The Fray: Joe King (vocals, guitar); Isaac Slade (vocals, piano); Dave Welsh (guitar); Ben Wysocki (drum).
Recording information: Sony Studios, New York, New York; Coupe Studios, Boulder, Colorado; FTM Studios, Lakewood, Colorado; Echo Park, Bloomington, Indiana (2005).
This Denver-based quartet mixes the sweeping, arena-ready feel of Coldplay with the sincere, radio-friendly folk-rock of bands like Counting Crows for a highly melodic brand of palatable pop. The Fray's first release, HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, is packed with songs that push all the right mass-appeal buttons: sumptuous piano, swaying mid-tempo rhythms, anthemic choruses, and alternately soaring and meandering melodies sung in a high, emotive voice. Bridging stadium rock, emo, and classic rock on the order of U2, the Fray makes an assured first statement on their debut.