How to Save a Life is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The Fray. Released on September 13, 2005 through Epic Records, the record charted in the top 15 on the Billboard 200 and was a top ten hit in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. The first two singles from the album, "Over My Head " and "How to Save a Life" helped the album become a commercial success and brought the band mainstream popularity. Critical reception to the album was mixed. The piano-rock style of the album drew comparisons with British piano-driven bands like Keane and Coldplay. The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA, and was also certified platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and in the UK. The album went on to become the best-selling digital album of all time, breaking the record held previously by Coldplay's X&Y. It was ranked #21 on Billboard's list of the Best Digital Albums of the Decade.
Background
After independently releasing two EPs, The Fray were looking for a record company to release a full-length album. The band released their song "Cable Car" to Denver radio station KTCL, and the song saw significant airplay. Denver alternative newsweeklyWestword named the band "Best New Band" in 2004, and this prompted Epic Records A&R man Daniel Davis to sign the band to a recording contract on December 17, 2004. The album was recorded over six weeks in Echo Park Studios in Bloomington, Indiana, and was produced by Aaron Johnson and Mike Flynn. Former bass guitar player Dan Battenhouse left the band a year before entering the studio, Jake Smith, former lead singer and guitarist of the band The Mysteries of Life, took over bass guitar duties.
Track listing
In later editions, an extra track was added:
"Unsaid" – 3:05
;Bonus CD:
"Over My Head "
"How to Save a Life"
"Look After You"
"Heaven Forbid"
;Bonus DVD:
How to Save a Life
On The Road 2006
"Over My Head "
"Over My Head "
Personnel
;The Fray
Isaac Slade – lead vocals, piano
Dave Welsh – lead guitar
Joe King – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Heaven Forbid"
Ben Wysocki – drums, percussion
;Additional musicians
David Campbell – string arrangements
Jake Smith – bass guitar
Release
The album was released on September 13, 2005 by Epic Records. While the album did not make a splash commercially or critically initially, the success of "Over My Head " propelled the album from the Top Heatseekers chart to the top 20 of The Billboard 200 chart. The release of the second single, "How to Save a Life", a world-wide smash, helped the album enter the top 5 in several charts across the world, and brought The Fray mainstream popularity. The song remains the band's best known and most successful song to date.
Singles
"Over My Head " was released as the first single from the album, and it became a top 40 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in late 2005. It lasted three weeks on the chart and peaked at position #37. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. On the BillboardAdult Top 40 chart, the single reached the #2 position. Internationally, the song was a Top 25 hit in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. The song was the fifth-most downloaded single of 2006.
"How to Save a Life" was released as the second single from the album. The song reached the top three of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, surpassing the peak position of "Over My Head ". It became the joint sixth longest charting single of all time on the Billboard Hot 100, tying with Santana's "Smooth", at 58 consecutive weeks. The song also topped the Adult Top 40 chart for 15 consecutive weeks. "How to Save a Life" became a major hit internationally, topping the singles chart in Ireland, Spain and Canada. The song also charted in the top five in Australia, Italy, Sweden and in the UK Singles Chart.
"Look After You" was released as the band's third single; the song peaked at position 59 in the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first single to miss the Top 40. The song peaked at #49 on Billboard Pop 100 and at #12 on the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks.
"All at Once" was released as the fourth and final single from the album. It peaked at #20 on the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart.
Critical reception
Overall, critical reception for the album was mixed. The piano-oriented sound of the album drew comparisons with British piano-rock band Keane, and Coldplay. AllMusic, whilst giving the album a modestly positive review, stated that the band "lacked originality" and the album itself lacked any "inspiration and excitement". Stylus Magazine gave the album a negative review, stating "The Fray, as a rule, are moribund, emotionally strained, uninvolving, and have a tendency to sound like The Cranberries fronted by a man." Rolling Stone and Blender echoed many of these statements, both giving the album three stars out of five. Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album a glowing review, stating "How to Save a Life is nearly perfect. Nearly every song's message contains key values and life' lessons."
Charts
Awards and nominations
The album won all three awards in the digital category at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards: Digital Album of the Year, Digital Album Artist of the Year and Digital Songs Artist of the Year while the band was nominated for New Artist of the Year.
