Scars & Stories

Just over half a decade on from their monster smash hit single ‘How To Save A Life’, Colorado mope merchants The Fray continue in the same vein with the release of their third record, the suitably angsty sounding Scars & Stories. Produced by former Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and Wolfsbane mixing-desk maestro Brendan O’Brien, the 12-track offering features the prerequisite tear-stained pop rock ballads (‘Run For Your Life,’ ‘48 To Go’) that are sure to soundtrack, those meoldramatic moments in a multitude of American teen dramas. But it’s the slightly more muscular sounding ‘Turn Me On’ that shows there’s more to the band than predictable MOR numbers. An encouraging step in the right direction perhaps.
EDWIN McFEE