By Brian Hall, Thomas Jenkins, & Lydia Akinola
GENRE: ROCK
LABEL: FLICKER RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2010
BRIAN’S RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5
THOMAS JENKINS’ RATING: 2.5 OUT OF 5
LYDIA AKINOLA’S RATING: 3.75 OUT OF 5
OVERALL RATING: 3.25 OUT OF 5
Brian Hall’s Review:
Once upon a time, Fireflight was a small band from Florida playing local shows with hopes of hitting the big time. That dream became a reality with the release of their first major label album, The Healing of Harms. The group really broke onto the scene with their smash hit, Unbreakable which was one of the best rock albums of 2008. For Those Who Wait is the highly anticipated follow-up to Unbreakable. Does it live up to expectations though?
The title track and album opener picks up right where most Fireflight fans left off (either the last track of Unbreakable or the Unbroken and Unplugged EP) with a nice string intro that roars into the anathematic proclamation, “This is for those who wait!” Dawn Michele’s soaring vocals fit perfectly into the hard rock motif as usual. The production across the album is aggressive and intense. The ever improving lyrics are supported well by the heavy but melodic music. There are two very beautiful and soft ballads tucked into the record and serve as a nice oasis from the chaotic assault of heavier tracks. I was left nearly breathless after my first listen to the album all the way through. But with all of this running for it, it still didn’t stick with me like Unbreakable did. You’ve got your encouraging lyrics, “I’m what I’ve overcome…” and the heartbreaking, “7 days old in the ICU tonight, little baby boy, they don’t want to have to say goodbye…” the prayerful, “Tell me again that I am strong… I need you here to fix me where I’m wrong…” and the rallying battle cries, “…Reach out! Reach out! This house is burning down; these walls we built are caving in!” But with all of this great content, I had to wonder why I didn’t love it after repeat listens.
I have decided it is the fact that it is so similar to their previous albums. Not many risks here. Musically it has its differences, but the formula seems tired. Regardless, this is an album that any Fireflight fan should enjoy, even it if doesn’t demand multiple consecutive plays.
Thomas Jenkins’ Review:
I head about Fireflight last spring when I got their hit single “Unbreakable” for free from taco bell’s feed the beat contest. Despite its obvious tailoring for rock radio, it’s still a good song, and was enough to excite me for their next record, For Those Who Wait.
The first song, “For Those Who Wait” is a solid track. Although it’s extremely tailored for radio, it’s still fun to listen to, and starts the album off on a good note. In fact, you should go listen to it. Done? Good, because the next four songs sound almost the same. They all follow the format of a verse, then a soaring chorus that relies on vocalist Dawn Richardson’s voice, then continue out with another verse, chorus…. you get the point. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not that any of these songs are particularly bad, it’s just that they’re extremely formulaic and all sound almost the same. Richardson has a great voice, and that’s probably the best part about this underwhelming first half. Sadly, things don’t get much better, and although there are a couple changes of pace as the album continues these consist of piano ballads that mean well, but can’t ever get off the ground. Lyrically, Fireflight does a half-decent job, although if you’re looking for anything introspective certainly don’t go here, because this is a rock till you drop album that wasn’t ever intended to be poetic.
Probably the thing that jumps out at the listener most is how mainstream this album is. It’s essentially a singles album, and every last one of the rock anthems is produced so that it’ll fit the radio almost to a tee. Is that bad thing in and of itself? Not necessarily, but when a song starts to sound manufactured and fake because the band/producer/label decided they needed a hit single, then the song loses a lot of it’s potential and is a serious taint on the band’s creativity. For example, take the massive hit “Second Chance” by Shinedown. The song itself is great, but in the pre-chorus and chorus, one can feel that the song was carefully precision fitted to be raw, but not too raw, emotional, but too emotional, and loud, but not too loud. In a word: radio rock. That’s what For Those Who Wait is in a sentence for anybody looking for a quick description.
Is For Those Who Wait a complete failure? No, it’s just too much of one thing. A radio single isn’t a bad thing, and neither is one or two songs on an album. But when you get an album full of songs that feel like they were genetically bred not to overstep the radio friendly boundaries, all you can do is mourn a band and an album that were both capable of so much more.
Lydia Akinola’s Review:
Fireflight shocked everyone with their sophomore album. It was honest rock like you’ve never heard it before. For those who thought that female-fronted bands couldn’t rock hard, Unbreakable dispelled all such myths. Enter For Those Who Wait. Slower and more melodic, the polished finesse is still there… Fireflight have proved once again that they have nothing to prove.
For those of us who really couldn’t wait for this album to be released For Those Who Wait is a treat. Fireflight have obviously developed and solidified their music, making the sound uniquely their own. In exploring the softer side of rock, adapting their abilities to encompass the slower and the unhurried tunes of life, Fireflight have shown that they are able to diversify and yet still appeal to those who tend towards the harder side of radio rock.
But For Those Who Wait is not a revolution, we’ve come to expect from the band. Thematically, the issues addressed are typical of ‘girl-bands’ of today and issues that have been covered by Fireflight themselves before. But here they addressed with a maturity that can be missing in other popular acts. “All I Need To Be” illustrates the fact that with a little development even the most clichéd of topics can be given new life. The chorus of “Name”, a beautiful piano-driven piece addresses loneliness with a quietly empowering reminder that God knows us all individually, wherever we are hiding.
“He sees you, He’s near you, He knows your face,
He knows your pain. He sees you and He loves you,
He knows your name.”
“Desperate”, the first single, is full of the band’s signature melodic rock, and conveys the angst of desperation we often feel. The vocals, the guitar riffs, the driving beat marry with lyrics such as “I know there’s so much at stake/ But I don’t know if I can take/ one more pat on the back saying I’ll be okay…” creating a sonic experience that lasts with you. “New Perspective” features the Dawn’s soaring vocals in all their glory and “You Give Me That Feeling” is a perfect example of Fireflight rocking for all their worth.
Unbreakable is an difficult act to follow, and whilst For Those Who Wait is well produced, thoroughly enjoyable and altogether encouraging; it lacks some of the enthralling nature of its predecessor. Nevertheless, gems like “Recovery Begins”, the incredible closer, make this album worth the wait and more.
Review copy provided courtesy of Flicker Records.
