 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Fray
- By The Fray
- Genre: Adult Contemporary
Common Sense Media says
Radio-friendly piano pop CD is clean but obscure.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the worst these meditative lyrics will do is bore kids who lack the patience to decipher their understated messages about conflicted emotions and troubled relationships.
What's the story?
Power piano-pop band The Fray is back with its self-titled, sophomore album, recapitulating the process that made its first record, How to Save a Life, such a huge hit: the group once again used the TV show Grey's Anatomy to unveil the new album's first single, "You Found Me." Grey's adult-alternative audience is appropriate for both the show and this CD, since each revolves largely around mature, relationship-based themes. The Fray doesn't use graphic language or references to recount these themes, but the group's lyrics remain cryptically introspective: "Later on if it turns to chaos / Hurricane coming all around us / See the crack, pull it back from the window / You stay low, say when." The record wraps up with four live tracks, one of which is an acoustic version of their smash single, "How to Save a Life."
Is it any good?
The best things about the band's first CD -- a strong piano presence and singer Isaac Slade's lovely high notes -- surface on the second album (see the track "Ungodly Hour" for a particularly good example). Otherwise, The Fray's music still suffers from monotony, with some of the songs sounding so similar that it's hard to tell them apart. While this approach doesn't lend itself to critical greatness, it does make for several hit songs when you land a chart-topper (i.e., "How to Save a Life" from the first album) and continue to repeat the sound over and over. To that end, kids are sure to hear plenty more songs from The Fray flooding the airwaves; whether they'll actually pay attention to the tunes' pensive lyrics is another matter.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the pros and cons of linking music to other forms of media, like television and movies. Was associating its music with Grey's Anatomy a good or bad move for the band, and why? Does it enhance or detract from the music itself?
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AGE
awesome cd, ages 10+
it's an awesome album and maybe even the fray's best but my only concern is where he talks about god smoking a cigarette
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AGE
Best band ever!
Best band in the universe! My favorite song is "Never Say Never" I've listened to it like a gazillion times, it's SO good!
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Kid, 10 years old
March 7, 2010
AGE
Common sense media is a monster!
Nothing bad.
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AGE
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Anyone who names there album the fray when there band name is the fray has gotta suck
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AGE
I'm 14 and I have listened to The Fray for 2 years now and I love them. The music helps me get through my emotional problems, and I like finding the story inside the music. Nothing bad that kids should be shielded from, but sometimes the lyrics are complicated.
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AGE
awesome
love. the. band.
i mean, they are probably going to stick around for a couple more years. (shudder) unlike...justin bieber (O.o) n e ways, this is perfect for tweens. :P
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| Artist: | The Fray |
| Release date: | February 3, 2009 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Genre: | Adult Contemporary |
| Parental advisory: | No |
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