Lifehouse "Smoke & Mirrors"

I have been a fan of Lifehouse since I heard my favorite single that I still play on repeat occasionally whenever I give that record a spin. They seem like such great guys to meet, and see in concert, and they avoid using studio trickery, or Smoke and Mirrors when it comes to making great albums. They just make songs with earnest lyrics and pleasant instrumentals, nothing innovative, but that is not their intention. I think it is to make songs that touch the heart, mind, and soul. They have been making a steady progression with each record, and this one is no exception.  The first track already and I’m “All In.” It sounds similar to the opening track of their last album, but that can be forgiven because it was a good song. This next song may not cause “Nerve Damage,” but it may make you wonder if they suffered some while gaining inspiration for one of their most engaging, and slightly schizo, efforts. I’ve “Had Enough” of songs like this, it’s not bad though, but Richard Marx and Chris Daughtry haven’t; considering they helped write this one, and Daughtry even sings backing vocals.  The first single wasn’t bad either; it was a little different for them, and I mean little, but it was good! Kevin Rudolf helped write it. If you don’t like Lifehouse that cannot be helped because “It Is What It Is.” I like the message; which basically advises you to avoid crying over something that will not change. The title track was compared to Americana and Tom Petty by Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. They really don’t need “Smoke and Mirrors” for the comparison to be true. The next song has to be one of my favorite singles because they find the right words to describe how it feels when your eyes meet with your “better half,” and the devotion to that person after “Falling In” love. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” has the most attitude I’ve heard from them in a while, with a good deal of swagger, directed at someone who seems pretty pretentious. Angels/Losing/Sleep over someone who sounds like a hypocrite, and likes to see everyone hurt but him/herself; now that you mention it that is kind of sad. Wade sings “Face the truth it's hard to swallow/It's time to begin, there's only one life” which is “In Your Skin.” “All That I’m Asking For” is that you give the album a chance. It is not perfect, and neither is the song, but they are both worth it. The chorus’ intent will not “Crash and Burn” because we know it tried, and succeeded.  “Everything (Live In Studio)” is a great alternative version to the original. Either it was a “Near Life Experience” or just how Jason Wade delivers the vocals, but I think of Bob Dylan. “Best of Me (What’s Left of Me)” sounds as if the best has not been taken yet, and there is still a lot of fight left in the heart. My Favorites: All In, Nerve Damage, Falling In, It is What It Is, Here Today Gone Tomorrow, By Your Side, All That I’m Asking For, and Near Life Experience