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The Official Student Paper of Riverside Poly High School

From Sadness to Sunshine

Mar 12, 2014

MUSIC: The Fray releases an uncharacteristically peppy album.

By Jonathan Whang, Staff Writer

Number one rock band The Fray is back with Helios, their fourth studio album. The band began recording in June of last year, and the album was made available for pre-order in November.

The Fray consists of Isaac Slade, Joe King, Dave Welsh and Ben Wysooki. Formed in 2002, the band achieved international fame with “How to Save a Life,” the heartfelt ballad about attempting to save a dying relationship. In fact, up to their third album Scars and Stories, The Fray was known for only writing depressing songs. However, the group made some major changes this year with Helios.

In their new album, the once piano-driven band has switched to alternative rock. For the first time in history, The Fray, whose subjects have ranged from suicide to depression, has become borderline cheerful. The lead single off of the album, “Love Don’t Die,” is an upbeat, catchy, feet-stomping anthem that almost seems better suited for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

This new turn of emotion is nothing staged—it’s an honest reflection of where the bandmates are in their lives. Both Slade and Wysooki are expecting a new child, while King seems to be happily engaged.

But even the band is surprised at the newfound optimism. “I’ve always had a hard time writing happy songs,” King admitted in an interview with the Denver Post. “Even my fiancée was asking, ‘Are you ok now that life is in a good spot?’”

Helios is not only a precedent for The Fray musically, but professionally as well. Last year was the first time that the band collaborated with Ryan Tedder, the frontman of OneRepublic, with whom the band has grown close with over time.

Despite the band’s new outlook, Helios is just as honest and cordial as The Fray’s previous albums. If you’re a long-time fan, give it a chance. Maybe it’ll surprise you.

Photo courtesy of kssunews.wordpress.com

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