Were you to dig deep into this blog's archive, you'd probably find quite a bit of "random" posts. And this one that I'm about to publish now would probably fit into that description. Because today, I'm not going to talk about books or writing or even travel. Instead, I'm going to talk about my favorite band for the past ten years: The Fray.
I think I felt compelled to write this because I sometimes get the impression that people think The Fray's songs are really outdated, or even basic, and not even comparable to Coldplay or U2 (both good bands, but in my opinion, not as emotionally charged as The Fray's music). I think you have to have heard all of The Fray's songs to be able to truly appreciate them, otherwise you'd think they're defined by those two songs of theirs that were super popular on the radio ten years ago.
With that being said, I wanted to make an appreciation post featuring a list list of what are, in my opinion, their actual best songs, if only to convince the world that they are incredible songwriters. You'll notice that neither Over My Head or How to Save a Life are on here, not because they aren't good, but because everyone has definitely, at some point in their life, heard those songs... And I wanted to draw attention to some of their more under-appreciated music.
1. Enough for Now
I'm a sucker for The Fray's piano and bittersweet storytelling, and this song combines both those things perfectly.
Favorite line: “Breathing comes in pairs, except for twice. One begins and one’s goodbye.”
2. Munich
Titled after the city it was written in, this is basically a love song inspired by "the God particle" that scientists are studying in Switzerland.
Favorite line: “Back to back, hand to hand, face to face again. Lovers and enemies, then we're back to friends.”
3. Absolute
This has always been one of my favorites, I think because Isaac Slade manages to keep so much emotion in his voice as the song picks up. Also A+ for the obscure Biblical reference (below).
Favorite line: “Yet man was born to trouble like sparks fly upwards innocent.”
4. She Is
Upbeat and so catchy and yet still manages to have some of that classic The Fray longing.
Favorite line: “She is everything I need that I never knew I wanted. She is everything I want that I never knew I needed.
5. Run for Your Life
Should have been on one of the Hunger Games soundtracks honestly. Classic bittersweet storytelling and melody.
Favorite line: “We're sisters with nothing between. If one of us falls, the other will soon be following.”
6. Say When
Another perfectly executed (excuse my biased opinion) The Fray love song that deals with larger themes.
Favorite line: “Maybe God can be on both sides of a gun. Never understood why some of us never get it so good.”
7. The Wind
This was written by the band's guitarist and vocalist Joe King after his divorce and connects the idea of early Eastern explorers out at sea with the concept of heartbreak.
Favorite line: “I lost the line between sky and sea. And I'm wondering will the wind ever come for me.”
8. Look After You
This is one of their lyrically simpler songs, but the piano in it is lovely and I think it shows off Isaac Slade's voice so well. This is pretty much my favorite love song ever.
Favorite line: “My love she leans into me. This most assuredly counts, she says most assuredly."
9. 1961
Inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall, kind of as an allegory for relationships.
Favorite line: "We're broken, we're battered. We're torn up and we're shattered. We turn back on each other."
10. 48 to Go
The ultimate road trip song that also manages to be a love song.
Favorite line: “From Denver to California, by way of Mexico. We're lost and we're finding each other. And we may never see the west coast.”
Other favorite songs of theirs include: Rainy Zurich, Dead Wrong, We Build Then We Break, Oceans Away, and Keep on Wanting.
Thank you for bearing with me on this random post. :)
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