Smoke & Mirrors Reviews

[City]

billboard

new album is another solid set of no-frills, meat-and-potatoes rock, with plenty of catchy melodies, surging guitars and midtempo grooves...Wade and his bandmates have figured out what works, and their formula delivers with remarkable consistency

^short decent review.

----------------------------

sputnikmusic

You might as well just listen to it now before you become really sick of it when it is overplayed in the near future.

^this review agrees with me that Wrecking ball is the best song.

[disarray]

I am not going to let these people get to me! I'm not!

newyork.metromix.com/music/cd_review/lifehouse-smoke-and-mirrors/1793525/content


Critic's Rating: 2 stars

Release date: March 2, 2010
Record label: Geffen
Official Web site: www.lifehousemusic.com/

The buzz: The fifth album from the platinum-selling California rockers features guest vocals by Chris Daughtry and production by Kevin “Let It Rock” Rudolf. It’s also their first studio effort to feature longtime touring guitarist Ben Carey as an official fourth member of the band. Will the addition of a full-time second guitarist beef up Lifehouse’s grungy yet hyper-polished modern rock sound?

The verdict: Nope, this is still classic Lifehouse—a tepid fusion of post-grunge rock and adult contemporary pop. Even when the band branches out, as they do on the twangy title track or the stompy electro-rock of “Here Tomorrow Gone Today,” frontman Jason Wade remains such an uninspired songwriter that the stylistic shakeups don’t make much impact. The band’s bread-and-butter remains breezy, vaguely anthemic rockers like lead single “Halfway Gone” and its likely follow-up, a painfully clichéd love song called “Falling In” whose chiming guitars and blandly reassuring chorus (“Don’t be scared, it’s only love that we’re falling in”) is coming soon to a CW teen drama near you. Overall, this is a slight improvement on 2007’s one-note “Who We Are,” but still, this sounds like a band whose moment has long since passed.

Did you know? One of the tracks included here, “From Where You Are,” was originally written for an Allstate TV ad campaign to promote safer teen driving.

[love4andrea]

An uninspired songwriter? They obviously haven't heard Near Life Experience

[gogonutz]

While I disagree, I can see why the reviewer said that. On No Name Face & Stanley Climbfall, Jason's songwriting was more elaborate, when it comes to the lyrics especially. His use of metaphors and songs with double meanings and clever word plays was very impressive. Since the move from Dreamworks to Interscope/Geffen (starting with the self-titled), his lyrics have been startin to use more clichés and are not always as open to interpretation anymore. You still see glimpses of it as sometimes there are a couple songs that have that same deeper sense, lyrically.

I don't think this is necessarily uninspiredness (even though Jason himself hinted that he needed new sparks and therefore started co-writing with others) but I think it's just a change of his views, experience, etc. Jason's growing up and seeing different things in different lights. And also they started writing/playing more love-inspired songs, and there just are so many songs out there that every nitwit can call a love song a cliché, cause basically it always is, because 95% of the songs written are love inspired songs. But a reviewer should be able to see past that in my eyes.

On the other hand, you could also see this as criticism on his co-writers, as they are part of the songwriting for this album.
So while I think the reviewer makes the wrong statement, I can see where it comes from, I guess.

[love4andrea]

Mar 1, 2010 22:59:43 GMT -5 gogonutz said:

While I disagree, I can see why the reviewer said that. On No Name Face & Stanley Climbfall, Jason's songwriting was more elaborate, when it comes to the lyrics especially. His use of metaphors and songs with double meanings and clever word plays was very impressive. Since the move from Dreamworks to Interscope/Geffen (starting with the self-titled), his lyrics have been startin to use more clichés and are not always as open to interpretation anymore. You still see glimpses of it as sometimes there are a couple songs that have that same deeper sense, lyrically.

I don't think this is necessarily uninspiredness (even though Jason himself hinted that he needed new sparks and therefore started co-writing with others) but I think it's just a change of his views, experience, etc. Jason's growing up and seeing different things in different lights. And also they started writing/playing more love-inspired songs, and there just are so many songs out there that every nitwit can call a love song a cliché, cause basically it always is, because 95% of the songs written are love inspired songs. But a reviewer should be able to see past that in my eyes.

On the other hand, you could also see this as criticism on his co-writers, as they are part of the songwriting for this album.
So while I think the reviewer makes the wrong statement, I can see where it comes from, I guess.

I can agree with that, pretty much spot-on. Near life experience brings back some of his old songwriting, I think

[disarray]

While I agree that the lyrics lately are somewhat shallow (and perhaps even uninspired) I don't think that necessarily means a song is "bad". Is Taylor Swift's music lyrically brilliant? I would say not, but she dominates the charts and has swept up awards across the board.

Regardless of lyrical content, music can alter your mood, give you energy, make you smile, and sometimes cry. All In puts me in a state of euphoria -- not from the lyrics, but from the energy of the music and fierce vocals.

I'm beginning to believe that some critics will dislike Lifehouse no matter what they do. One thing is certain -- SaM deserves more than 2 stars. There's nothing wrong with creating music that people actually want to hear on the radio.

[gogonutz]

Oh no, there's nothing wrong with that, it's just a sign that different people put accents on different things. That's why I said that reviewers should be able to see past it. That's what I have with Falling In, I really like that song, and it works because of its simplicity, not despite of. The Beatles wrote a million 'simple songs' but everyone loves them. Not all of McCartney's (not even Lennon's) lyrics are very inspiring in that sense, but they just really work with the song and still get a message or connection across. And while I don't want to compare Lifehouse to the Beatles, the same concept applies, I believe.

[laraann]

Call me crazy, but I love every minute of it. No, its not anything we've heard before, and I personally take that as a GOOD thing. Yes, I would still buy it if it was the same stuff, but I guess I feel like it should be different, cause they're different people. its been what, 10 years since the first album, more since the first songs were written. They are where they are, the writing reflects it, and I'm thrilled. like, SUPER thrilled. really, LOVING IT, ALL of it, LOTS. I'm a geek!!!

[KarlatheLHFan]

I agree, LARA!!! It's amazing, and I really think that we shouldn't go in expecting another nnf scf, lh or wwa. they're evolving, and I, for one, am enjoying every bit of it!

[gogonutz]

This one's kind of neutral, but at least the reviewer researched what he had to review. And I can't disagree on everything that they say here.

Ultimate Guitar

Sound: Although there has been chatter that Lifehouse’s latest album Smoke & Mirrors would possibly delve into more of a classic rock sound, the new material is still fodder – although pleasant fodder – for pop radio stations. That’s not to say that the Los Angeles quartet can’t write a catchy tune because they very much can. The issue is that many of the tracks on Smoke & Mirrors do have a similar arrangement (and melody at times) to the past hit singles “You and Me” and “First Time.” Anyone looking for a huge stretch will likely be disappointed, but the band should still find at least a few of the tracks placing impressive ranks on the Billboard charts.

The album starts out very much in the vein of “First Time” with the track “All In,” an up-tempo pop offering with an instantly hummable chorus. “Halfway Gone” is a bit more laid-back in its approach, but it still has enough hooks and infectious backing “whoas” in the chorus to set it apart. Smoke & Mirrors finds a nice balance between feel-good pop rock and straightforward ballad work, which again, makes sense for a band that has found a comfortable niche in the music industry.

There is a bit of teasing in the sense that there are moments that you think Lifehouse is going to deliver something insanely out of the ordinary. The band does have its moments, but they tend to be fleeting. “Nerve Damage” stands out as being one of the most “adventurous” musical ventures – at least in terms of Lifehouse. Beginning with nothing but vocals and a guitar with a fairly clean tone, you almost get the sense this is going to be an all-out ballad. When the chorus approaches, however, the song does take a turn for a more rock-oriented sound, and there’s even a slightly bluesy solo within the track. By far the most interesting track is “Here Tomorrow,” which tweaks the vocals and even includes an effect that sounds akin to a sitar. Both “Nerve Damage” and “Here Tomorrow” are satisfying offerings, and Lifehouse would be doing itself a favor by tackling more unique arrangements. // 6

Lyrics and Singing: The band’s fifth album contains most of the same themes that we’ve heard on past recordings, with relationships and love definitely taking the central focus. There is a common approach to most of the songs, which certainly should appeal to the specific fan base the band has already accrued over the years. Whether it’s about general reflection on a relationship in peril like in the title track (“Now the days roll hard and the nights move fast; They say be careful what you wish; But having everything means nothing to me now; What we had, everything I miss”) or, well, even more heartache in “By Your Side” (“I'll be by your side, when all hope has died; I will still be around oh and I, I'm still on your side”), Lifehouse has the market cornered on love-related material. // 7

Impression: Smoke & Mirrors is a likeable album, but it sounds like so much of what we already hear on pop rock radio. You could certainly draw comparisons to David Cook or Daughtry, and the latter artist actually makes a guest appearance on the track “Had Enough.” If you’ve been a fan of Lifehouse’s past Billboard hits, you’ll easily find Smoke & Mirrors a perfect next step for the band. At times the album is simply just too predictable, however, and you leave wishing that the band would take a few more chances. // 6

[gogonutz]

they get some of the details wrong, but they seem pretty fair for the most part

Hollywood Jesus

Lifehouse
Smoke and Mirrors
Back again and in a big way
Nate Watts | 03/02/10 | Music, Reviews |
No strangers to putting out big hits, Lifehouse continues a steady climb that started over ten years ago with their new album and the single, “Halfway Gone.” In 2000, debut album No Name Face featured a little song called “Hanging By a Moment,” which helped them first catch the world’s attention and was the most listened to song of 2001. In the three albums since then, Lifehouse has had pretty decent success with hits like “Spin,” “You and Me,” and most recently, “Broken,” but I believe Smoke and Mirrors will be the album to bring them back into the public’s eye more than ever before.

Lead singer, Jason Wade has always been the most integral part in the success of his band, and his songwriting and passion for music has kept them going strong since the early days. The son of two missionaries, the former worship leader of Vineyard Church in Malibu, first started the band Blyss back in 1996. With the success of “Hanging By A Moment,” Lifehouse was given new birth and a huge career to follow.

The newest album, is the band’s most accessible release to date. Struggling to regain the success of their first album, Smoke and Mirrors finally shows Wade and Co. accepting who they are and having a great time with it. The title refers to the two sides to the album which include the more radio-friendly side, as well as the harder rocking live band they have always been. The CD seesaws with ease between the two, creating such a solid effort, and even allows some exploration into new territory.

The title track channels old-school Tom Petty in his “Running Down a Dream” phase, and it’s pulled off quite well. Songs like “Nerve Damage” start off well polished and pretty, but soon switch pace to crunching guitars and staccato beats on the chorus. The CD finds a happy medium between the all out rock of 2003’s Stanley Climfall, and mellow groove of the 2005’s self-titled album.

Wade enlists the help of several very surprising acts on his latest. Singer/Producer, Kevin Rudolf helped create the huge first single “Halfway Gone,” as well as love song, “Falling In.” If you are listening to the CD and hear another familiar voice, don’t be surprised to find out American Idol success, Chris Daughtry lent songwriting credits and background vocals to the sure-to-be-a-hit, “Had Enough.” A friendship that began on the road touring, turns into a great song about letting go and moving on.

Be sure to pick up the deluxe edition of this CD so you don’t miss out on four bonus tracks that really round out the album. Included is the song, “Near Life Experience,” which features Wade doing his best Bob Dylan impression and lyrics like “Make this go away, I’m begging please. There’s little life left here for me to bleed. Is this where I end, or is this where we begin?” Also making an appearance is a live in studio version of one of their most powerful songs they’ve ever recorded, “Everything,” from their first album. I love the song’s honesty and am glad they rerecorded it as an ode to where and why they first got started.

Try This Track: “It Is What It Is”

Copyright © 2010 Hollywood Jesus. All rights reserved

[cristinast85]

[disarray]

www.thedeadbolt.com/news/107187/lifehouse_smoke_and_mirrors_cdreview.php

The fifth Lifehouse album, Smoke & Mirrors, went wide on Tuesday, March 2 to continue the evolution of a band that very well could have faded into musical history in 2001 after the release of their gargantuan hit, "Hanging by a Moment". Ten years after the debut Lifehouse album, No Name Face, Smoke & Mirrors certainly proves that talent and staying power are organically connected.

Although Lifehouse could have easily gone the way of a one hit wonder, the fact that Lifehouse has released their fifth studio album says a lot about the members of Lifehouse who are now ten years older. Especially lead singer/guitarist Jason Wade and drummer Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. who are the only two remaining Lifehouse band members from the debut days of No Name Face.

Although Lifehouse found chart success with their self titled third album in 2004 and Who We Are in 2007, it was a near impossibility that Lifehouse could top the popularity of No Name Face and the movement of "Hanging by a Moment". A decade later, you have to remember that "Hanging by a Moment" was voted the #1 track of the year by Billboard when the song didn't even reach #1 on the charts. How do you top that? In most cases within the numbers game of music, bands can't. But over four albums throughout a decade, Lifehouse has found a way to survive on the charts and via soundtracks while producing million selling releases. The fact that the band is still with DreamWorks/Geffen is a testament to the success in the years post No Name Face.

Although Lifehouse reached the top of the music mountain early in their existence, surviving success to have a career in the industry was undoubtedly a much more challenging uphill climb than being on top at twenty years of age. Now, with the twelve track Smoke & Mirrors out to fans (also available as a Deluxe Edition with five bonus tracks), the sound of Lifehouse is much more mature, balanced, and powerful yet experimental within the parameters of a commercial format that has always worked for the band.

Lifehouse fans will be happy to know that Smoke & Mirrors is ripe with potential hits, from the explosively powerful "All In" and destructively awesome "Wrecking Ball" to the highly radio viable "Falling In" and the fluid, more dynamic "Nerve Damage" to the slow and delicately grounded "It Is What It Is". Interestingly, "Had Enough" is a good marker for the quality of Smoke & Mirrors since it features Chris Daughtry, whose enjoyed similar commercial success on his rise to the top, and was penned by Jason Wade, Daughtry, and veteran singer/songwriter/producer, Richard Marx who knows a thing or two about making huge commercial hits.

In stepping back to look at the career trajectory of the band, Smoke & Mirrors certainly proves that Lifehouse is no longer simply hanging by a moment after five albums.

[disarray]

Chris Daughtry and even his wife, Deanna, are tweeting a lot about how great S&M is. I'm really happy those guys are friends. Daughtry has a huge fan base -- it can only help LH!

Chris posted a link to that deadbolt review on his twitter.

Here are a few more I found this morning:

www.daily49er.com/diversions/lifehouse-succeeds-with-smoke-and-mirrors-1.2178252

Lifehouse succeeds with ‘Smoke and Mirrors’
By Kim Morgan

Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Updated: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Lifehouse wove together a new album, “Smoke and Mirrors,” a compilation that shows fans the band they love with a new twist.

The Los Angeles-based band’s fifth full-length album, which came out on Tuesday, contains tunes reminiscent of their past albums such as the debut album, “No Name Face.” (2000) However, “Smoke and Mirrors” introduces a darker side to Lifehouse that seldom peeked out in the past.

Jason Wade stays consistent with his smooth vocals throughout the album. Ricky Woolstenhulme Jr. is brilliant on the drums, and guitarist Ben Carey and bassist Bryce Soderberg bring the catchy harmonies.

The album starts with a familiar tune in “All In,” a song that sounds similar in music and lyrics to the band’s hit “Hanging by a Moment.” “All In” captures listeners and draws them in to the rest of the album, especially with its romantic lyrics “And now I’m calling, calling out your name/Even if I lose the game, I’m all in.”

The album then jumps into an entirely unique song, “Nerve Damage,” a moody and slightly grungy tune with almost disturbing lyrics for an upbeat alternative band. Wade sings, “New circus freak with black eyes that speak/Life takes its toll, you push and it pulls/You’re losing control.”

In fact, the band frequently experiments its tempormental side in “Smoke and Mirrors.” Piano chords evoke sadness in “It Is What It Is.”

However, Lifehouse does have happier tracks. The song title, “Falling In” may evoke gloom, but Wade has a different agenda. The lyrics express the wonder of being in love: “Every time I see your face, my heart takes off on a high speed chase/Now don’t be scared; it’s only love that we’re falling in.”

The title track, “Smoke and Mirrors,” concludes with a powerful message about never giving up even when times are tough.

What makes Lifehouse talented is their ability to make songs sound bright and upbeat even with negatively-toned lyrics. In “Had Enough,” the band reverts to their classic mix of electric and acoustic guitar strums in intense octaves.

The album sends out a variety of messages that call out to listeners who are in simliar situations.

Take “Halfway Gone,” for example, the first single of the album. It combines the band’s trademark romantic lyrics with new emotions of feeling lost, all encompassed by music that sounds like the song is taking a journey to another dimension.

“Smoke and Mirrors” is a milestone for Lifehouse, a band that has made hit songs for a decade. Their previous album “Who We Are” was well received when it was released in 2007, but songs in the latest album will surely popularize soon enough.

Throughout the entire album, Lifehouse stays true to their style of music and songwriting, but also tries new things — elements that work harmoniously in “Smoke and Mirrors.”

www.thedaonline.com/a-e/undergroundsound-march-4-2010-1.1221374

Lifehouse
"Smoke and Mirrors"
Grade: B

Alternative rock band Lifehouse is back with its latest album "Smoke and Mirrors."

Although listeners are probably most familiar with the band’s hits released in the early 2000s like "Hanging By A Moment" and "You and Me," the new album offers more than sappy love songs.

The first track "All In" proves the band is experimenting with new sounds and is one of the catchiest songs the album has to offer. The song shows off the band’s harder rock elements, but adds playful back beats to create the perfect hit for mainstream radio-play.

Just how much the band has evolved is most evident in the song "Nerve Damage." The song is a complete turnaround in comparison to Lifehouse’s past efforts and is an emo/grunge tune about having a meltdown and losing control.

Despite these changes, the band’s trademark, the raspy voice of lead singer Jason Wade, is still instantly recognizable, particularly in "Falling In," which resembles the band’s earlier work.

It is obvious Lifehouse is attempting to change its sound to appeal to rock-music lovers instead of just teenage girls and some may not appreciate the band’s new Daughtry-like sound.

However, the sound is for the better and has the capability to appeal to a broader audience than it did before and is sure to get mainstream attention.

www.cornellsun.com/section/arts/content/2010/03/04/test-spin-lighthouse#comment-30018

Since their last album, 2007’s Who We Are, Lifehouse has continued to change what defines them as a band. In their newest release Smoke & Mirrors, the group transcends their 90s-00s sound for a more eclectic, something-for-everyone album. With their single “Halfway Gone,” released in October as a radio-friendly track, the rest of the album is just as catchy. Reminiscent of their old albums, “Halfway Gone” becomes the transition track into their new sound compared to albums such as 2000’s debut No Name Face and 2002’s Stanley Climbfall. Since completing their last album, Lifehouse fans were forced to wait three years for the band’s fifth album release in their 10-year history.

“We toured for over a year before we started making this record,” said singer and guitarist Jason Wade. “With the new album we really wanted to capture what we were doing on the road but halfway through recording, it was apparent we hadn’t focused enough on the equally important radio side. It finally dawned on us to just do both.”

During the last decade, original members Jason Wade and drummer Ricky Woolstenhulme Jr. have continued their dynamic and constantly evolving style of pop rock to the air waves. Newer members Bryce Soderberg (bassist) and new member Ben Carey have added to that style.The biggest surprise of Mirrors is “Here Tomorrow Gone Today,” which combines a danceable beat to Jason Wade’s rocker voice. “Wrecking Ball” is also the first time bassist Bryce Soderberg sings lead vocal in a song and the results are amazing. Chris Daughtry also makes an appearance on the track “Wrecking Ball,” which perfectly combines the two styles of rock into an incredible sound. However, the most significant track is “It Is What It Is,” which Wade describes as “neither a love nor break-up song.” And as Wade sings “You said it/I get it/I guess it is what it is,” its clear that what it is, is one of their best albums.

A

She gave it an A, so I was kind when I commented on the mistakes made, lol.

[gogonutz]

Thank you for posting those!