Time Heals Everything- A close look at "The Fray" by The Fray

This week’s album review comes from The Fray’s 2009 sophomore album entitled “The Fray.” I feel that “Time Heals”, an unreleased track from the album, could have been just as good a title for the album. The album is full of vulnerability and pain. Band members Isaac Slade and Joe King dig deep into their pasts and put their hearts on the line on this record. The album radiates musical maturity that the band just didn’t have on their first record “How To Save A Life.” From the first notes of the first track “Syndicate” the listener can tell that they are in for something a little bit different with this record. The band went through a lot of frustrations in making this album, which can be seen in their documentary “Fair Fight.” The album cries of these frustrations and troubles and it gives the listener a unique experience that was born out of making the record. “Where the Story Ends” is a great, upbeat track that couples with it sad lyrics at the same time. This song nearly killed the band, but because of their endurance and perseverance it ends up being one of the best tracks on the record.

                Isaac and Joe, once again, provide two tracks that will keep you listening again and again. “Ungodly Hour” and “Happiness” are those feel good sad songs. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but I think you know what I mean when I describe them in this way.

                “Ungodly Hour” is a song that many listeners can relate to as it speaks of lost love and how the titular character wishes they could carry the baggage and the pain of the relationship, but the time for that has passed.

“Happiness” is a unique work of art. The lyrics describe a scene in which the titular speaker is missing someone and is telling how the happiness he had is now killing him because his love is away from him, but then in the end he reconciles this pain by saying that “one day you’ll wake up and she’ll be home.” One of most interesting lyrics from this song is “Happiness will damn near destroy you.” At first this may not make sense to you, but if you consider how you would feel if your husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend was away from you thousands of miles away for an extended amount of time, I think you will understand the pain behind the statement.

                This record will keep you singing and thinking. The Fray delivers one of the best albums of alternative rock and with their third record, “Scars and Stories,” it doesn’t look like they will be slowing down for a good while. 

Mumford and Sons "Sigh No More" Review

               I've been away from the blogosphere for a while, but now that I have a little more time and determination I am going to be doing weekly album reviews to get everyone pumped and ready for fall. There is so much great music out there and my hope is that I can direct you towards a few of the ones that have made an impression on me. My first one is not new, but if somehow you've missed it or haven't given it a listen in a while then I hope this review while inspire you to buy or even dusk off your copy of "Sigh No More" by Mumford and Sons.
                The English Quartet's debut offers a great breath of fresh air from the mainstream that usually vies for your musical attention. The quartet begins their record off with the title track "Sigh No More." With Shakespeare inspired lyrics Frontman Mumford encourages listeners to serve God and to love. He not only pulls lyrics from Shakespeare, but also from 1 Corinthians 13; and while it isn't a direct quote from the scriptures, it's paraphrase that challenges the listener none the less.
                From there the band pushes into one of their biggest hits "The Cave." This song transcends its melody and pulls on the heartstrings of the listener by telling the audience that "I will hold on hope, and I won't let you choke on that noose around your neck, and I''ll find strength in pain, and I will change my ways and know my name as it's called again." The lyrics evoke a sense of genuine love and a call to arms for the audience to love and to endure through pain so that we, as people, can help those around us who are in need. A theme of spirituality weaves its way intricately throughout the record with songs like "Awake My Soul" and "Timshel." Mumford dared to go beyond the usual of just normal bubblegum love songs and to openly put his heart on the line for the listener.
                Mumford also touches on the topic of broken love. With songs such as "Little Lion Man" and "Winter Winds" he describes scenes where love can in some cases be lost and that, believe it or not, the cause for the heartbreak can be our own fault. In "Little Lion Man" Mumford tells his listener that it was "your heart on the line and I messed it up this time." He does what many artists do not do, he blames himself.
              If for some reason you've yet to check out "Sigh No More" then you must head on over to your nearest bookstore and make sure you purchase a copy of this album. Its music is full of rich folk melodies that will make you want to scream along with it and also at the same time cause you to bow your head in reverence to the beauty of what is being said and how it is being portrayed through the music.
           Thanks for reading and stayed tuned for my next post which will be about The Fray's self-titled second album.                        
                                                                   

The Wood Between the Worlds

The Wood between the Worlds

It’s the wood between the worlds just you and me girl

I think we’re stuck, I think we’re out of time

The soft green grass, the stillness, the trees

Something is off here and maybe it’s me

What do you say and what will it be?

I have to know where the pool the leads

So why don’t you come along with me?

I can see from your eyes that you would rather live here then die

But my heart is being called to the light

Please come with me and I’ll keep you safe

And get you back in time to set the plates

What do you say and what will it be?

My heart is longing for something inside

A song I can hear that will always abide

The darkness, the stars, they all formed when the Lion roared

And he sang and he spoke it to life

It wasn’t a roar, but the sweetest melody you’ve ever heard

Aren’t you glad you came here with me?

Oh what a sight mine eyes had seen when lion sang and trees became green

The colors formed right in front me

The animals came out of the dirt and the sweetest voices of the birds

Had I really seen the foundations laid?

And He came to me and he healed all my wounds

The same Lion who gave light to the moon