Gone, Baby, Gone' Is Darker Than Expected

••■ AMIPAIMIIIIM 11111111111111111•1113•1111113111111111.1111111 w Aminms■ i • c.v. Lier.11111111r: g ggifi 4 C "Open Your Eyes" Worth Opening Your Ears Canada and the United States, respec- bums, it grows DANA LIVERMONT tively. The album features emotion- on the listener packed ballads and runs like a joy ride with each subse- After hearing mixed things about with tracks entitled "Chasing Cars," quent audition. I it, I decided to pick up Snow Patrol's "Headlights on Dark Roads," and The find the album to newest, "Eyes Open" (April 2006). Finish Line." be a bit mundane This is the fourth album for the Scot- After listening through "Eyes in places. In re- tish group, which is often classified Open," I was a bit disappointed. The flection, I have a under such genres as indie and alter- sound is much more mainstream than feeling about the native rock. Snow Patrol's sound is in the past. I thought maybe I had heard album as a often termed in reference to other UK a few of the songs on the radio before, whole, but only a ballad-bands like U2 and Coldplay. and whether I had or not, the point is few of the tracks Gary Lightbody is the voice and heart that it is radio-friendly. A radio-friendly stand out in my of the quintet which also includes Paul album usually speaks well for the melo- mind. Most of Wilson (bass), Jonny Quinn (drums), dies and production of an album, but the others sound Nathan Connolly (guitar), and Tom tends to make Indie enthusiasts cringe. quite a bit the Simpson (keys). In this release, the I am not appalled by songs on the ra- same. However, group shows its melodic capacity with dio, but when I expect something a bit the standout its most cleanly produced album yet. rawer in an album, it is a bit discourag- tracks on "Eyes It has reached number one in the Brit- ing when I hear different. Open" really ish charts and, in its North American I have since listened through the stand out. release, has reached 26 and 31 in album several times, and like most al- "Set the Fire to the Third Art direction by Mat Maitland with Richard Andrews at Big Bar" is a duet Active which features "just close your eyes until frontman Gary Lightbody and guest nations, is the catchiest tune with a Martha Wainwright. In my opinion, synth-key melody over simple guitar you can imagine this place, this is the best track of the album. It riffs. tells the tale of long-distance lovers Overall "Eyes Open" is a fine yeah, our secret space at will" with lyrics like, "I pray that something record that is definitely worthy of your picks me up and puts me down in your time. Check it out if your interests in- from "Shut Your Eyes" warm arms." "Shut Your Eyes," a song clude moody music with magnificent about daydreaming of pleasant desti- melodies. Lehane's 'Gone, Baby, Gone' is Darker Than Expected further and further away into the territory with more reprehen- NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MYSTIC RIVER (MIKE 'WOLFG AtNG" SCHRAGE shadows, becoming little more sible subject matter. The case, _Artr eer liseftrtaimitoreitt Editsr than a smiling face on a flier. which is now a full blown ob- DENNIS With the recent Holly- The mother, an apathetic, alco- session to the bickering_ part- wood epidemic of taking, amaz- holic shell of a woman, seems ners, slowly leads to a web of ing books and transforming less and less interested with the drugs, convicted child rapists, them into mediocre movies, I abduction until her face be- and the dark underbelly of the thought I would write a review comes a staple of every news Boston legal system that will of one of my all time favorites program across the country. inevitably scar, if not destroy, IEHANE before Ben Affleck's cinematic As always, along for the their professional and private adaptation leaves a bitter, unsat- ride with Kenzie and Gennaro relationship. isfied taste in my mouth. is childhood friend Bubba This book is much darker In "Gone, Baby, Gone" Rogowski, a dark, psychopathic than Lehane's earlier Kenzie/ by Dennis Lehane, Boston- ex-Marine and current interna- Gennaro works, and that dark, based private investigators tional arms dealer who is the gritty nature makes it all that Patrick Kenzie and Angela only person on who the duo can much more emotional and poi- Gennaro are it hildhood friends count on and trust completely. gnant. The ending occurs after and part-time lovers who are Despite Bubba's sadistic nature, a bizarre and unexpected maze hired to find four year old he brings a bit of indelible wis- of twists, which left me with a Amanda McCready, who van- dom and dark humor as he of- very bleak outlook. "Gone, ished from her bed under mys- fers his unique skills ofmayhem Baby, Gone"is the fourth in a terious circumstances on a and expertise in violence to aid series with the same characters, warm New England summer his two friends in their case the and Lehane does a masterful job night. Operating out of an aban- only way he knows how. controlling the reader's down- doned belfry in the local Catho- Kenzie and Gennaro's ward spiral until they, along lic church that serves as their paths cross with two Boston with Kenzie and Gennaro, hit "LEHANE DELIVERS BIG TIME" Wall Street Journal office, the duo is drawn into the Police Detectives from the rock bottom. case, hoping that they can fol- Crimes Against Children This book is highly rec- „Irv. Ampow., quir low a trail that grows colder Squad, who seem a bit too ea- ommended, as long as you can despite constant media attention ger to help the rogue outsiders, imore everything else on your and maximum law enforcement and obviously know much more schedule in order to devote all GONE, BABY, GONE man hours and resources. than they are letting on. As each of your time to the words be- Meanwhile, as the house of page is turned, the story slips tween first page and last. It's cards collapses, the child slips into more sinister and darker Cover art courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers that good. THE RETORT• PAGE 11 .

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