Scars & Stories

The Fray | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: February 7, 2012
• Label: Epic
• Copyright: (P) 2011, 2012 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 44:54
• Genres:
  • Pop
• ASIN: B0071FBARY
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,895 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pulling all the heartstrings February 7, 2012

By Storylover TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

When I put on the Fray, I'm looking for one thing--mellow rock tunes that are going to pull all my emotions to the fore. These guys had me hooked with the first note of "How to Save a Life" all those years ago, and I really look forward to each release now. I'm really happy to say that Scars and Stories continues their ability to craft catchy, hook filled rock with just the right amount of emotional delivery to pack a serious punch without becoming overly gooey. All the things I love are there--Isaac Slade's husky, burred and deeply heartfelt baritone is in great shape, and he somehow manages to sound hopeful and sad all at once on many of these tracks. Guitars are to the fore here, and in a good way--creative rock soloing without showboating. The piano is always there in the background, and the mix of piano to guitar is great. The tunes are so good--each one sounds like something you might have heard and loved before, but then you realize that it is not--but you decide just then that you are going to make it a favorite. Maybe that is what I love about these guys--the same thing I loved about Counting Crows at their finest moments--the ability to take a formula but make it new, keep it fresh, and keep me humming along. My favorite tracks thus far are "Heartbeat" (a great album opener with soaring vocals) and "I can Barely Say", which is simply stunning. Listen, with an open mind. If you have a problem with radio friendly, Grey's Anatomy friendly pop/rock, then this is not going to be the album for you. But if you secretly still rock out to Journey, if you love Counting Crows, if you occasionally like to be overwhelmed by love, then this is an album to enjoy and share.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Stories to Heal the Scars February 7, 2012

By Rudy Palma

Format:Audio CD

The Fray are true to their therapeutic reputation on "Scars and Stories." These are melodic, soothing, emotional forays, often downbeat in mood, crafted with the intent to apply balm to listeners' wounds.

Despite the more or less straightforward fashion in which The Fray write and record their songs, there are certainly songs that stand out from the warm pool of melancholy. "Munich" is intelligently arranged with downright beautiful harmonizing and vocal blends, while "Turn Me On" takes a short-lived detour from the despairing vibe with its jangly, radio-ready melody and arrangement.

"I Can Barely Say" is absolutely aching in its lyrical precision and deep-set, crackling melody. Isaac Slade's vocals are as piercing and emotional as ever. Lead single "Heartbeat" is pristine, managing to be both muscular in its arrangement and presentation while still retaining a stark, vulnerable quality rife with emotional resonance. It is a multifaceted track that deserves to bring The Fray their first Top 10 pop hit since 2008's impressive, though overplayed, "You Found Me."

"Scars and Stories" may be business as usual for the band, but it also benefits from verve, grit and artistic integrity. This is certainly a set of true, sincere, well-crafted music and is precisely what The Fray's fan base is looking for.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Album! February 7, 2012

By Jose A. Chavez

Format:Audio CD

This album is very good. I have been waiting for new music by The Fray every since there last album was released. I can say that this album was worth the wait. Their new sound is very good. I like how the sound has a larger emphasis on guitar. Piano like another reviewer said is still there though in the background. Though the song Be Still is a piano ballad. My favorite songs from the album so far are Be Still, Hearbeat (the first single), Run For Your Life, and I Can Barely Say. The lyrics for the songs are deep touching usual themes that the group has in their song such as love. While one would think that this would be repetitive or grow stale, the group manages to keep it fresh. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who is a fan of The Fray; it is a day one purchase.