Snow Patrol have been dogged by the Nothern Irish response to Belle And Sebastian tag since their inception. Whether their third album 'Final Straw' sees them adopt a different comparison is another question for Snow Patrol do sound like a lot of other bands around at the moment. 'How To Be Dead' is a pleasant but slight and fey opening to a record and it's easily surpassed by the second song 'Wow' that sees a snarling grunge sound take hold that reaches perfection by the time 'Whatever's Left' and first single 'Spitting Games' arrive. Disappointingly the group don't take off from this strong position; 'Run' and 'Grazed Knees' both mistake an abundance of strings for an epic sound and Gary Lightbody's one dimensional vocals grow wearisome. The upshot is Snow Patrol lack their own identity and after three albums this is worrying.