Customer Reviews

When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have all of their albums including "Songs For Polar Bears" and "Final Straw," and while each is filled with great, memorable songs, Snow Patrol's sophomore release, "When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up" sounds more connected and uses has a bigger variety of musical styles than the other two.

You begin the CD with a series of palm mutes, followed by a spacey riff and the soft, almost whispered voice of frontman Gary Lightbody. "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again" and "Ask Me How I Am" are only around 2:15 each; The album doesn't seem to begin until "Making Enemies," beginning with a distorted, reversed introduction.

I like this album more because it mixes a lot of rock songs and ballads. For a harder, rough, almost grunge sound, look towards "Black And Blue," "Last Ever Lone Gunman," and "Chased By... I Don't Know What." While no song sticks out like "Run" on Final Straw, "If I'd Ever Found The Right Words To Say," and "An Olive Grove Facing The Sea" (a hauntingly beautiful song with a brass ensemble playing towards the end) certainly make up for it.

For me "One Night Is Not Enough" is the stand out track for me. This is the track with the best guitars and the best lyrics. Lightbody sings about the hardship of lying to a lover (which he seems to be best at doing): "Have I held out for something, That is never going to happen?, It's not me that you love."

It won't happen on the first listen, but these songs will catch on to you quickly. When "Final Straw" begins to sound boring (and it will eventually), pick up "When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up." It may be expensive but it was a great choice for me.

This is great. I have to say that right away, I thought "songs for polar bears" was a masterpiece, snow patrol's second full length is equally good, if not better. Still keeping with that sebadoh, crunchy indie sound, this album moves along very nice allowing for all the songs to shine very bright, My favorite song is, "if I'd found the right words to say" such a beautiful song, gorgeous melodies and thoughtful lyrics. Snow patrol know when to rock and know when to keep it simple and pretty. Think of it as Belle and Sabastian meets Sebadoh, somewhere in the misty green hills of Ireland.

I bought Music for Polar Bears some time ago, and recently bought Final Straw, and this album is just as good as them all. It does have a different sound/feel to it, but thats what makes it all the better. It has short, sharp lyrics, with a variety of sounds that come together perfectly.Some songs come together quickly, and some you have to wait for the "good part", but its all good. Worth the money and the wait, and if you ever know of the boys coming near your area, make sure you do whatever it takes to see them live, by far the best group of this genre i ve seen.

As a major fan of Snow Patrol, (even before this year, yes) I was very interested in this album because it is the one no one talks about. After purchasing it, I kind of figured out why. It isn't bad... that's certainly not the word for it. Its dreamy soundscape and ethereal vocals are anything but bad. It's just... nothing truly special. To me, a lot of these songs sound the same and if I play the cd in my car (on auto repeat) I never realize when it finishes and starts again. There are a few small gems, "Olive Grove Facing the Sea" and the title track, but when compared to other Snow Patrol greats, they're something I keep in reserve for a rainy day. For anyone well-versed in Snow Patrol, if you're going to compare albums (and you really shouldn't) it would be most like Songs for Polar Bears. Anyway, I wouldn't put it on the top of your wishlist, but if you're looking for some new music and haven't figured out what to get yet... this wouldn't be a bad choice.

I'm relatively new to the whole alternative music scene, being an R'n'B chick and only got into snow patrol due to hearing their songs on the radio. Bought final straw and I was blown away by the quality. Then decided to buy the 2nd album the one I'm recommending, and I love it too. Go out and support this band, it took a while 4 them 2 blow up in the UK but they are finally getting the acknowledgement they deserve. Furthermore they are spectacular live. What more can I say, I can't wait for the next album!!!!!

This is a 2006 re-release of Snow Patrol's 2nd album, 2001's "When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up." This was back when the band were a trio instead of a quintet: singer/guitarist Gary Lightbody, bassist Mark McClelland, and drummer Jonny Quinn (with Lightbody & McClelland playing various keyboards). This is definitely a more raw-sounding Snow Patrol, both musically and lyrically, as the band would become fully powered-up on their next two releases, "Final Straw" and "Eyes Open." But "When It's All Over..." is still a great album in it's own right, with lots of powerful songs. Memorable tracks include the rockers "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again," "Ask Me How I Am" and "Making Enemies," the beautiful "An Olive Grove Facing The Sea," and the simple but hypnotic "Firelight." And for extra value, this re-issue comes with four excellent bonus tracks (my favorite being "In Command Of Cars,") and a rare music video of "Ask Me How I Am" that you can play on your computer. Although there was still room for Snow Patrol to grow as a musical unit at this point in time, "When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up" is an amazing collection of songs by this very talented group.

After listening to Open Your Eyes I had to go back & get the older stuff from SP. Old & new...it's all good. No GREAT!

If you loved Final Straw and Eyes Open, you'll hate When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up. Trust me. Like the majority of Snow Patrol's new fans, I discovered the underrated rock group when watching Live 8. So we bought Final Straw and were not disappointed. It's a great album and in my opinion is better than Eyes Open, although that too is an album worth checking out.

When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up is not. Like many, I thought Final Straw was Snow Patrol's first album and was happy to learn that they had two other albums, one released in 1998 and another in 2001. My joy died the moment I played this album. Don't get me wrong. I didn't expect it to sound like Final Straw and I love it when rock bands experiment with their sound, but When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up is without doubt Snow Patrol's worst album thus far. If you absolutely must buy one of Snow Patrol's early albums, buy their first - Songs for Polar Bears. It's a good debut with some memorable, catchy tunes. What's more, it proves to Snow Patrol's critics that the band can really rock hard when they want to. While it's not as good as Final Straw or Eyes Open, Songs for Polar Bears is a masterpiece compared to this one. You've been warned.

I just adore this band, and this cd is a shining example. Brilliant.

I find that "When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up" has a broader range of styles than the other cd's. At first it was a bit harder to get into, but once you've heard it a time a two, you'll be sure to fall in love. I find songs from this cd and other Snow Patrol in every "playlist" on my iPod, their songs are so rich and expansive, they lend themselves to each mood.

First I bought FINAL STRAW a year and half ago and I was constantly playing it in the car and in my dorm room (great chilling/driving music). Then I bought EYES OPEN for my birthday, and was thrilled with yet another amazing album from what I consider one of my favorite bands ever (right up there with GOO GOO DOLLS and COLDPLAY). So naturally, when I listened to these two back-to-back, I went on a sort of SNOW PATROL binge and JUST HAD to buy anything else they had put out. I found out about WHEN IT'S ALL OVER and another early release and bought them for a great combo price.

As I reviewed for POLAR BEARS, this is another great early look into the awesomeness that is SNOW PATROL. It's not nearly the impact of FINAL STRAW or EYES OPEN, but it's the progression towards it and so it works. Definitely a must-have for any SNOW PATROL aficionado or aspiring one.

Highly recommend playing this POLAR BEARS, WHEN IT'S OVER, FINAL STRAW, and EYES OPEN in a single listening - it makes for great music to listen to on a solo road trip or just chilling in the dorm room.