Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)There's some things I've realized over my years listening to music. Third Eye Blind will never top their debut album, neither will matchbox twenty, and the same can be said for Los Angeles Pop-Rockers Lifehouse. That being said, this latest effort comes closer than any of their prior releases have and is a tribute to the band's staying power that it is actually picking up steam ten years into its' history. This album by far has the most depth to it in comparison to previous releases "Who We Are," "Stanley Climbfall" and their 2005 self-titled effort. The album plays out as such:
1. All In- 9/10
Rhythmic verses build up nicely to an uptempo soaring chorus. This is a great way to start off the album, and is sure to be a great song to hear live.
2. Nerve Damage- 7/10
When I first heard the intro of this song, I thought I was listening to the Foo Fighters' "Pretender." This song builds up slightly, but is one of the weaker songs on the album because it really doesn't have a hook to pull you in.
3. Had Enough- 10/10
Surefire third single in my opinion. Great verses mixed with solid backing vocals build up to a very catchy chorus. This is a real toe tapper that will be another great song to hear live.
4. Halfway Gone- 8/10
After hearing all the other songs on this album, it's surprising that this was picked as the first single. The tune is catchy and uptempo enough, but it lacks the hooks of some of the other more catchy singles. Nonetheless, still a solid song that is doing great at radio right now.
5. It Is What It Is- 10/10
If possible, I'd give this song a 12. It's up there with "Broken" and "Simon" for me as one of my favorite Lifehouse songs. Different in many ways than any other Lifehouse song (a digital style beat to it similar to what you would hear in onerepublic's hit song "Apologize") and in others very similar (amazing lyrics and ridiculously catchy hooks), this is a standout that I would be completely shocked if it weren't released as a single. Relatable, catchy, emotional, Jason Wade is at his absolute best on this track. If you are thinking of downloading only one song on this album, this is the one!
6. From Where You Are- 9/10
Love this song, and at first was upset that it was taking up a spot on the new album as this track in its exact form has been available on iTunes for over a year, I'm feeling more and more that it fits in nicely and adds to the collection more than it detracts from it. A slow acoustic ballad that is filled with emotion, this track is an example of vintage Lifehouse.
7. Smoke & Mirrors- 7/10
Midtempo tune that has potential to grow on the listener. You can sense a slight country twang to this song during the verses.
8. Falling In- 9/10
An intro of just an acoustic guitar strumming and Jason Wade singing, this song builds into a solid midtempo tune with extremely catchy hooks. This is a pleasant love song that is simple and great all at once.
9. Wrecking Ball- 7/10
Don't get me wrong, I like Bryce's voice, but I don't like it as much as Jason's, so I'm still undecided on how I feel about this track, as it is Bryce's first go at handling lead vocals on a Lifehouse track. Maybe it's the song, maybe it's his voice, this song just doesn't connect as well as the others for me.
10. Here Tomorrow Gone Today- 6/10
Auto-tuned and digitized is not the world Lifehouse needs to be living in. While I give them props for trying something new, let's hope this midtempo digitized track is the last of its kind as this experiment is deemed a failure in this reviewer's opinion.
11. By Your Side- 9/10
Another solid midtempo ballad with beautiful lyrics and solid backing vocals.
12. In Your Skin- 8/10
Uptempo rock tune with rhythmic drum beats and catchy verses,
The Next 4 Tracks are on the Deluxe version only, but they are definitely worth upgrading.
13. All That I'm Asking For- 9/10
Should have replaced "Here Tomorrow Gone Today" on the main album on my album, this track is a must have for any Lifehouse fan. Beautiful midtempo ballad that is arranged perfectly with amazing background vocals and heartfelt lyrics.
14. Crash & Burn- 8/10
Another catchy midtempo number.
15. Everything (Live In Studio)- 8/10
Similar to the reproduced version of "Storm" off their last album, this isn't nearly as good as the original, but it is nice to know that Lifehouse hasn't forgotten about their fans' affinity for this amazing song.
16. Near Life Experience- 7/10
This song has a rather folksy, Bob Dylan type vibe to it. If you like that kind of music, you will enjoy this song, as it keeps a slow tempo and Jason Wade sings in a very Dylan-esque manner throughout the verses.
For those keeping track, that is 7 songs with a 9 rating or higher, something that definitely has not been the case for prior Lifehouse releases (check out my prior Lifehouse reviews if you want further proof). There are some misses, but they are more than made up for by the wide range of top tier tunes scattered throughout "Smoke & Mirrors." The future is bright for Lifehouse, and this album is sure to be spinning away at radio for years to come.
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Smoke & MirrorsLIFEHOUSE - SMOKE & MIRRORS(Deluxe Edition also Available) Jason Wade: Singer/songwriter/guitarist/piano Ricky Woolstenhulme Jr: Drums Bryce Soderberg: Bass Ben Carey: GuitarFor the duration of Los Angeles-based Lifehouse's ten-year career they've been delicately balancing two identities: radio-ready song craftsmen and raucous live rock and roll band. On their forthcoming fifth studio album, Smoke & Mirrors, the band finally unites these two personalities. "We toured for over a year before we started making this record," says singer and guitarist Jason Wade. "With the new album we really wanted to capture what we were doing on the road but halfway through recording, it was apparent we hadn't focused enough on the equally important radio side.It finally dawned on us to just do both."Still in their twenties, the guys in Lifehouse have an impressive resume. Founding members Jason Wade and drummer Ricky Woolstenhulme Jr. met in Los Angeles and formed the band in the late 90s. Lifehouse released its smash debut No Name Face in 2000, which launched them to global stardom. Their breakout single "Hanging by a Moment" was the single most played radio track of 2001. Over the next few years - joined first by a replacement, bassist Bryce Soderberg and more recently by new member, guitarist Ben Carey - Lifehouse built upon that initial success.Combined album sales are over 5 million and Lifehouse singles have sold over 3 million copies online including number one hits "Hanging By a Moment" and "You and Me." Later Lifehouse singles "First Time," "Whatever It Takes," and "Broken" have also achieved major chart and sales success. From very early on, Lifehouse fans demonstrated a resilient loyalty to the band, so much so that several of the band's hits still maintain chart positions on iTunes, years after their initial release. The band also has a formidable online presence - their video streams are at 70 million and counting.Lifehouse has always done well on radio, TV, and online, but just as impressive is their take-no-prisoners approach to touring. "We stayed out on the road for the last ten years," Jason says. "Even through the hard times we played four to six shows a week. We refused to disappear (laughs)!"When Lifehouse's fourth album Who We Are came out in the spring of 2007 it set the band on a near-relentless tour that should have pushed them to the brink of insanity. Instead, they hung out on days off and made the road a way of life. "We really love being on the road," Ricky says. "We enjoy playing live, feeling that energy. And when we have time off we have a good time doing whatever. We go to basketball and love to eat! In the fall of 2008, when the band finally came off the road from supporting Who We Are, they were on a post-tour high and urgently wanted to bring that visceral live energy to the next album. So they got together with Jude Cole, the producer of Who We Are, and began working on new material both at Cole's Ironworks Studio and at Jason's recently built home studio, Castle View. But instead of putting themselves on their usual strict schedule, the band decided to take their time with this record. As a result, it was a real creative journey. "We knew we were in a good place where we could afford to stay off the road and keep the crew employed and happy, and basically just develop the band a little bit - go in a few different directions," Bryce explains. "We experimented with Americana, classic rock, pop - we tried a bunch of different styles, really growing even further as a band."Lifehouse ended up spending a year recording upwards of thirty-five tracks before settling on the twelve songs that make upSmoke & Mirrors (many of the rest will be included on a deluxe edition). The record is loosely split between rock tracks meant to capture the feel of seeing Lifehouse live, and extremely catchy, sing-along pop songs. "That's where the title of the album comes in," Jason explains. "It's about the record being half live and half studio." The first single, "Halfway Gone," a collaboration with acclaimed rapper/songwriter Kevin Rudolf is most definitely in the latter camp. It's an irresistible pop rock song featuring explosive, driving guitars and a chorus that feels instantly familiar. "Kevin brings another side - a hint of the hip hop world but in context with what we're doing," Jason says. "We were fans of his and he was a fan of ours and it just clicked. What resulted was a nice blend of older Lifehouse with a new fresh sound -- we can't make the same record over and over." Lifehouse fans approve of the evolution; "Halfway Gone" is already the fastest growing single in the band's history, reaching the top twenty within three weeks of its release. Rudolf also worked on "Falling In," another potential pop hit.Rudolf was not the only high profile collaboration on Smoke & Mirrors. The band also worked with American Idol alum Chris Daughtry, whom Jason met and became friends with on the road. "I haven't done much co-writing in the past and I'm a bit leery of it," the singer admits. "You can end up with a song that is not good and just wish you had that day of your life back (laughs) however, I went over to Chris's place in LA and within an hour we had 'Had Enough.'" The song, to which Daughtry contributes vocals and Richard Marx also co-wrote; is a blistering, anthemic example of the kind of music that made Lifehouse fans fall in love with the band in the first place. It belongs alongside the more traditional rock tracks on Smoke & Mirrors like "Nerve Damage" and "Wrecking Ball" (bassist Soderberg's first lead vocal with the band), songs that capture the unparalleled feel of a Lifehouse show.The band will deliver an actual, real live take on these songs very soon - they hit the road in support of Smoke & Mirrors early next year.According to Lifehouse, it feels like they're doing this all again for the first time - they are inspired and excited about getting out there and playing these songs live. "It's our fifth album but I feel like we're just starting as a band," explains Bryce. "As far as our chemistry goes, we just really know each other now. We know what pisses each other off and how to avoid it. We keep each other level headed, we vent to each other. We leave our egos at the bus door.We're good to go."
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