Final Straw

{{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use dmy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up2001Eyes Open2006studioFinal StrawSnow-Patrol-Final-Straw-albumcover.jpgSnow Patrol4 August 2003February 2003Britannia RowTemplate:Hlist44:00Template:HlistJacknife Leex|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Final Straw is the third studio album and major-label debut by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released on 4 August 2003 in the United Kingdom and in 2004 in the United States. The album is notable for bringing the band their first mainstream success outside of their native countries of Northern Ireland and Scotland. In the 14 months following its release, a total of 5 singles were drawn from it. It is their first album to feature lead guitarist Nathan Connolly and their last with bassist Mark McClelland.

The album was re-released in the UK in 2004 with two extra tracks,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before being exported to the US (without the bonus tracks). The album was also released on SACD and DualDisc with 5.1 Surround mixes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A 20th anniversary edition was released on 4 August 2023, 20 years after the album's original release.

Background

The band's A&R representative 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."<ref name="hitquarters.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Chancellor, Lee and the band chose fifteen songs to start working on out of an original pool of 24.<ref name="hitquarters.com"/> 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'-oriented sound to a more commercially viable pop rock sound.<ref name="hitquarters.com"/> 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 to his advice.<ref name="hitquarters.com"/> 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.'"<ref name="hitquarters.com"/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The lyrics deal with the themes of relationships and politics. Lightbody has said that his "finally learn[ing] to write a chorus" was the key to the album's success.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} - Note: Translation can be found here.Template:Dead link</ref> The album's music incorporates distorted guitar, feedback styles, and the vocals are gritty. 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Appears as: "Using distorted guitar, feedback and gritty vocals, the band inserts lyrics with political and relationship themes." and "Template:Sic 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."</ref> Reviewing the album, Pitchfork described the performances as being based around "rigid, unwavering tempos that approximate dance music," created through looped sections of playing augmented with electronics. The first song, "How to Be Dead", introduces this sound with extensive use of drum machine programming.

Release and reception

Final Straw received generally positive reviews from critics. According to Metacritic, the album received a weighted mean review score of 73 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Before repromotion of the album, sales reached 20,000 copies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listing

• 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

Snow Patrol

• Gary Lightbody – vocals, guitar, glockenspiel, backing vocals, keyboards
• Nathan Connolly – guitar, backing vocals
• Mark McClelland – bass guitar, keyboards
• Jonny Quinn – drums

Other personnel Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

• Stephen Marcussen – mastering
• Louie Teran – mastering
• Iain Archer – background vocals (on track 12)
• Bruce White – viola
• James Banbury – piano, strings, cello
• Fiona McCapra – violin
• Ben Georgiades – engineer

• Dan Swift – engineer
• Jacknife Lee – producer, mixing
• Phil Tyreman – assistant engineer
• Ian Dowling – assistant engineer
• Mike Nelson – mixing
• Jeff McLaughlin – assistant
• Chris Lord-Alge – mixing

Charts

Template:Album chart

Chart performance for Final Straw

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref name="CHA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	98
Ireland Albums (IRMA)<ref name="CHA"/>	9
UK Albums (OCC)<ref name="CHA"/>	3
US Billboard 200<ref name="CHA"/>	91
US Top Heatseekers (Billboard)<ref>[[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] Chart position on Top Heatseekers]Template:Dead link</ref>	1