After nearly two years of inactivity, The Fray have returned to the music scene with their third album, "Scars & Stories" — a major relief for fans that held on after their sophomore slump, the self-titled "The Fray" (2009). Mixing an agreeable number of upbeat tunes and melodic ballads with just enough of lead singer Isaac Slade's falsetto vocals, the new record is an enjoyable experience despite the few flaws that mar the surface.
The Fray sprang from obscurity in early 2006 with the release of their debut album, "How to Save a Life" and its eponymous single, rapidly amassing a fan base and numerous platinum certifications at the same time. Not a single radio listener was free from the catchy beat of "Over My Head (Cable Car)" while driving around town — even after it grew stale. By the time their opening run had come to an end, it seemed like The Fray's future success was a given.
Then, the band's second album, "The Fray," was released. Filled with drawn out, echoing, angelic-sounding songs, the CD was a departure from the band's original, free-spirited vibe in the completely wrong direction. Critics and fans alike criticized the album, and The Fray fell back into the obscurity from which they came.
This year, they returned with "Scars & Stories." While it is too early to tell whether or not their newest work will keep them in the favor of the populace, things seem to bode well the third time around.
October 2011 saw the release of the album's first single and opening track, "Heartbeat." Although slightly overplayed already, "Heartbeat" successfully sets the tone for the album, meshing the rock-piano, emphatic chords and slightly emotional lyrics and setting them at a pace an audience can bounce along to.
While a few of the following tracks, "Turn Me On" and "The Wind," are somewhat reminiscent of "Heartbeat," they fail to provide as much energy or originality as the opening song and come off as slightly repetitive.
But "Scars & Stories" is by no means void of originality, and it manages to become a solid album thanks to a number of unique track choices. Among these is "48 to Go," a song having to do with Slade's cross country road trip that inspires a sense of adventure and spirit. With its rapid rise and fall pattern, short chorus and unique chimes at the song's conclusion, it is one of the album's most appealing tracks.
Furthering the group's innovation is "Munich," a song that builds slowly, pulling the listener in with its simple structure while it rises in energy. Through this build, the lyrics and celestial tone leave listeners thinking about the deeper implications of the song. Eventually, it reaches a poweful climax that brings a strong ending to the tune.
The Fray tries to implement originality in "Here We Are," as well, putting a more rock-ish veneer on the tune than they normally do. It isn't a complete failure — it's entertaining to see The Fray let loose a bit — but in the end it doesn't suit them well. Thankfully, it is the only track of its kind on the CD.
There is no question that The Fray is characterized and distinguished by Slade's vocals and piano. Yet the album's best song, "Rainy Zurich," happens to be sung by guitarist Joe King. Placed near the CD's end, the song is a breath of fresh air after half an hour of Slade's sharp voice, providing a much more harmonious, ranged performance similar in sound to that of Kris Allen. As for the instrumentals, it is a perfect blend of classic Fray elements. Despite fan familiarity with Slade, The Fray might want to think about giving King the vocal duties more often.
While much of "Scars & Stories" seems to hark back to the days of "How to Save a Life" in terms of tone, some of the tracks are more similar to The Fray's eponymous album. "The Fighter" contains enough energy in its veins to entertain the listener, but at four minutes and twenty seconds, it simply drags on too long for a Fray song. The album closer, "Be Still," feels like a leftover from the second album that was reused rather than thrown out. Stuck in the middle of these tunes, "I Can Barely Say" is long, sad and slow, weighing down the album right as its energy should be peaking.
While The Fray's mainstream music may not be for everyone, fans of the band's debut album will enjoy the newest addition to their repertoire. Despite a few slow tunes from time to time, the energy stays high and the simple lyrics keep entertaining.
