Framing Hanley - A Promise to Burn
Rating
RIYL
Sick PuppiesBreaking Benjamin
Three Days Grace
Release Date
05/25/2010
Label
Silent (Soh)Tracklist
1. Intro2. The Promise
3. Wake Up
4. Bittersweet Sundown
5. WarZone
6. You Stupid Girl
7. Weight of the World
8. Fool with Dreams
9. Back to Go Again
10. Playing with Fire
11. Palace of Words
12. Photographs & Gasoline
13. The Burn
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When the label “mainstream rock” is uttered, many connotations come to mind. For example, a recycled sound, a musical approach featuring one too many power chords, subpar lyrics, and cookie-cutter song structures are all commonly associated with the genre that has been known primarily for Nickleback and Breaking Benjamin singles for the past decade. Regrettably, Framing Hanley is not the band to break free of these stereotypes. In spite of this, and due to the memorable melodies featured on A Promise to Burn, Framing Hanley have still released an above average record when compared to the rest of what mainstream rock has to offer.
After a hushed introduction, Framing Hanley’s second full length album begins with “The Promise,” one of the album’s standout tracks. Before I proceed any further, by “standout” I mean one of the album’s more memorable songs. I want to reiterate that, as a whole, Framing Hanley is not performing music steeped in originality. Yet, “The Promise” features an athemic chorus along with driving guitars and a lingering string section proving that a strong arrangement can conquer originality on occasion.
This theory gains reinforcement repeatedly over the course of A Promise to Burn as is evident in songs “Bittersweet Sundown” and “Fool With Dreams.” Both songs demonstrate that Framing Hanley has mastered the art of constructing an irresistible chorus capable of lodging itself into a listener’s cranium for hours and hours after concluding a listen.
“WarZone,” despite the cliché title one has come to expect from a mainstream rock record, continues the album’s rather smooth flow and is undeniably catchy. A lively bass line dances around the song’s verses as the instrumentation flows into an extremely radio-friendly, yet rocking chorus which sheds lyrics about personal conflict when vocalist Kenneth Nixon sings, “My life is a warzone, torn between what’s right and wrong…” Upon first listen, if there was any song that screamed hit potential on an album saturated with potential hits, “WarZone” would be the obvious choice.
Criticism beyond the fact that most of the tunes on this album present themselves as completely unoriginal can be attributed to the suspect inclusion of one song and an unnecessary addition to another. First, while being competent musically, “You” spends too much time wallowing in lyrical melodrama and thus detracts from the song’s initial appeal. Second, while I can appreciate the attempt to add an additional two rather interesting minutes to the end of “Photographs and Gasoline,” the execution of such an inclusion simply ends up being awkward and excessive. Luckily, both cases serve only as minor blemishes on an otherwise relatively consistent release.
While Framing Hanley is not the savior of an undoubtedly stagnant and predictable mainstream rock genre, they share a few glimpses of genuine originality on A Promise to Burn. Rather than break free of the shackles mainstream rock has pressured them to bear, Framing Hanley has offered an alternative escape from setback by releasing an album teeming with addicting melodies that will make fans - both in the present and the future - return for more. A Promise to Burn may not be the solution to overcoming redundant mainstream rock, but it does seem to be forging a promising path for Framing Hanley and their future.
--Josh Velliquette
Comments
Illinois
i haven't liked this band since they covered lollipop. actually, i don't like any band that covers a recent radio single and get picked up by a label for it.
that aside, this band is decent i suppose. they aren't amazing, but they're better than some of the other bands that mainstream rock has to offer.
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Infinitely Inwards
mmm...mainstream rock. Isn't TDG bad enough.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
Dubuque
I liked their cover of "Lollipop" even more than the original, but I gave this disc a full listen and in my opinion, the band won't live up to the hype. There isn't anything memorable on this disc.
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New York
Fair enough. I agree they won't live up the hype, yet I would never underestimate fans of modern mainstream rock. What's on the radio = Gold. Furthermore, while there are a few catchy numbers on here, I haven't gone back to listen to the album in quite awhile, so take that for what it's worth.
"If this is the state of my art,
Then I secede."
Cincinnati
Still not sure I would consider this band "mainstream" yet. Yeah they had the "lollipop" cover, but I bet you a good percentage of radio listeners couldn't tell you the song was from Framing Hanley, let alone would they own their cd.
Good to see it received a reasonable rating here though...
Dubuque
Yeah, their main hit is that cover. That's it.
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New York
Ok, yeah I can see that. Good point. If they aren't in the mainstream yet, this album will definitely help them get there.
"If this is the state of my art,
Then I secede."
Infinitely Inwards
you can be mainstream rock without being popular- it's about being disgustingly poppy, formulaic, lyrically juvenile, and the repetition of only 2 to 3 power chords....Basically just read the first part of the review. This band isn't horrible ; but they are most related, musically, to mainstream-cash grabbin' rock.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
Cincinnati
Nothing wrong with sticking to a formula that works. I haven't heard the new cd yet, so obviously I can't give my opinion. But I did enjoy their
first effort very much, and still do today. I saw the band live here in Cincinnati a year or two ago, and let me say, they were playing more than 2 or 3 power chords. Hands down, the most accurate band I have seen play live...if we're comparing the CD sound to the live performance. Hey...it's not Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, or Sick Puppies at least...(by the way, TDG is the shit).
Just sayin...
Infinitely Inwards
I understand what you say... If you are talking about L33T stage presence and replication of CD quality sound, though; go and see Dream Theater and get back with me. I've been to a lot of shows and concerts...never have I been that impressed or enthralled by a band's performance.....just sayin....
I'll give this another listen and make a decision afterwards.I just can't feel like hatin' on something before I give it attention.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
GREAT radio rock bands: 10 Years and 32 Leaves. Look no more.
Cincinnati
Thought I would throw in my 2 1/2 cents here after giving it a couple listens. Again, their first effort was crambed full of melodic, raw tracks. I don't hear too many here. The second half of the CD, say...after track 6, just gets more and moresoft as it goes.Sorry to say, if they were going for "mainstream," I'm pretty sure this will not get them there.
Disappointing...(although I was spinning this disc atsame time as thenew Just Surrender disc, whichpounds this disc in the face)