CD review: Up To Now - Snow Patrol

NO FLAKES: Snow Patrol's best-of package Up To Now takes you back to what made this Irish band so great.

Relevant offers

Music

Entertainment Quiz 10/2 The Exponents join class of '81 Axed musicians to protest at Grammys The Myele Manzanza story Lady Gaga returns to NZ Seven guitars to commemorate loss Madonna 'fuming with M.I.A' Wellington's Homegrown festival sells out The Exponents tour cancelled Chris Brown returns to Grammys

It just wouldn't be Christmas without a deluge of greatest hits albums flooding the music store shelves and Snow Patrol have beaten most bands to the punch with a 30-song wrap spanning 15 years.

Most music purists would view the Irish band's latest offering Up To Now as something of a shameless cash grab and, to be fair, on first impressions they would probably be right.

A selection of self-assorted classics, three new tunes - including the recently released Just Say Yes - and a few live jams to boot: It's the tried and tested template for a greatest hits package.

And yet, some how, this album feels fresh and new.

May be it's the clever track listing, which mixes arms-around-your-best mate festival anthems Run and Chasing Cars with forgotten gems like Spitting Games and a cover of Beyonce's Crazy in Love.

Whether a Snow Patrol fanatic or a newcomer, there really is something for everyone - if you've never seen singer songwriter Gary Lightbody perform then the live acoustic renditions of Run and Chasing Cars give you an idea of what you're missing.

As the title clearly suggests, Up to Now is the band's own way of stopping to reflect on a rollercoaster ride that's thrown up five studio albums, a name change, and the coming and going of various band members.

It takes you back to what made this band so great and leaves you safe in the knowledge that there is more to come.

* What do you think of Up To Now? Post your comments below.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First

Kent   #3   10:52 am Nov 26 2009

Im sorry but i find this band to be boring.

And his droning voice drives me mental.

sins   #2   02:26 pm Nov 25 2009

I have to add this one to my Christmas wish list.

Cyndr   #1   10:34 pm Nov 24 2009

Haven't listened to the album yet but it's bound to be awesome. Saw them in London and OHHHH, MY GODDDD. Fantastic