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Rating: Spring 2010, Lifehouse returns with a new work, Smoke & Mirrors, which already on first listen seems to be significantly better than the previous Who We Are. Between lively and instant tracks and acoustic ballads, the album flows quickly without any hitches with the usual stunning, gritty, sandy, and intense voice of Jason Wade. Also in this album, one cannot fail to appreciate Wade's lyrics, always deep, spiritual, and with great emotional impact. Wade manages to never be banal, even though the main theme always revolves around feelings, love's sufferings, solitude, and restlessness. Not to be underestimated is also the perfect harmony between the four members of the band led by a perfect frontman like Wade.
The album starts with the energetic and straightforward "All In" with a sometimes overwhelming melody and right after we find a wonderfully constructed piece, "Nerve Damage": arpeggiated background verses alternate with a gritty chorus, with a surprising and (noisy) psychedelic bridge followed by a short and melancholic blues solo. With the beautiful "Had Enough" we return to a rock melodious atmosphere typically "lifehouserian". We then move to "Halfway Gone", the first single extracted, a radio-friendly rock song that gets stuck in your head from the first listen. And here we are at one of the gems of the album, "It Is What Is", a very sweet, romantic, and melancholic piece; a whirlpool of emotions pervades the listener who is catapulted into a magical atmosphere that continues also with the excellent "From Where You Are", where a simple acoustic guitar is enough to accompany Wade's moving voice. At this point, we could even stop here; they would deserve a grade of seven. Instead, it continues with "Smoke & Mirrors", which gives the album its title, a lively track with a Brit pop sound, then moving to "Falling In", another splendid pop rock ballad perhaps overly sentimental but nonetheless engaging. At this point, the album slightly falls in tone. Following, in fact, we find two lively pieces like "Wrecking Ball" and the pounding and neurotic "Here Tomorrow Gone Today", which do not fully convince and are less engaging than the previous tracks; the judgment doesn't change even with the quieter and melodic "By Your Side". The finale, however, is excellent. "In Your Skin" is truly a great dark rock piece with a catchy chorus, accompanied by an engaging riff and with a well-suited solo.
The only limitation of the band is the inability to reinvent themselves. The proof of this is found right in a piece like "Here Tomorrow Gone Today", where the attempt to experiment with a more psychedelic and innovative sound does not seem to be successful. One also wonders why they should change the style, giving up what they do best and altering the sound that brought them immense success.
In the end, Lifehouse does not offer us anything original or particularly complex, but this work flows pleasantly even in those moments when the sound softens. Apart from the slightly faltering finale, the album is never boring and the arrangements are impeccable. An album to listen to in the car or on a train journey, preferably in winter when it's raining or snowing outside, the right atmosphere for an intense album with a strong intimate charge.
Final note. I have always enjoyed listening to Lifehouse, they are like a digestive, they don't hurt, indeed, they are needed every now and then; however, it is advised against the (use) of this album for all metal, rap, and dance music enthusiasts. Side effects are also possible for lovers of Gigi D'Alessio or similar things. It seems right to warn users, I wouldn't want anyone to feel unwell.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Halfway Gone (03:14)
You were always hard to hold
So letting go ain't easy
I'm hanging on but growing cold
While my mind is leaving
Talk, talk is cheap
Give me a word you can keep
Cause you're halfway gone and I'm on my way
And I'm feelin, feelin feelin this way
Cause I'm halfway in but don't take too long
Cause I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone
You got one foot out the door
And choking on the other
Always think there's something more
It's just around the corner
Talk, talk is cheap
Give me a word you can keep
Cause I'm halfway gone and I'm on my way
And I'm feelin, feelin feelin this way
Cause you're halfway in but don't take too long
Cause I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone
If you want me out, then I'm on my way
And I'm feelin, feelin feelin this way
Cause you're halfway in, but don't take too long
Cause I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone
I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone
Now I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone
Don't take too long, don't take too long
Cause I'm on my way
If you take too long
Cause I'm halfway gone and I'm on way
And I'm feelin, feelin I'm feelin this way
Cause you're halfway in but don't take too long
Cause I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone
If you want me out, then I'm on my way
And I'm feelin, feelin feelin this way
Cause you're halfway in, but don't take too long
Cause I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone
Cause I'm halfway gone, and I'm halfway gone
Cause I'm halfway gone, yeah I'm halfway gone
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