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JFH Music Review




Lifehouse
Stanley Climbfall



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 50 minutes, 16 seconds
Street Date: September 17, 2002


Lifehouse debuted in 2000 with their smash double platinum-selling album No Name Face. The record served up the most-played radio song of 2001, "Hanging By a Moment." After nearly eighteen months of writing and an apparent goal shift, Lifehouse releases their sophomore effort, the unusually titled Stanley Climbfall.

"Everyone has their ups and downs," states frontman Jason Wade in a recent bio. "And after a lot of wordplay, a song called ‘Stand, Climb, Fall' was transformed into an everyday character named Stanley Climbfall who goes through those kinds of changes." While No Name Face was comprised of often melancholic tracks written out of Wade's frustrations, desires, and hopes, Stanley Climbfall steers in the other direction. "Most of the stuff is not written out of conflict," he continues, "it's really positive." And more positive it is indeed. The Christian and Spiritual elements to Wade's lyrics are more evident here, however, Wade never utters the Creator's name, substituting ambiguous "you"'s instead. But who else could he be referring to with lyrics like that of "Wash" where Wade sings "You wash over me / You wash over me like rain / You wash over me like sunshine..." On the other hand, songs like "Anchor" and "Take Me Away" (among others) could just as well double as love songs. Wade's lyrics often portray a degree of searching, but he tends to just leave the final interpretations up to the listener.

From a musical standpoint, Stanley's sound still has media offering comparisons to that of Pearl Jam and features some pretty hooky, upbeat rock tunes. Wade's vocals are as strong as ever as the album displays more vocal experimentation on his part. While No Name Face was strong lyrically but suffered from a lot of the same old stuff, Stanley tightens the lyrical content and strengthens the musical compositions to a great degree. From the unbelievably infectious chorus of "Take Me Away" to the catchy and engaging sounds of the album's first single, "Spin," Stanley Climbfall proves to be the debut album Lifehouse should have had. While No Name did have the runaway hit "Hanging By a Moment," and the undoubtedly worshipful number, "Everything," to its credit, it just didn't seem to have the substance that Stanley comes closer too.

Definitely not perfect, but a bright step in the right direction, Lifehouse's sophomore project Stanley Climbfall blends hopeful faith-based lyrics with infectious melodies and strong vocal delivery on Wade's part to create a well-rounded follow-up effort.

- Review date: 9/15/02, written by John DiBiase



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CD

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. Record Label: DreamWorks Records
. Album length: 12 tracks, 50 minutes and 16 seconds
. Street Date: September 17, 2002
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Spin
  2. Wash
  3. Sky Is Falling
  4. Anchor
  5. Am I Ever Gonna Find Out
  6. Stanley Climbfall
  7. Out Of Breath
  8. Just Another Name
  9. Take Me Away
  10. My Precious
  11. Empty Space
  12. The Beginning
    Bonus Tracks (some releases):
  13. How Long
  14. Sky Is Falling
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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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