The Fray
The Fray

THE REVIEW

Alright, I admit it, even I, at the time, was annoyed by the first single from this album (You Found Me) as it was played on almost every radio station at almost every hour. However, one summer day a year later, by pure chance, I decided to listen to the whole album, and I have to say, it changed my mind.

I agree with those who believe that The Fray consistently remain "torn" between being an artist who wants to create good music and one who wants to stay at the top of the charts for a long time; I disagree, however, with those who say this Colorado quartet is too similar to other bands that share the same genre ("Pop-Rock"/"Piano-Rock") like Keane, for example.

So, this work was released in 2009 and it is the second studio album after "How To Save A Life," consisting of 10 tracks, almost all written by singer Isaac Slade and rhythm guitarist and backup vocalist Joe King.

The album opens well with one of the best songs, "Syndicate," and continues with "Absolute" where the guitars play a fundamental role. The third, "You Found Me," as much as it might not bother me now, I would prefer to skip, and we come to "Say When" and "Never Say Never," both very good, the former having a more "rock" imprint while the latter is more of a pop ballad. Following these two is my favorite song, "Where The Story Ends," which, from the main riff onwards, managed to capture me even if not fully convince me. That's why I recommend listening to it multiple times to truly appreciate it. Then comes "Enough For Now": another good pop-rock song, well-rhythmed, that flows smoothly through its 4 minutes. It is followed by "Ungodly Hour," another ballad where Joe King takes the lead vocal, and "We Build Then We Break" which, like "Little House" on the previous record, is meant to "wake up" the listener a bit by offering a more distinct and harsh sound. The last track, "Happiness," closes this decent work worthily, composed by the right combination of piano and electric guitars. Notable, as in previous albums, is Slade's accent and his way of singing: really strained and almost "whiny"; however, if one grows accustomed to these two small things, the album can become much more enjoyable.

In conclusion, if this The Fray appears better and more "lively" than the first, even the songs seem to be affected by it, becoming much more radio-friendly and no longer seeking that almost "Indie" sound that had positively characterized, in my opinion, "How To Save A Life."

Therefore, not harboring any animosity toward this Christian band and keeping the previous observations in mind, I believe The Fray fully deserve a good 3. I am also hopeful for their next album, which should be released by the end of 2011, as I hope for further artistic growth of the band, which they have partly achieved with this work.