What have I done me hard with the musical career of this band. For almost 10 years now accompanied me the song material by Jason Wade and Co. and I am one of the followers of the legendary debut work. After frequent changes of band members or the record label Geffen is now available "Smoke and Mirrors" and I can truly claim to be very pleased with this record. The opener makes "all in", that the construction may very reminiscent of "First Time" or "Who we are". But surprisingly, the piano begins that after the first chorus, and in the Bridge before the final chorus comes to a climax. Number 2, "Wrecking Ball" is stylistically again musical territory and receives a result of this experimentation komponistischen its own unique charm. From Song number 3, we are now entering the "radio hits-range", the songs may have been clearly written for the American radio stations. Granted, "Had Enough" sounds really after Daughtry, but Wade succeeds simply by his distinctive voice to burn Lifehouse mark on the song. Beautiful up-tempo number. "Halfway Gone" can hardly deny the mainstream character. "Now I'm halfway gone and I'm on my way and I'm feeling, feeling, feeling this way" very imaginative that is not (if one way to way rhymes), but then somehow rousing and catchy sound enticing to sing along. "It is what it is" ... maybe the song on the album. Had set to a different instrumentation, the song "No Name Face" would really have been -tauglich. But the band and the producer have put on the Timberland sound and so gets the song a very individual touch. Wade manages to convey all his musical authenticity and again that his music has always mattered. Thumbs up. "From Where You Are", a slightly older song that was the Lifehouse handset through various sites already known. The focus is on Wade's voice, guitar and the melody that personally somewhat reminds me of "Simon and Garfunkel". At first hearing such songs can perish quickly, but has Wade already written many songs which display their pearls only with repeated listening in my opinion. "Smoke and Mirrors", the title song. Again a little faster, a little harder and rougher. Striking Drum game, striking chorus. Very cool. "Falling in" .For a song like this remembers the attentive listener instantly that Wade has brought support songwriting. He works primarily with other producer Jew Cole together, you can hear here, other assistants, as well as at Halfway Gone, Had Enough, etc. What is not negative or positive. The song is knitted simple, no one enters any risks, there are no Schnörkler or anything else available. A radio song, no more and no less. In "Wrecking Ball" first accesses the bassist for micro and this is just a little confusing, it connects Lifehouse just with the voice of Jason Wade. With it, the song would then probably become even more interesting times, as though he is probably the weakest on the plate. "Here Tomorrow Gone Today", is then experementierfreudig, more unfortunately not and will not play in the league of "The Joke" or "Nerve Damage" with. "By Your Side" is again a ballad in the sense of "you and me", catchy, strong, beautiful. The last song "In Your Skin" the band manages a leap back in time, I find the number really strong, even if the chorus is not quite as striking as others. But the verse has something that reminds me of the old times Blyss, on songs such as "Quasimodo" or even to that legendary "The Edge".
I like this record, more than "Stanley Climbfall", "Lifehouse" or "Who we are". She is convincing and I can only hope that the Radio Songs in this country have a little more success, "Halfway Gone" is indeed at least played by some broadcasters. I think a lot of Jason Wade and his combo, they have lain down with her debut a real milestone. Toppen you can not still, but if Wade "it is what it is" singing, but it comes very close.
