How to Save a Life
Studio album by
The Fray
ReleasedSeptember 13, 2005 (2005-09-13)
Recorded2005
StudioEcho Park Studios (Bloomington, Indiana); Sony Music Studios (New York City, New York); Coupe Studios (Boulder, Colorado); FTM Studios (Lakewood, Colorado).
GenreAlternative rock, pop rock
Length45:56
LabelEpic
ProducerAaron Johnson, Mike Flynn
The Fray chronology
Reason EP
(2003) 		How to Save a Life
(2005) 		Live at the Electric Factory: Bootleg No. 1
(2006)
Singles from How to Save a Life
  1. "Over My Head (Cable Car)"
    Released: October 7, 2005
  2. "How to Save a Life"
    Released: March 26, 2006
  3. "Look After You"
    Released: February 6, 2007
  4. "All at Once"
    Released: June 2007

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 (Cable Car)" and "How to Save a Life" helped the album become a commercial success and brought the band mainstream popularity.[1]

Critical reception to the album was mixed, with some critics complimenting its similarities in style to British piano-driven bands like Keane and Coldplay, but in turn disparaging its unoriginality and derivation, as well as schmaltzy and self-pitying lyrics. 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 until Eminem's Recovery (2010), breaking the record held previously by Coldplay's X&Y (2005).[2][3][4] It was ranked #21 on Billboard's list of the Best Digital Albums of the Decade.[5]

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.[6] Denver alternative newsweekly Westword named the band "Best New Band" in 2004, and this prompted Epic Records A&R man Mike Flynn to sign the band to a recording contract on December 17, 2004.[7] The album was recorded over six weeks in Echo Park Studios in Bloomington, Indiana, and was produced by Aaron Johnson and Mike Flynn.[8] 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

Original release

All tracks are written by Isaac Slade and Joe King, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She Is" 3:56
2."Over My Head (Cable Car)" 3:58
3."How to Save a Life" 4:23
4."All at Once"Slade, King, Aaron Johnson3:48
5."Fall Away"Slade, King, Dan Battenhouse4:23
6."Heaven Forbid" 3:59
7."Look After You" 4:28
8."Hundred"Slade, Monica Conway4:13
9."Vienna"Slade, King, Battenhouse3:51
10."Dead Wrong"Slade, King, Mike Flynn3:05
11."Little House" 2:30
12."Trust Me" 3:22
Total length:45:56

Bonus track

In later editions, an extra track was added:

  2. "Unsaid" – 3:05

Bonus CD

  2. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" (Live at the Gothic (May 20, 2005))
  3. "How to Save a Life" (Live for MTV.com & VH1.com (July 14, 2005))
  4. "Look After You" (Live at Red Rocks (08.12.2005))
  5. "Heaven Forbid" (Live at Red Rocks (08.12.2005))

Bonus DVD

  1. How to Save a Life (The Story)
  2. On The Road 2006 (Documentary)
  3. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" (Music Video)
  4. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" (Making the video)

Personnel

The Fray

Additional musicians

Production

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 (Cable Car)" 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.[9] The song remains the band's best known and most successful song to date.

Singles

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
Blender[17]
Entertainment.ie[18]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[19]
HM Magazine[20]
Rolling Stone[21]
Stylus MagazineD[22]

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 (whose music – although classified as alternative – is driven by the piano).[21][23]

AllMusic, whilst giving the album a modestly positive review, stated that the band "lacked originality" and the album itself lacked any "inspiration and excitement".[16] 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."[22] Rolling Stone and Blender echoed many of these statements, both giving the album three stars out of five.[17][21]

Awards and nominations

Samples

"How to Save a Life"
Sample of "How to Save a Life"
"Over My Head (Cable Car)"
Sample of "Over My Head (Cable Car)"
Problems playing these files? See media help.

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[48] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[49] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[50] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[52] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "The Fray Biography". Activemusician.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  2. ^ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eminem-sets-new-record-with-one-million-in-digital-albums-sales-of-his-2010-album-recovery-125028409.html
  3. ^ "The Fray: 'How To Save A Life' Now The Biggest Selling Digital Album Of All Time!". Sony BMG. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009.
  4. ^ "The digital success of The Fray (3:38)". Reuters.
  5. ^ "Billboard – Music Charts, Music News, Artist Photo Gallery & Free Video". Billboard.
  6. ^ Smith, Dane (March 30, 2006). "The Fray Live the High "Life"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 15, 2006.
  7. ^ The Ear (May 12, 2006). "Completely Frayed". Longmont Daily Times-Call.
  8. ^ "The Fray Trivia & Quotes". TV.com. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  9. ^ "The Fray Biography". Starpulse.com. February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  10. ^ "Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. October 22, 2005.
  11. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. October 7, 2006.
  12. ^ "Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. October 7, 2006.
  13. ^ "First half sales: Downloads up; CDs, revenues down". USA Today. July 13, 2006. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007.
  14. ^ "The Fray – How to Save a Life: Charts". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Last accessed May 12, 2007
  15. ^ "The Fray – their story to date". Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. Last accessed May 12, 2007
  16. ^ a b Sendra, Tim. "How to Save a Life – The Fray". Last accessed October 23, 2006
  17. ^ a b Hunter, James (November 2005). "Review: The Fray – How to Save a Life". Blender. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  18. ^ "The Fray – How to Save a Life". Entertainment.ie. March 13, 2007.
  19. ^ Jason Adams (September 9, 2005). "How to Save a Life Review". Entertainment Weekly.
  20. ^ Callaway, Chris (January–February 2007). "The Fray How to Save a Life". HM Magazine (123): 64. ISSN 1066-6923.
  21. ^ a b c "Review: The Fray – How to Save a Life". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2005. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  22. ^ a b Dom Passantino (February 14, 2006). "The Fray – How to Save a Life – Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  23. ^ Gardner, Elysa (July 12, 2006). "Debut 'How to Save a Life' takes on a life of its own". USA Today.
  24. ^ a b "Fray Awards & Features". Metrolyrics.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2012.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "49th Grammy Awards – 2007". Rock on the Net. Last accessed February 22, 2007.
  26. ^ "Australiancharts.com – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  27. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Fray – How to Save a Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  28. ^ "The Fray Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Fray – How to Save a Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  30. ^ "Lescharts.com – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Fray – How to Save a Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  32. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Fray". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  33. ^ "Italiancharts.com – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  34. ^ "Charts.nz – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  36. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  37. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  38. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  39. ^ "The Fray Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  40. ^ "The Fray Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  41. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  42. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  43. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  44. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  45. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  46. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  47. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  48. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  49. ^ "Canadian album certifications – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Music Canada. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  50. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  51. ^ "British album certifications – The Fray – How to Save a Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  52. ^ "American album certifications – The Fray – How to Save a Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 27, 2021.

External links

The Fray
Authority control databases
Categories