|
Who We Are is another set of rousing anthems from this reflective trio. On their fourth full-length, the Los Angeles three-piece sets the template for a harder-rocking effort with dynamic opener "Disarray," in which singer/guitarist Jason Wade admits he doesn't know where he's going, but "wouldn't have it any other way." The band rocks even harder on album highlight "The Joke," a song inspired by a real-life suicide. It's a risk that pays off, although the lyrics almost make the subject seem more defiant than regretful. Throughout the record, Rick Woolstenhulme's drums sound like they're cranked up to 11--not that there's anything wrong with that (Bryce Soderberg holds his own on bass). In other words, the music isn't shy (or subtle), but Wade's words read more like questions than answers. Granted, closing number "Storm," with Rocco DeLuca on organ, brings things to a gentle close, but most tracks follow in the over-sized footsteps of post-grunge precursors, like Live and Stone Temple Pilots. Then again, as Abigail Van Buren used to say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." If Lifehouse ever find what they're looking for, to paraphrase yet another sage, they may as well pack it in. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Lifehouse is singer-guitarist Jason Wade, drummer Rick Woolstenhulme and bassist-singer Bryce Soderberg. These three guys are a hit making machine! Jason Wade proved himself a gifted songwriter with Lifehouse's first record, 2000's multiplatinum No Name Face, which spawned the #1 hit "Hanging by a Moment." Calling that song a hit, however, is a bit of an understatement as "Hanging by a Moment" was the most-played song of 2001. Stanley Climbfall, the band's Top 10 follow-up, was released in 2002. 2005 saw the release of their third album simply titled Lifehouse which included the undeniable hit #1 multi-format hit "You And Me" and kept the band out on the road touring for over a year. With Who We Are, Lifehouse takes another evolutionary step making an upbeat album full of potential hits sure to please fans and make new ones.
Japanese pressing of their 2007 album featuring three bonus tracks: 'Keep The Change', 'I Want You To Know' and 'You And Me (Live In Portland)'. With Who We Are, their fourth Geffen album in seven years, Lifehouse, all still in their mid-20s, are really starting to enjoy the fruits of their success and have some fun. Their multi-platinum 2000 debut, No Name Face, produced "Hanging by a Moment," a #1 alternative hit which crossed over to become Top 40's Most Played Song, while 2005's self-titled platinum effort yielded "You and Me," a giant hit ballad that set a record by spending more than 60 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, Lifehouse are not just the sum of their considerable accomplishments
|