The Script 'No Sound Without Silence' - Album Review

Maintaining momentum is arguably as difficult as reaching the top – but The Script have done precisely that by adopting an if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it approach on their last couple of albums. While there are indications the mega-successful Dubliners are playing it slightly less safe here, the fans who snapped up tickets for their upcoming Dublin Castle date have little to worry about.
These songs will slot neatly into the set. Described by the group as a sort of “prequel” to their self-titled debut album, No Sound Without Silence finds them very much in band-on the-run mode (much of the project was recorded on a specially-fitted mobile studio on their tour bus).
The songs are rawer and more urgent than might have been the case had they holed up in a studio for a few months. There are glimpses of experimentation too. The first few bars of ‘No Good In Goodbye’ echo The Edge’s thrilling opening salvo on U2’s ‘I Will Follow’. Likewise, the opening piano part on ‘Superheroes’ could be inspired by Bruce Hornsby’s ‘That’s Not The Way It Is’ – though, again, it morphs into something else entirely.
And, like almost everything here it’s instantly compelling and memorable. ‘Man On A Wire’ juxtaposes images of walking tightropes and fear of falling on a chugging mid-tempo tune with “hit” written all over, under andaround it. ‘Never Seen Anything Quite Like You’ adds strings, and choir-like harmonies.
‘Army Of Angels’ is a rousing ballad but it has a “by-numbers” feel; ‘It’s Not Right For You’ blends Coldplay dramatics with r’n’b and an “Ooh, ooh, ooh” chorus with a vaguely traditional Irish melody and marching band drums; the ode to homesickness that is ‘Paint The Town Green’ sees the group upset at missing Paddy’s Day back home (“It kills you not being there but life got in the way”). For good measure, they even compare the New York subway to Dublin’s Luas!
“We’re all living the good life” croons frontman Danny on ‘Hail, Rain Or Sunshine’ (uncannily like Rod Stewart’s ‘Sailing’ on the chorus). One of the strongest tunes on the album melodically, ‘Without Those Songs’ has a John Lennon/Elton John flavour.
The verdict? Steady as she goes. The Script are in it for the long haul...

Out September 12.