Product Description

This Denver-based quartet mixes the sweeping, arena-ready feel of Coldplay with the sincere, radio-friendly folk-rock of bands like Counting Crows for a highly melodic brand of palatable pop. The Fray's first release, HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, is packed with songs that push all the right mass-appeal buttons: sumptuous piano, swaying mid-tempo rhythms, anthemic choruses, and alternately soaring and meandering melodies sungin a high, emotive voice. Bridging stadium rock, emo, and classic rock on the order of U2, the Fray makes an assured first statement on their debut.

Track Listing

1. She Is
2. Over My Head (Cable Car)
3. How To Save A Life
4. All At Once
5. Fall Away
6. Heaven Forbid
7. Look After You
8. Hundred
9. Vienna
10. Dead Wrong
11. Little House
12. Trust Me
13. Unsaid

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1610 in Music
• Released on: 2007-02-19
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
On their full-length debut, Denver quartet the Fray don't exactly reinvent the wheel, but those looking for melodic, mid-tempo pop could do far worse. That said, the 12 songs on How To Save a Life are barely distinguishable from each other. If you like one, you'll probably like the rest (and you'll be in the company of thousands of other listeners.) If you don't like one, it's unlikely the others will change your mind. Formed in 2002, the band consists of Isaac Slade (vocals, piano), Joe King (guitar, vocals), Ben Wysocki (drums), and Dave Welsh (guitar). Since their formation, the Fray have elicited comparisons to British groups like Coldplay and Keane, and American ones like Counting Crows and the Wallflowers. They've also toured with Weezer and Ben Folds and had songs--like "Over My Head (Cable Car)"--featured on such popular programmes as Grey's Anatomy. Though they incorporate guitar, unlike Keane, Slade's expert piano playing is prominent on every track. To his credit, he can also hit the high notes just as gracefully as Coldplay's Chris Martin, but therein lies the rub: As with the band as a whole, Slade hasn't quite found his own voice yet. How To Save a Life is polished and professional, bland and inoffensive. It goes down easy, but evaporates into the ether just as quickly. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

How To Save A Life
On first listen I discounted this album, feeling it to be very samey the whole way through. But with repeated listening you really get a feel for the music on offer and realise there is a lot more depth and feeling behind it than originally meets the eye. Of course you get the major hit 'How To Save A Life', but one of my favourites has to be 'Over My Head' which I'll often put on repeat and turn my stereo up loud for! There is a great mix of piano playing, solid song-writing and inspiring lyrics here and my main advice is to give it a go and to give it a fair chance, you shouldn't be disappointed.

Phenomenal stuff even to this day
With the growing popularity of coldplay, the fray which seemed to come out of nowhere for me, blew me away. Isaac Slade has a simply breathtaking voice, all the other band members are also very talented with their variety of instruments. When people refer to the Fray, I think they immediately think of the song How to save a life, but the fact is, although the song is really, REALLY great, there's much more songs to highly recommend here.
Look after you is a good example, and I don't really need to mention over my head, because that's nearly as popular as how to save a life. There's not one dull track here, which is an excellent achievement. I can't wait for their next album, because knowing the talent that's already in this band, they have the potential to be even better.
People say that the Fray is too depressing, but that's not true. How to save a life is an example of a near perfect song, it can be sad, uplifting, or happy all at the same time.
Altogether, one of my favorite albums.

Buy it if you dont have it, get a spare if you do!
brilliant album, emotive, relaxing, amazing music. talented musicians, creating fabulous music, i can honestly say every song is amazing. i will definately be listening to this album for years to come