Editing Final Straw (section)

==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>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/24/1090464906092.html |title=That's Snow business |date=25 July 2004 |newspaper=[[The Age]] |access-date=2009-10-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104050608/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/24/1090464906092.html |archive-date=2012-11-04 }}</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>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6895899.ece |title=Snow Patrol: 'We're not ready for greatest hits' |last=Heawood |first=Sophie |date=30 October 2009 |newspaper=The Times |access-date=2009-10-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422010239/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6895899.ece |archive-date=2010-04-22 }}</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>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzika.hr/clanak/22192/interview/nathan-connolly-snow-patrol-s-vremenom-postajemo-veci-bend-i-nemamo-straha-izaci-na-jednu-od-najvecih-pozornica-ikada.aspx |title=Interview - Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol) |last=Jurilj |first=Igor |date=4 August 2009 |publisher=Muzika |language=hr |access-date=2009-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809234214/http://www.muzika.hr/clanak/22192/interview/nathan-connolly-snow-patrol-s-vremenom-postajemo-veci-bend-i-nemamo-straha-izaci-na-jednu-od-najvecih-pozornica-ikada.aspx |archive-date=2009-08-09 }} -  [http://garylightbody.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/muzika-hr-interview/ Note: Translation can be found here.]{{dead link|date=July 2012 }}</ref> The album's music incorporates [[Distortion (music)|distorted guitar]], [[Audio feedback|feedback]] styles, and the vocals are gritty. The band's sound on the album was described as being a "cross between the sullen [[Folk music|folk]] of [[Nick Drake]] and the more punchy [[Rock music|rock]] moments of [[Simple Minds]] and the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13235006_ITM|title=Scotland's Snow Patrol jumps on gloom bandwagon|last=Weingarten|first=Abby|date=3 September 2004|work=AccessMyLibrary|publisher=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|access-date=2009-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020172515/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13235006_ITM|archive-date=2012-10-20|url-status=dead}} '''Appears as''': "Using distorted guitar, feedback and gritty vocals, the band inserts lyrics with political and relationship themes." and "{{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} 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 Media|''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.