By Alexis Kallert
Arts editor, ‘10

The Fray:  The Music Matured, the Model the Same.
Why fix what isn’t broken? That seems to be the formula The Fray is going by on their self-titled sophomore album. The album seems to pick up right where How To Save A Life left off. This is not to say the band hasn’t grown or matured. They are just smart when it comes to making music. They know the sound that works for them and know what fans will enjoy.

The album starts off with the track “Syndicate,” an upbeat song with an extremely catchy chorus.  Following that is “Absolute,” which has lead singer Isaac Slade crooning “Is this all we get to be absolute.” It’s a toe-tapping song that will surely be loved by fans of the band’s first album.
“You Found Me” is the first single of the album and was featured in advertisements for the new season of the television show Lost. The song starts off slowly, with Slade’s soulful voice accompanied solely by a piano. Thirty seconds into the track, however, the rest of the band kicks in, providing for a heartfelt first single. Though the track may seem to be about a significant other, upon a closer look at the lyrics, it seems more likely that track is actually about God. Slade’s voice is full of emotion throughout the entire song, but especially during the chorus as he sings “Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me.”

The standout track of the album goes to “We Build Then We Break.” It is unlike any song the band has put forth in the past. Its unique sound combined with Slade’s slightly muffled voice provides for a strong and powerful song. “Where The Story Ends” is another gem on The Fray. It is an upbeat, yet simple track with beautifully written lyrics. Slade sings, “All we know is distance/we’re close and then we run/kiss away the difference/I know you hate this one/but this how the story ends.”

The album also includes some ballads, such as “Never Say Never” and “Ungodly Hour.” Though they are good, none compare to their last album’s standout ballad “Look After You.” The album ends with the track “Happiness.” Though a pretty acoustic ballad, it is quite forgettable. It bores a resemblance to the last track on How To Save A Life. Both are tracks I tend to skip over when listening.

The Fray is a solid effort and a good follow up to the band’s first album. Though some songs are better than others, fans of The Fray won’t be disappointed with the catchy tunes and soulfulness of the album.