The Fray released their new self-titled album February 3rd.
No instead of studying for my AbPsych exam like I should I'm going to toss back a beer and write this review (I need to do something else besides reading the same chapter over and over again to drill it in my mind, I did fine at first but after a few hours, one falls asleep.)
I've taken this long to type up the review because I was actually doing nothing but saturating myself in this album. At first, it was for the sole task to type up this review, but then, it became another article of clothing. I put on my shoes, jacket, hat, and this album. I've heard the same tracks over and over again, they still feel new (except 'You Found Me', for the fact that it was released months before the album was). This album was my wake up and me good night. It's not a fantastically brilliant, genius, adventure of an album. It's just a very good humble CD, which can be eaten with ketchup or as is, you can listen to it for a good listen or to help deflect your personal issues and soundtrack your life.
How should I do this? I don't want to bore anyone who might want to read this and do a full biopsy, track by track. I guess I'll do it the, "New York Times" way, or the "Paper" way, as if I was writing a paper for class.
Another thing, should I do this professionally or personally? I suppose I could be clever and make it professionally personal, but after tossing back a few vodka-tonics and 2 beers I'm a little too smooth to be taken rigid.
When I purchased The Fray's new album I went ahead and got their "premium-super-package-deluxe-o-max" release, with 4-5 digital bootlegs, a DVD, 4 postcards, and the album. I was a huge fan of their first (which I still need to repurchase due to carelessness) so I pretty much took a chance. I don't normally take purchase risks like that if it isn't Jason Mraz or Senses Fail (as everyone knows I' a huge fan of), since they have proven to me worth their effort. Something though, encourage me to just get the bundle, so I did. Without thinking twice, it arrives Feb 4th (probably 'cause I ordered the album late), the box itself is impressive. I'd supply a photograph, but I unfortunately haven't purchased that camera I've been trying to save up for.
I first watched the DVD (since I figured it was probably either a documentary of the album or footage of their past shows since this album is too new to be recorded), low and behold it was a documentary. Now this was weird, the documentary itself provided a sort of preface, or a kind of foreshadowing to how this album will feel, it's this overwhelming presence that exists while watching these dudes do what they do, and then hearing their finished product. You almost feel as proud as they do. This may have given me a biased opinion on the album but I don't care.
A few tracks are pretty personal, especially one written for his mother (or/and grandmother?) titled "Enough for Now," it's pretty fantastic, especially the way the chorus is sang, the elements in the background fills out well. What I love most is that it's a piano heavy song leave the singer [Isaac] to give that feel that it's mainly coming from him, not the band itself. Whether the song was written before the subject matter, it was still his to direct towards it.
My personal favourites are "Never Say Never," and "Ungodly Hour." What was weird about "Never Say Never" was actually listening to it next to someone I personally attached this track to. "Ungodly Hour" was the same, listening to it next to her gave that same, personal haunting effect, but overall, it's the track I relate to most regardless. It's my "Vienna" from How to Save a Life. I can honestly listen to this song anytime, I could never get tired of it, in fact, personally I wish it was longer, and that it went through more different phases, but the song is overall brilliant.
Musically it's pretty top notch. The drums aren't anything significant, neither are the guitars, but they do their job to do just what's needed, sometimes less is more, but this is not the case. The case was, from what I believe, is that they were completely satisfied with it, they felt that they could do nothing else to it and it was it. Which is absolutely fine. Personally I could definitely see more percussion and guitar going on. The piano is fine, especially with this type of music. I felt it did it's job over all, simple and clean. With a few tracks you could even hear how raw the recording was done. I love that, it felt homier and not too synthesized. "We Build Then We Break" is a fantastic album that actually demonstrate the strength all instruments have. I think it's totally fine in every aspect, with that harsh "industrial" feel, well executed.
The album is pretty good. It doesn't bore, it's soothing, exciting, smiling and crying. Give it a shot, well worth a listen.
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