Snow Patrol Time

Hi Friends,

Snow Patrol are easily one of my favourite acts of all time. From their humble beginnings to opening shows around the World for U2 - this band can do no wrong in my eyes. Click here and listen before going any further.

Tomorrow morning brings the release of their latest video for 'Called Out In the Dark' from the band's first studio album in over 3 years. Here's a teaser clip. 'Fallen Empires' will be the band's 6th studio album and the first after having released a greatest hits box set entitled 'Up To Now' in 2009.

The band formed in 1994 while at University in Dundee, Scotland. Over the next 7 years they'd go on to release 3 albums before their major record label debut on Polydor Records in 2002. In between this time Snow Patrol's lead singer formed a Scottish super group called The Reindeer Section which included Belle & Sebastian among many other greats. They were very much like Canada's own Broken Social Scene (only way better and cooler).

The Reindeer Section released some beautiful music in a short period of time. Here are a few tracks you should check out...

• 'Your Sweet Voice'
• 'You Are My Joy'

My personal connection is that I had the pleasure of working on their first 2 major label albums 'Final Straw' and 'Eyes Open'. Both albums are fantastic from start to finish and I am almost certain that everyone at Universal fell in love at that time. The band were one of the first acts to give us the time with an in studio sessions I created called 'Live at the Orange Lounge'. They were already massive in the UK and in Toronto ready to start from scratch building a following.

The big break for this band was when the song 'Chasing Cars' was used in the show Grey's Anatomy in 2006. The scene that changed everything using 'Chasing Cars' was so successful that the show used it again in a different way Grey's Anatomy cast sings 'Chasing Cars'. I'm telling you - TV is a very powerful medium:)

Here's a bunch of songs I highly recommend you give a spin. They also make great music videos as seen here.

• 'NYC' - 1998
• 'One Night Is Not Enough' - 2001
• 'Run' - 2004
• 'Chocolate' - 2004
• 'Chasing Cars' - 2006
• 'Set Fire To The Third Bar' (featuring Martha Wainright) - 2006
• 'Signal Fire' - 2007
• 'The Planets Bend Between Us' - 2008
• 'Just Say yes' - 2009

The next song (3 parts) is maybe the most epic 16 minutes of music I've ever heard. It still gives me goosebumps and I've heard it at least 300 times. Check them out!

1. 'The Lightening Strike - Part 1'
2. 'The Lightening Strike - Part 2'
3. 'The Lightening Strike - Part 3'

Gary Lightbody had a few more side projects over the years including Tired Pony alongside REM's Peter Buck.

The band also do some mean covers...

• Beyonce - 'Crazy In Love'
• Oasis - 'Champagne Supernova' *normal unacceptable to do this
• Oasis - 'Wonderwall'

I for one am excited to hear this new album and am eager to see some live dates on North American soil. It's time for Canada and America to fall in love while diving deep into a catalogue full of magical tunes.

I hope you check them out.

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg