rev6score = (unfavorable)<ref>[http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/snowpatrol-final PopMatters review]</ref>
|rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
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|rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/snowpatrol/finalstraw Q review]</ref>
|rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
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|rev8score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/snowpatrol/albums/album/5198097/review/5941571/final_straw Rolling Stone review]</ref>
|rev9 = ''[[Sunday Tribune]]''
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|rev9score = (favorable)<ref>[http://www.tribune.ie/article/2003/aug/03/pop-rock Sunday Tribune review]</ref>
|rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
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|rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/snow_patrol/reviews/6317 Uncut review]</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
'''''Final Straw''''' is the third album by [[Snow Patrol]], released in the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[Republic of Ireland]] in 2003 and in the [[United States]] in 2004. The album is notable for bringing the band their first mainstream success outside of their native countries of [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Scotland]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}
'''''Final Straw''''' is the third album by [[Snow Patrol]], released in the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[Republic of Ireland]] in 2003 and in the [[United States]] in 2004. The album is notable for bringing the band their first mainstream success outside of their native countries of [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Scotland]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}


Revision as of 07:20, 4 August 2011

For the idiom, see Straw that broke the camel's back.
Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Blender[3]
Entertainment.ie[4]
Entertainment Weekly(favourable)[5]
Pitchfork Media(6.7/10)[6]
PopMatters(unfavorable)[7]
Q[8]
Rolling Stone[9]
Sunday Tribune(favorable)[10]
Uncut[11]

Final Straw is the third album by Snow Patrol, released in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in 2003 and in the United States in 2004. The album is notable for bringing the band their first mainstream success outside of their native countries of Northern Ireland and Scotland.[citation needed]

The album was re-released in the UK in 2004 with two extra tracks,[12] before being exported to the U.S. (without the bonus tracks). The album was also released on SACD and DualDisc with 5.1 Surround mixes.[13]

Background

The band's A&R Jim Chancellor explained the reasons for choosing rock producer Jacknife Lee to oversee the record by saying, "I wanted a record for them that was bigger and bolder and a lot different than their previous records. I wanted them to make a more of a rock album than an indie record."[14] Chancellor, Lee and the band chose fifteen songs to start working on out of an original pool of 24.[14] Critical to the new direction was Lightbody's development into a more rounded songwriter. "They played us some songs which were not indie. There were a couple of pop songs and then “Run”, which is an enormous emotional rollercoaster of a track," said Chancellor.

Recording and composition

During the first couple of weeks in the studio the band found it quite difficult to adapt from an 'indie'-orientated sound to a more commercially viable pop rock sound.[14] Producer Lee offered constructive suggestions about how to both simplify their songs and augment them with other sounds such as strings, and Snow Patrol proved very receptive his advice.[14] According to Chancellor, "Some bands tend to be more defensive about what goes on in the studio. Snow Patrol weren't. They were very much like, 'Yeah, we really want to be successful this time.'"[14]

Guitarist Nathan Connolly joined the band during the recording sessions. He did not contribute much, as the whole album had already been demoed. He commented that he found it easy to start writing and sharing his ideas with the rest of the band, as he had a good relationship with the band before being a member.[15] The album's music incorporates distorted guitar, feedback styles, and the vocals are gritty. The lyrics deal with the themes of relationships and politics. The band's sound on the album was described as being a "cross between the sullen folk of Nick Drake and the more punchy rock moments of Simple Minds and the Pixies.[16] Lightbody has said that him "finally learn[ing] to write a chorus" was the key to the album's success.[17]

The lyrics, all written by Lightbody are about failing relationships and break-ups. They were inspired by his personal experiences. Quinn, his longtime friend, says that he knows who Lightbody sings about in those songs.[18]

Release

A limited 20,000 copies of the album were pressed and released, all eventually selling by word of mouth.[citation needed] The album was later re-issued.[19]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Lightbody; all music is composed by Lightbody/Connolly/McClelland/Quinn except for tracks 7, 9, 11 by Archer/Connolly/Lightbody/McClelland/Quinn[20]

No.TitleLength
1."How to Be Dead"3:21
2."Wow"4:02
3."Gleaming Auction"2:04
4."Whatever's Left"2:39
5."Spitting Games"3:46
6."Chocolate"3:02
7."Run"5:54
8."Grazed Knees"2:55
9."Ways & Means"4:47
10."Tiny Little Fractures"2:28
11."Somewhere a Clock Is Ticking"4:32
12."Same"3:54
UK re-release bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."We Can Run Away Now They're All Dead and Gone"3:15
14."Half the Fun"2:54
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Post Punk Progression"3:23
14."Steal"2:45
Dualdisc version (Bonus material)
No.TitleLength
13."Chocolate (Video)"3:43
14."Run (Video)"4:20
15."Spitting Games (Video)"3:52
16."Sessions@AOL: Interview"6:14
17."Sessions@AOL: Run"4:33
  • The AOL sessions feature frontman Gary Lightbody & lead guitarist Nathan Connolly being interviewed, and performing an acoustic rendition of "Run".
  • The dualdisc version does not include the UK bonus tracks.

Personnel

Other personnel

Peak positions and certifications

Chart Provider(s) Peak
position 		Sales Certification
ARIA Charts ARIA — 70,000 Platinum[27]
Dutch Albums Chart NVPI 49[28] —
Dutch Backcatalogue Top 50 4[29]
Europe IFPI — 2,000,000 2× Platinum[30]
Ireland Albums Chart IRMA 1[28] 90,000 6× Platinum[31]
UK Albums Chart BPI 3[28] 1,500,000 5× Platinum[32]
Top Heatseekers Billboard 1[33] 618,000[34] Gold[35]
US Billboard 200 Billboard 91[28]
Organization Level Date[36]
RIAA - USA Gold 17 October 2008

References

  1. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (1 May 2004). "Snow Patrol storms U.S. shores". Billboard. 116 (18). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 10. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  2. ^ Allmusic review
  3. ^ Blender review
  4. ^ Entertainment.ie review
  5. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  6. ^ Pitchfork Media review
  7. ^ PopMatters review
  8. ^ Q review
  9. ^ Rolling Stone review
  10. ^ Sunday Tribune review
  11. ^ Uncut review
  12. ^ http://www.snowpatrol.com/discography/default.aspx?pid=3
  13. ^ http://www.snowpatrol.com/discography/default.aspx?&in=8
  14. ^ a b c d e "Interview With Jim Chancellor". HitQuarters. Oct 26, 2005. Retrieved Jun 29, 2010.
  15. ^ Jurilj, Igor (4 August 2009). October 2009 "Interview - Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol)" (in Croatian). Muzika. Retrieved 1 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Note: Translation can be found here.
  16. ^ Weingarten, Abby (3 September 2004). "Scotland's Snow Patrol jumps on gloom bandwagon". AccessMyLibrary. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2009-10-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Appears as: "Using distorted guitar, feedback and gritty vocals, the band inserts lyrics with political and relationship themes." and "comprised of Gary Lightbody (songwriting, vocals, guitar and keyboards), Nathan Connolly (guitar), Mark McClelland (bass and keyboards) and Johnny Quinn (drums), Snow Patrol has a sound that's a cross between the sullen folk of Nick Drake and the more punchy rock moments of Simple Minds and the Pixies."
  17. ^ Heawood, Sophie (30 October 2009). "Snow Patrol: 'We're not ready for greatest hits'". The Times. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  18. ^ "That's Snow business". The Age. 25 July 2004. Retrieved 2009-10-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ Jelbert, Steve (13 February 2004). "The flaky success of Snow Patrol". The Times. Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  20. ^ "Final Straw". Snow Patrol. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  21. ^ http://www.tower.com/gran-turismo-4-original-soundtrack-cd/wapi/105944138
  22. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0789452/soundtrack
  23. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0760338/soundtrack
  24. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Wicker-Park-Various-Artists/dp/B0002MIBW0
  25. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436058/soundtrack
  26. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Last-Kiss-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B000G8NY54/
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2007 Albums". ARIA. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  28. ^ a b c d "Snow Patrol - Final Straw". aCharts. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  29. ^ http://dutchcharts.nl/weekchart.asp?cat=ab&year=2009&date=20090606
  30. ^ http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2008.html
  31. ^ http://www.irishcharts.ie/awards/multi_platinum.htm
  32. ^ http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2008.pdf
  33. ^ title=Chart position on Top Heatseekers
  34. ^ "Brits Rock". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  35. ^ "RIAA certification".
  36. ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=snow%20patrol&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25
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