After their silently mediocre major label debut, Snow Patrol was still an obscure band. Thus, "Eyes Open" is highly pleasing, pleasant, and radio friendly. But that doesn't mean it isn't good. The highlight "Chasing Cars" is a highly radio friendly pop love song to the utmost, but it carries a moving quality of originality and emotion. And it must have carried one heckuva sense of mass-appeal, since it still seems to be played at AC stations across America every hour, on the hour.

But coming in a close second is "Open Your Eyes," a song that builds slowly, driving home the magnificent chorus in epic fashion, without coming off cheesy. It also would have made for an awesome closer to the album, instead of the dreary "Finish Line." In terms of lowlights, "You Could Be Happy" sounds more of lullaby, and is sure to put you to sleep with its sappy lyrics.

But not all is a snooze fest, as the album primarily unleashes the band's rock side. Songs like "You're All I Have," "It's Beginning To Get To Me," "Shut Your Eyes" and especially "Hands Open." All achieve their goals, and all and well-made, well-produced, and keep you interested in the album. Other songs like "Set Fire To the Third Bar," "Make This Go On Forever," wind up as mixed bags, achieving goals in some areas, and missing them in areas, and leaving a general sense of, "I don't know what to make of that." The album lyrically holds onto the strange theme of 'eyes,' with half the songs mentioning the important body part in some metaphorical way, or in a literal sense, depending on what you make of it.

Overall, Snow Patrol crafts a very good album, but there are a few critical flaws that keep it from becoming great. But make no mistake, it's not very original, although it's the band's most original, it's radio friendly, but highly pleasant. It also shows brief flashes of brilliance, making this the album I would most likely buy from Snow Patrol's now-vast catalog. They've certainly come a long way from their former days as "Polar Bear."

I like the music the the Snow Patrol, the only problem is that I haven't received it. I ordered other items at the same time I received them in a timely matter. At this moment I haven't receive the Snow Patrol: Open Eyes CD and I haven't received any information from the company that I bought it through on Amazon.com. With my experience with this purchased I will not be ordering again and time soon.

A very dear friend of mine passed away last month at the age of 45, and this album reminds me of his personality and spirit. I found an email he wrote several months back where he was telling me how much he loved the song "Chasing Cars," which has been a song I've loved too. But hearing the whole album affrims that Michael would have loved every song on this collection. I think of how much he'd be enjoying the lead song, "You're All I Have," and "Shut Your Eyes," describes what he needed to do when things were going bad as he dealt with a terminal illness, while "Open Your Eyes," is very deep and all too chilling as it sounds descriptive of Michael's passing and those of us who knew him and believed his spirit would never die. On a more objective note, Snow Patrol have a great, radio sound, both commercial and quality modern rock as this album is an addictive listen from start to finish. Personally, I will always think of Mike when I play it, and can only hope that while he's in heaven, he has that garden bursting into life with him as they sing, "Forget what we're told before we get too old. Show me a garden that's bursting into life. All that I am, all that I ever was is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see."

I love it the songs have alot of meaning to them and you can listen to it over and over again. its mellow and beautiful.

Has not left my player for weeks. It seems there is a song for just about every mood. You won't regret buying this.