A lot has changed since Lifehouse's sophomore release Stanley Climbfall graced shelves in 2002. Bassist and original member Sergio Andrade stepped out along with guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme, leaving just the latter's brother Rick on drums to aid frontman Jason Wade. Upon picking up Bryce Soderberg on bass, the rock quartet is once again a trio and has released their third studio record, simply self-titled Lifehouse.
The band's 2000 debut No Name Face was a raw and poetic venture into the realm of alternative rock, yielding the most-played radio song of 2001, "Hanging By a Moment." Stanley Climbfall was a more sonic and aggressive release, offering up more powerful radio-friendly rock cuts like "Take Me Away" and "Spin." With the member changes and time span between projects, a stylistic change in Lifehouse is evident, and quite frankly, expected. From the opener "Come Back Down," it's clear Wade has returned to a more melodic and poetic approach to songwriting. "You And Me," the album's first single, noticeably more mellow and stripped-down than the band's previous singles, is a tender acoustic love ballad. In fact, much of Lifehouse is approached in a similar laid back fashion. While No Name Face had a melancholic overtone with a sense of tragedy, Lifehouse offers much more hope, but handled in a way songwriter and vocalist Wade has made his signature.
Lifehouse is an aptly titled album that possesses a sense of rebirth for Wade and his band. While some of the hooky anthemic compositions of their previous effort are somewhat missed here, Lifehouse is a thinking-man's alt rock album, bearing the kind of sensitivity that permeated the band's debut. Some may even look at the album as a step back for the band, but instead, Lifehouse is merely a step in a different direction.
- Review date: 3/22/05, written by John DiBiase
|
|
NEEDTOBREATHE's Sold Out Red Rocks Performance Set to Stream Globally May 19 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:25:00 EST |
Hezekiah Walker Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Love Fellowship Tabernacle Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:15:00 EST |
Alex Henry Foster Announces New Album, "Kimoyo" Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:55:00 EST |
Barbara Mandrell's 'Precious Memories: 20 Hymns and Gospel Classics' Tops Christian Albums Chart Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:15:00 EST |
Patrick Mayberry Earns First No. 1 At Radio With Psalm 23-Inspired "Lead On Good Shepherd" Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:10:00 EST |
Atlanta, GA's Grungepunks To Release "The Fall Blues EP" Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:00:00 EST |
Ryan Stevenson Delivers Summertime Vibes with "Just As You Are" Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:30:00 EST |
Demi-Leigh Tebow to release debut book this August Mon, 18 Mar 2024 21:20:38 +0000 |
LIFELINE CHILDREN’S SERVICES, GRUPO NELSON PUBLISHERS CO-HOST BOOK LAUNCH AND SIGNING FOR “WHOSE AM I?” Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:49:00 +0000 |
EEM’s Bibles for Kids Initiative to Provide 570,000 Free Bibles to Children & Teens in 2024 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:33:43 +0000 |