No masterpiece, but a step in the right direction.

After the long-awaited release of "Smoke & Mirrors" has now actually taken place, should be as Lifehouse supporters while enjoying the new drive does not make the mistake and hope that the guys around Jason Wade a new masterpiece or a budding classic succeeded can surpass the early works "No Name Face" and "Stanley Climbfall". Specifically, the debut "No Name Face" remains as set in stone are made as the best album of the band, followed it probably never anything will change. However, with the now fifth album Californians managed a gutklassige CD which, although clearly facing the mainstream that still innovative and varied but as much good stuff that spills over the pond to us.

At exactly 45-minute disc to know with "All In", "Nerve Damage", "Had Enough" and "Halfway Gone" equal to the first four songs with concise melodies to convince properly with the specially provided with changing tempos and rhythms " Nerve Damage "a clear out tip is. Of the following, "It Is What It Is", "From Where You Are", "Smoke & Mirrors" and "Falling In" is actually only the title track worth a positive mention, the remaining three tracks splash so to himself, without they leave a lasting impression. After fine "Wrecking Ball", the band then surprised with the singsong of electric sounds "Here Tomorrow Gone Today" - an experiment that is fully successful. The conclusion ultimately form the atmospherically dense "By Your Side" and the most closely resembling the first albums "In Your Skin". All in all, not a bad yield: twelve songs, of which at most three have a certain arbitrariness and would therefore have been interchangeable.

Just as boring as the external design of the cover shows the way, also the interior of the thin-equipped booklet. Lyrics are nowhere, but there are some uninspired photos of the band members and to all the songs, the names of its contributors - not very imaginative. But this disappointment should not obscure the fact that Lifehouse submit with "Smoke & Mirrors" a balanced plate, which is certainly not the best of their previous creative period that lies well above the average and is absolutely worth hearing.