Title: The Script
Artist: The Script
Genre: Indie Pop
Release Date: 5th September 2008
Label: Phonogenic (Sony/BMG)
Album Review
Founding members O'Donoghue and Sheehan met in their late teens in the James's Street area of inner-city Dublin, near the Guinness brewery, gravitating to each other through a shared obsession with music, and in particular a love of American black music. Soon after they went into a songwriting and production partnership, their talent was recognized and they came to work with some of their production heroes. Soon they found their third member Glen Power, a session drummer since the age of 15 and THE SCCRIPT was born and ready. ‘The Script’ is their very first album.
Perhaps, it was not the worst decision to put their famous ‘We Cry’ at the top of the track list, so people have something familiar to start the journey with. On that song, they’re mixing up a variety of styles, the most obvious for many being Danny’s hip-hop vocals, telling the stories of three separate fates, taken from real-life. Maybe from own experiences they made. Drum parts - played with brushes - are softer and have a more jazzy feeling to them, while in the background strings provide some additional emotional accents. ‘Before The Worst’ preludes with a charmingly beautiful piano and guitar section, before fast-paced drums kick in to introduce the rhythm and again Danny’s rapping himself through the verses, while coming up with a great singing performance on the chorus surrounded by the piano and guitars. I think that’s what people will love most about this track... so much melancholy and feelings circulating there.
Strings and grand piano introduce us to ‘Talk you Down’ another faster tune in which the protagonist’s trying to rescue his relationship which he fears is short before a collapse, maybe because of mistakes he’s made in the past. Love the strings and the restrained guitars on that one. Guess ‘The Man who can’t be moved’ is another tune that is known very well by now from the radio. The balladry song is living on the striking and distinct vocal work, if you ask me. Otherwise it wouldn’t convey half the emotion it does. Hauntingly beautiful is the closing track ‘I’m yours’, realized with only a few musical means. It’s like thank you to a very special person, for being there in every step. He’s not a superman, but for her. He is and even though he’s not perfect, he’s all hers.
Yes it’s mainstream and it’s pop, but apart from many groups just delivering empty songs without soul, THE SCRIPT are a welcome diversion and have presented with their first album an overall good debut, though a think they’re still holding back and could do much better.
Tracklist
01. We Cry – 3:45
02. Before the worst – 3:23
03. Talk you down – 3:51
04. The man who can't be moved – 4:02
05. Breakeven – 4:21
06. Rusty halo – 3:35
07. The end where I begin – 3:34
08. Fall for anything – 4:33
09. If you see Kay – 3:14
10. I'm yours – 4:19
Line-up
Danny O'Donoghue - Vocals, Keys
Mark Sheehan - Guitar
Glen Power - Drums
Website
http://www.thescriptmusic.com/ie/home/ / http://www.myspace.com/thescript
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10
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