After their silently brilliant "Final Straw," and pleasant rocker "Eyes Open," Snow Patrol has carved out their place in the crowded Brit Rock circle. "A Hundred Millions Suns" only solidifies the band's place, with the only major style change being more optimistic tunes, but the album still blends in with the band's previous work, which will surely please fans, and attract more fans with every radio single.

Gary Lightbody, not to be confused with Gordon Lightfoot, writes with a modern, but pleasant charm with each track as showcased in "If There's A Rocket, Tie Me To It," "Crack The Shutters," and "The Planets Bend Between Us." And while the band does have one of its more sleepier moments in "Set Down Your Glass," they still know how to rock. The first single, "Take Back The City" never fails to satisfy, delivering on the verses, and bringing their A-Game on the chorus. It's catchy and fun, only overshadowed by the album's highlight "Please Take These Photos."

In fact, the only major misstep is the aptly titled "Disaster Button." Maybe it's the out-of-place lyrics, or the tiring music, but the song just seemed to rub me the wrong way. The very definition of an epic song, "The Lightning Strike," which clocks in at 16 minutes, also misses its mark, at least until the `Daybreak' segment. Another critique you could give the album is that it is highly unoriginal. So much in fact, it's been done before by the band, take it or leave it at that. I was also completely perplexed at the strange "The Golden Floor," which sounded rather like a poor excuse for Radiohead-lite.

"A Hundred Million Suns" doesn't set out to drastically reinvent the band, as their contemporaries Keane and Coldplay have done. Instead, the Snow Patrol is on full cruise control, and it all looks good from here, as fans will be pleased, and the band will inevitably gain new followers. The album at least equals "Eyes Open" in quality, and while no distinctive "Chasing Cars"-type song seems to be in the mix, the album delivers along the same lines. In either case, at $12 or less, the album is certainly worth it, and at the current price of $9 on Amazon, you certainly don't have anything to lose. I just can't decide what's the better band name, "Polar Bear," or "Snow Patrol?"

I've been a Snow Patrol fan since before they hit the main stream and I have been waiting for this disc for about 3 years. I've only had it a few hours but I can say so far it does not disappoint in the least. The sound is probably somewhere between Eyes Open and Final Straw.

1. If There's a Rocket Tie Me To It
Good opener. Has a Coldplay feel in certain spots.
2. Crack the Shutters
Excellent. This song is everything I love about Snow Patrol. May be my favorite song on this album.
3. Take Back the City
Really catchy. The first single released, has been available for a while. Try to listen to it without singing "OoohAoohAoooh".
4. Lifeboats
Folksy guitar pulls you in.
5. The Golden Floor
Catchy rhythm. Builds nicely but never really goes anywhere.
6. Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands
Typical Snow Patrol song name. Great song. Most upbeat one on the album.
7. Set Down Your Glass
Acoustic. Lovely song.
8. The Planets Bend Between Us
I may have spoken too soon. This might be my favorite now. Most likely to be used in a tv show.
9. Engines
The ooos are back. They get old pretty quick this time.
10. Disaster Button
The "explicit" one, look out. 1 F-bomb. Sounds a lot like track 3.
11. The Lightning Strike
Features more instrumentation than any other SP song I've ever heard. Brass, strings, piano, numerous drums, choir voices. If I didn't know better I'd say this was for a movie score. Finishes the album strong after two so-so songs. Instruments sound like rain. Seems to be a medley of sorts as the song changes significantly several times.

*song reviews are initial thoughts as I listened through the album the first time.

I have been a fan of Snow Patrol since Polar Bears, being one of my closet favorite bands (the one you explain to girlfriends, but conveniently leave out when talking to the boys). So many of their songs have lived on in my mind, long after the iPod has been turned off. I spend so much time singing their words as I fall asleep that I could replace Gary Lightbody without a noticeable slip.

However, I do have some reservations about their latest release. The album just feels rushed, intended for the halls of epic Scottish concert castles rather than the windy emotional fields overlooking a vast ocean. Snow Patrol has always been the soundtrack of the introspective life, undoubtably the vaunted thought stream of a conscious and experiencing individual. However, with Hundred Million Suns, rather than define the moment, this album is merely playing in the background giving force to the rest of life. The music has taken a backseat. The writing and melody has definitely taken a more steady beat than previous releases, as Eyes Open or Final Straw. Many cords and similar choruses remain, but no longer have the same startling or stirring effect.

They have been slowly on this pop-y, over-guitar-ed path for some time now. You could definitely see it coming with Eyes Open, a compilation intended to draw wider audiences. While an appreciatable work of art, Suns is more a stumble than another true, original step. Gary is lost, his boots are muddy with promises, and he's trying to muster enough energy to keep going. I really hope he does, and I look forward to Snow Patrol's next release.

OK, better start scrolling down to the "unhelpful" link if you are a die-hard Snow Patrol fan. But I do feel the need to be contrarian here.

I got into these guys after hearing "Chasing Cars" and picking up the Eyes Open cd. That cd has an edge to it, and some passion, which is solely lacking from A Hundred Million Suns. So I was actually looking forward to listening to this one. Unfortunately, it's a disappointment.

Take "Take Back the City" for example. I fully agree with the previous reviewer who stated this has a shelf life of about a month, max. Sorry, when the best you can do in a chorus is "woah woah woah" then you know you've had creative problems. And this is supposed to the "hit song" off this album? It's actually one of the worst songs I've ever heard from Snow Patrol.

So many of these songs are plodding, as well, or repetitious. Either no inflection in the singer's voice, or the same guitar loop over and over.

The band's label is marketing this as their big breakthrough to stardom, but alas, they didn't do it. I predict that longstanding fans of the group will enjoy this album for the most part, but it certainly won't win over any new converts.

If you're a Snow Patrol fan, prepare to be blown away...this is unquestionably their best record to date. Aptly titled "A Hundred Million Suns", the lyrics are mainly centered around 'what's out there in this universe'.

But it's the music (and vocals) that take center stage here. "Suns" takes you to a beautiful, exciting, sonic wonderland. The recording and production quality is superb. The overall atmosphere created is peaceful and relaxing...yet brilliant and vivacious at the same time.

Disregard any comparisons to Coldplay...this is more in line with Copeland's "You Are My Sunshine", another great album. It's tough to single out individual songs as 'the best'...every one one flows together to form a harmonious relationship...in other words, they all 'fit' perfectly on the record.

I don't quite understand some of the less-than-stellar reviews I had read before this was released...to me, this is about as good as it gets for Snow Patrol. Enjoy.