My Amazon Reviews: The Fray "Helios"

God Of The Sun
3 Out Of 5 Stars

If you were wondering what "Helios" is, the Ancient Greeks worshiped the dude. The Fray seek to harness that power on their fourth album, and it's a dramatic change of pace for the band. Their stock in trade before this was piano-driven adult pop, but they've pushed the pianos to the back of the stage for this album. Only the opener, "Hold My Hand," will sound familiar with The Fray via their biggest hit, "How To Save a Life." The rest vary from another Ryan Tedder insta-hit (actually, the excellent "Love Don't Die") to danceable pop ("Give It Away").

Lead singer Isaac Slade is pretty decent at making accessible soft rock tunes, and even with attempts at breaking the mold, like the drumbeat stomp of "Wherever This Goes" strain at the bit for the band to just cut loose a bit more, which is why the outside sourced "Love Don't Die" stands out so much. If Coldplay is watered down U2, then The Fray is Coldplay filtered to a pop essence. They even channel The Cure at one point, on "Closer To Me." You can tell that The Fray are more ambitious than they can actually accomplish, which makes "Helios" at least enjoyable. If middle of the road but capably produced pop (think Coldplay, Maroon 5 and OneRepublic) turns your motor, "Helios" will set your sun dial.

     

My Amazon Reviews: OneRepublic "Native"

Going Native
4 Out Of 5 Stars

OneRepublic's third album, "Native," reels in the bombast of the last album, "Waking Up." In its place are smooth synths, grand choruses and bandleader Ryan Tedder's soulful voice. He's also a songwriter who has his ears glued to what makes a current hit (he counts Rhianna, Beyonce and Maroon 5 among his successes), so "Native" sounds like, well, most of the melodic pop singles of the day.

This is not a bad thing. A really good pop band (say, Maroon 5) can get in your ear canal and fill your day with a fair amount of joy. OneRepublic wants you to have a great day. They trade in on the previously mentioned bands, while obviously paying attention to the success of Mumford and Sons with a string plucked optimistic anthem titled "I Lived." Any similarities to M&S's "I Will Wait" are completely noncoincidental. Yet there are those huge hooked poptunes like the single "If I Lose Myself," or "Something I Need," which build off melodies before bursting into powerful choruses.

Tedder and OneRepublic are an eager to please bunch. "Native" is the kind of pop that you'll get from the likes of Maroon 5, The Fray and, when they're feeling really ambitious, Coldplay. By reigning in the tendency to over-produce (my main argument with "Waking Up"), he may have the best album he and his band-mates have turned in to date.

     

My Amazon Reviews: The Script "Science and Faith"

Keeping The Faith
3 Out Of 5 Stars

This is a rocky album. Not in the 'it rocks' meaning of the word, but more in the sense that The Script deals with upheaval in love and politics. The trio of Dubliners waste no time in going for the gut with the opening "You Won't Feel a Thing," which deals more with the austerity measures that Ireland is going through than a breakup. These former boy-banders have more on their mind than getting the girl; U2 echoes throughout "Science and Faith."

Too bad that "You Won't Feel A Thing" is the best song here. The Script know their way around solid melodies and good hooks, but they are smoothies from the school that also includes OneRepublic (they used to work with Ryan Tedder as producers), Snow Patrol and even Coldplay. The single "Walk Away" does make for good radio fodder, and the fine "This = Love" being the only song that really breaks the formula. Heck, "Walk Away" even features a rap cameo from B.o.B. in the 'everyone else is doing it' category. If you get the extended version, you'll likely enjoy the piano based and rapless version more, if only for the reason that the rap version sounds more of the moment than of the band.

That said, "Science and Faith" is pretty decent overall. There are moments that suggest The Script could break the rut and maybe find their way into Coldplay's creativity or (if they were willing to get away from the over-production) Maroon 5's pop-soul. Just too many times on "Science and Faith," you keep wishing for the big payoff when all you get are little fireworks of inspiration.