Length 45:56 Release date 13 September 2005 | Artist The Fray | |
Released September 13, 2005 (2005-09-13) Recorded Echo Park Studios: 2005 How to Save a Life(2005) Live at the Electric Factory Bootleg No. 1(2006) Genres Pop rock, Alternative rock, Piano rock Similar The Fray albums, Alternative rock albums |
The fray how to save a life full album hq
How to Save a Life is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The Fray. Released on September 13, 2005 through Epic Records, the record charted in the top 15 on the Billboard 200 and was a top ten hit in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. The first two singles from the album, "Over My Head (Cable Car)" and "How to Save a Life" helped the album become a commercial success and brought the band mainstream popularity.
Contents
- The fray how to save a life full album hq
- 1 12 she is w lyrics
- Background
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Release
- Singles
- Critical reception
- Awards and nominations
- Trivia
- Songs
- References
Critical reception to the album was mixed. The piano-rock style of the album drew comparisons with British piano-driven bands like Keane and Coldplay. The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA, and was also certified platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and in the UK. The album went on to become the best-selling digital album of all time, breaking the record held previously by Coldplay's X&Y. It was ranked #21 on Billboard's list of the Best Digital Albums of the Decade.
1 12 she is w lyrics
Background
After independently releasing two EPs, The Fray were looking for a record company to release a full-length album. The band released their song "Cable Car" to Denver radio station KTCL, and the song saw significant airplay. Denver alternative newsweekly Westword named the band "Best New Band" in 2004, and this prompted Epic Records A&R man Daniel Davis to sign the band to a recording contract on December 17, 2004. The album was recorded over six weeks in Echo Park Studios in Bloomington, Indiana, and was produced by Aaron Johnson and Mike Flynn. Former bass guitar player Dan Battenhouse left the band a year before entering the studio, Jake Smith, former lead singer and guitarist of the band The Mysteries of Life, took over bass guitar duties.
Track listing
All tracks written by Isaac Slade and Joe King, except where noted.
In later editions, an extra track was added:
- "Unsaid" – 3:05
- "Over My Head (Cable Car)" (Live at the Gothic (05.20.2005))
- "How to Save a Life" (Live for MTV.com & VH1.com (07.14.2005))
- "Look After You" (Live at Red Rocks (08.12.2005))
- "Heaven Forbid" (Live at Red Rocks (08.12.2005))
- How to Save a Life (The Story)
- On The Road 2006 (Documentary)
- "Over My Head (Cable Car)" (Music Video)
- "Over My Head (Cable Car)" (Making the video)
Personnel
Release
The album was released on September 13, 2005 by Epic Records. While the album did not make a splash commercially or critically initially, the success of "Over My Head (Cable Car)" propelled the album from the Top Heatseekers chart to the top 20 of The Billboard 200 chart. The release of the second single, "How to Save a Life", a world-wide smash, helped the album enter the top 5 in several charts across the world, and brought The Fray mainstream popularity. The song remains the band's best known and most successful song to date.
Singles
Critical reception
Overall, critical reception for the album was mixed. The piano-oriented sound of the album drew comparisons with British piano-rock band Keane, and Coldplay (whose music – although classified as alternative – is driven by the piano).
AllMusic, whilst giving the album a modestly positive review, stated that the band "lacked originality" and the album itself lacked any "inspiration and excitement". Stylus Magazine gave the album a negative review, stating "The Fray, as a rule, are moribund, emotionally strained, uninvolving, and have a tendency to sound like The Cranberries fronted by a man." Rolling Stone and Blender echoed many of these statements, both giving the album three stars out of five.
Sputnikmusic criticized the negative reviews, stating "there may be some skeptics who say it's just another mainstream band with no talent.....take one listen through the entire album and you might be pleasantly surprised with the outcome." Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album a glowing review, stating "How to Save a Life is nearly perfect. Nearly every song's message contains key values and life' lessons."
Awards and nominations
Trivia
Songs
1She Is3:59
2Over My Head (Cable Car)3:57
3How to Save a Life4:23