*** THE CASUAL GAMER ***
Main | Rating: Commendable |
Lifehouse: Stanley Climbfall
Stanley Climbfall is Lifehouse's second record. Fans of their first outing won't be disappointed by this follow-up. It is a simplistic yet very satisfying rock record.
On Stanely Climbfall, Lifehouse do what they do best. The music is a combination of simple, pleasing vocal melodies and hard rock guitar, bass, and drums. A lot of the songs on this record are based around somber or gentle melodies, only to build up to something bigger and more distorted. But don't worry, we're not talking Creed dynamics here. Lifehouse pulls it off with much more subtlety and style.
The songs on the record feel very fleshed out, with great tones for the instruments. The vocal melodies are simple and catchy. The guitars are layered well, with tones ranging from sparkling clean to dirty to heavily distorted. There are lots of little touches that complement the main guitar parts and round out the songs. The drums are also remarkable; they pack a good wallop on most of the songs, adding some rock and roll punch to the sound of the band. The only problem here is that the basslines seem buried by the many guitar parts in the songs.
Stanley Climbfall proves to be a very rewarding rock record. It is definitely nothing revolutionary, but it is solid nonetheless. If you liked their first record, then you will be very pleased with this follow-up. If you like driving, melodic rock, give it a try. Just don't expect heavy metal riffs or a screaming lead singer from this band. This is definitely more U2 than it is Nickelback.