Smoke & Mirrors Reviews

[woodenshoe]

I'm dissappointed to read so many negative opinions on S&M. I guess everybody is entitled to have their own opinion about it though. I just hope people that don't know LH very well, won't rely on these reviews too much and just buy the album and enjoy the music anyway.
I know I am still going to have a ball everytime I listen to S&M :-)

[ezyeric]

Mar 2, 2010 7:42:29 GMT -5 gogonutz said:

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

This review pretty much sums up my opinion, which makes perfect sense since now I like music for instrumental reasons (especially good guitar / classic rock sound).

But I only listened to it once so far.

[disarray]

www.hofstrachronicle.com/arts-entertainment/lifehouse-brings-love-and-loss-to-new-release-1.1264748

Lifehouse brings love and loss to new release
By Matt DeMarco

Staff Writer

| Published: Thursday, March 11, 2010

Updated: Thursday, March 11, 2010

Lifehouse is reliable. In these troubled times that we live in where the likes of Gaga and Ke$ha rule the charts, it’s refreshing to see a band stay true to themselves, not waiver from the type of music they want to create, and still make a respectable album.

“Smoke and Mirrors” is Lifehouse’s fifth studio album, and it offers exactly what you’d expect from a Lifehouse album: catchy melodies, a good, country rock feel, well written, meaningful lyrics—all the makings of a good rock album.

The album has an overall feel of “love and loss,” and it works. For whatever reason, people want to hear sad music when they’re feeling sad; misery loves company, and to hear that someone else went through what you went through—the pain, the tears, the heartache, etc.—is a comforting thing to know. This isn’t a happy album, but it doesn’t need to be happy to be good.

“Smoke and Mirrors” plays like a story. In the first song, “All In,” he’s in a relationship, and he’s committed to it, despite the obstacles that they’ve gone through. By the next song, “Nerve Damage,” he’s getting tired of fighting for something that she’s not fighting for: “Life takes its toll/You push and it pulls/You’re losing control.”

When he gets to the next song, “Had Enough,” he’s already done with the relationship, done with the fighting, done being with someone who doesn’t want to be with him; “Every time I reach for you/There’s no one there to hold onto.” Whatever they had is gone, and now it’s just a matter of dealing with it, which is what most of the subsequent songs on the album delve into.

On a less interpretive note, the album is made up of really catchy songs—stuff that can easily get stuck in your head, which is a good thing. “Had Enough,” co-written by Chris Daughtry and Richard Marx and featuring Daughtry on backup vocals, was particularly good. It has a good melody, incredible harmonies, and an infectious chorus. It probably should have been the band’s first single from the album, rather than “Halfway Gone,” which is also a good song, but can’t hold a candle to “Had Enough.”

This album also features “From Where You Are,” a song that Wade wrote in 2007 and dedicated to teenagers who’ve lost their lives in automobile accidents, as well as a friend of his who died in an accident at age 16. It’s a touching song, but it lacked a little “oomph.” It was anticlimactic and didn’t have anything to keep my attention throughout the entire song.

Aside from that song and a few other blunders like “Here Tomorrow, Gone Today,” and “In Your Skin,” and the fact that “All In” sounds all too similar to Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” Lifehouse has a real gem here. This album doesn’t show them doing anything different; it’s them being true to themselves and doing what they do best—making good music.

[hurricanekick]

>.> All in does NOT sound like You belong with me gez

[gogonutz]

Not sure why In YOur Skin would be a blunder, it's probably the best written song on the album, lyrically

[KarlatheLHFan]

Wow. What an interesting mix of reviews! I laughed my ass off at the one that the guy confused htgt and ND hahahaa!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

Hahaha...nice. I read what you wrote. I added a comment too. There were a couple points he hit on the head, but then it all went sour in overgeneralzing and misinformation. Oh well.

[Yuliya]

Here's a pretty harsh and negative review: Lifehouse struggles with new album

[YesNoMaybe]

I'm dredging up another old topic again, but I can't help myself. I have to comment on this:

Mar 1, 2010 11:30:37 GMT -5 gogonutz said:

IEM Review of Smoke & Mirrors

All That I’m Asking For is a song that just blows my mind. I’m not sure what I was expecting for this song, but the anthemic build up and the comforting vocals, combined with the poetical plea in the lyrics just makes me listen. This song also has a very current feel. I can really see this on a soundtrack, or even released as a radio single. It may be the most impressive track on the album. I’m sure there are a lot of people who are missing something in it, but I believe it sounds pretty much the way it was supposed to sound. I wonder why this didn’t make the actual album.

I absolutely love this song! It indeed has this comforting feel to it. And that combined with the lyrics just make the song perfect. I think lyrically this song is better than In Your Skin (although I admit that this may have to do with the somewhat cliche theme of In Your Skin). I love the line: "In the still of your hands, anything can happen" which is a perfect description of how safe you can feel with your love.

I don't know, I think I'm just drooling over that one part of the sentence: "In the still of your hands". I just find it sooo beautiful.

[lh778]

Wow, what a chump! Seriously?? I want to strangle this guy! Who the heck does he think he is? He obviously knows nothing about their previous albums besides their singles and should have no say in writing a review about their newest album. I would really prefer to sweep kick him in the ankles!

[Rein]

It's good that not everyone has the same opinion (that would be boring). Sometimes it's good to hear constructive criticism. If this criticism is justified, you can even learn something about this!
But when big mistakes are made in a review, you can't take such a review seriously!
In my view, S&M is a fantastic album (also for not-LH fans).
With many really great songs! I feel even butterflies when I listen to S&M. LOL

Let go let it be!