The Fray is ripped a bad review

Mario Augustinovic, Staff Writer
February 16, 2012
Filed under Commentary, Entertainment

Three years after the success of their self-titled album, the Denver-based band, The Fray, is back with a fresh new album. Scars and Stories heralds the personal experiences of the band, and it takes us into the mind of writer and lead singer Isaac Slade. However, the album as a whole lacks the emotional depth expected.

The set list begins with “Heartbeat,” a song that stays true to The Fray’s sound. “Heartbeat” is reminiscint of the Fray’s previous hit, “How to Save a Life.” The melody plays out well, and the song has already been featured on radios since mid-October. This song derives from a trip The Fray took around the world to focus on writing lyrics and creating new music.   

“Heartbeat” is followed by yet another soon to be hit, “The Fighter.” The repeating chorus “loneliness has always been with me/Maybe we were meant to be on our own” shows the issues present in the band. However, the song ultimately has a positive resolution.

The album’s standout song, however, was “Run For Your Life.” This song reminds us of their previous albums, and its sound can be compared to their previous hits like “How to Save a Life” or “Over My Head.”  

However, after these few songs, Scars and Stories starts to take a downward spiral. Songs like “Munich” and “Rainy Zurich” are obviously inspired by the band’s trip, and the lyrics hint at the potential breakup of the band. “Turn Me On” is a failed attempt at making a sex-driven pop song. The songs become repetitive at this point. “Here We Are” is also mediocre and disappointing. The piano melodies become overdone, sounding too much like The Fray part 2. The songs are well written, yes, but they become too dull. They all seem to rehash music from previous albums, and the songs become forgettable. Slade’s attempt at making the album memorable is a failure in this aspect.

Scars and Stories finally ends with “Be Still,” a mediocre song with the familiar tune of the rest of the album, but the scars that are portrayed in this album are as forgettable as the songs themselves. By the time you reach this song, you’ll be sorry that you paid $9.99 for three memorable songs and 15 minutes of junk.