When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up cover

When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up

Snow Patrol · 2001

47 min · 14 tracks · alternative rock

Melodic alternative rock intertwines with introspective lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, capturing a sense of yearning and emotional complexity.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Never Gonna Fall in Love Again Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    Making Enemies — This track showcases the band's knack for blending catchy melodies with introspective lyrics, illustrating themes of conflict and emotional struggle.
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    Black and Blue — With its haunting atmosphere and poignant storytelling, this song encapsulates the emotional weight of the album and highlights Snow Patrol's lyrical depth.
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    An Olive Grove Facing the Sea — This lengthy track features expansive arrangements and serves as a pivotal moment on the album, reflecting on isolation and longing with evocative imagery.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100
Foothills
Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album showcases solid songwriting and production but lacks a strong cohesive arc throughout its length.

What we noticed

  • The album features a consistent use of layered guitar melodies that build in intensity, particularly evident in tracks like 'Black and Blue' and 'Making Enemies'.
  • Several songs incorporate dynamic shifts, moving from quiet verses to explosive choruses, which creates a sense of emotional release.
  • Lyrically, the album explores themes of longing and introspection, with many tracks employing a conversational tone that invites listener engagement.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady pacing for reflective moments
  • yearning melodies for introspective listening
  • short tracks for quick engagement
  • consistent progression towards resolution
  • for late-night contemplation

Maybe skip if you

  • seeking high-energy party vibes
  • prefer standalone singles over albums

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This album helped establish Snow Patrol's reputation in the early 2000s alternative rock scene.
Themes
emotional struggle· longing isolation
Career context
Released on March 5, 2001, this album marked Snow Patrol's second studio effort, following their debut 'Songs for Polarbears.' At this point in their career, they were transitioning from relative obscurity to wider recognition within the UK alternative rock scene.
Stylistic neighbors
Coldplay· Keane· The Fray

Tracklist

  • 1 Never Gonna Fall in Love Again Start here 2:10
  • 2 Ask Me How I Am 2:34
  • 3 Making Enemies 4:19
  • 4 Black and Blue 3:39
  • 5 Last Ever Lone Gunman 2:42
  • 6 If I’d Found the Right Words to Say 4:47
  • 7 Batten Down the Hatch 3:29
  • 8 One Night Is Not Enough 3:22
  • 9 Chased by… I Don’t Know What 2:40
  • 10 On/Off 2:39
  • 11 An Olive Grove Facing the Sea 5:18
  • 12 When It’s All Over We Still Have to Clear Up 3:17
  • 13 Make Love to Me Forever 2:55
  • 14 Firelight 3:43

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata