Disco de The Fray: “Fray [Deluxe Edition]”

(4.5 stars) The Fray are a Hot AC-leaning rock band out of Denver, Colorado. Their debut album

spawned two big hit singles in the title track and "Over My Head (Cable Car)." The follow-up to that 2005 effort is their 2009 eponymous release.

The best word I can use to describe this album is consistent. There's little progression in style or approach from the first album; The Fray stick to the sonic formula that worked for them the first time around. Expect more piano-driven songs and Isaac Slade's emotive vocals throughout. I do, however, find this album a more cohesive effort than the debut, and the songwriting is generally strong. While there are fewer radio-ready tracks to be found here, as a unit, I believe this is overall a more unified and satisfactory listen.

This particular edition comes with an eight-song bonus disc. Four of these are live tracks: a rendition of "Fair Fight," the studio version of which is an iTunes exclusive bonus track; a performance of "How to Save a Life" at Webster Hall in which the crowd participates; and performances of the first singles ("You Found Me" and "Never Say Never") backed by The London Quartet. The "How to Save a Life" performance is nice enough, though unexceptional; however, it is good to have a version of "Fair Fight" on disc, and the vocal harmonies on the two London Quartet performances are pleasant. The other tracks on the disc consist of a piano version of "Where the Story Ends," which is decent, a demo for a song entitled "Be the One," which is a pretty good effort, and finally, the songs which are, in my opinion, the two major reasons to buy the deluxe edition: a new track called "Uncertainty" and a version of Kanye West's "Heartless." The former is a beautiful song with evocative lyrics to which I imagine most people can relate; the latter is a cool re-imagining of an excellent West song that became a surprise alternative radio hit earlier in 2009.

In summary, if you're looking for great artistic growth or a surprising sound, you won't find it here; however, if you're looking to hear an album from a band that knows its strengths and continues to play to them, then go ahead and invest in this release from The Fray. The addition of "Heartless" and "Uncertainty" make this deluxe edition the one to buy.

There isn't a bad song on this double CD! I saw them on DIRECTV channel 101 and found myself mesmerized by them. I had to order it after that!

I love the Fray. I first got into their music after "You Found Me", and it turned out I knew other songs like "Cable Car" and "How to Save a Life". Now I have their albums in my car to listen to all the time, and copies on my MP3 player to listen when I'm at the gym or running.

These guys are a great band and the album is great but I hate how they release the deluxe version like a year after it comes out so people that already have it have to buy it again to get the bonus disc. It's so wrong of record companies to do it like that. They should offer it from the very beginning for a few dollars more or something. They did this with the "How to Save a Life" cd as well with the deluxe version coming out later. I guess I'll just wait a year after the next Fray cd comes out until I buy it. They should have to send us that live disc. FOR FREE. Peace.