The Moment

Framing Hanley

Silent Majority Group, 2007

http://www.framinghanley.com

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 09/19/2007

Framing Hanley is a quintet that surrounds its collective life with pointed melodies and harmonies, sounding like a major league arena act that just has to have the right opportunity to achieve mainstream success. Closing your eyes, you can easily imagine an arena rocking out to these melodies.

A probable set opener is "Home." The influences of artists like Breaking Benjamin and 3 Days Grace are evident immediately on this track. Guitarists Brandon and Tim work effortlessly with drummer Chris and bassist/vocalist Luke to build a foundation that compliments vocalist Nixon. It's a combination that works successfully on each of these 11 tracks, of which there is no filler. my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

"Built For Sin" follows "Home" and starts slow before accelerating to a good mid-tempo rocker. Nixon is moody without being overbearing as he sings "There's a train leaving town / if you hurry up / I think you just might make it / Dammit, I hope you make it." "Hear Me Now" is the closest the band comes to having a mainstream radio rock-ready hit. The song employs standard devices, such as sporadic guitars and screaming a la Linkin Park, to add color to the song, while Nixon sings "My body is on the floor / and I'm calling out to you / Can you hear me now?"

It isn't every day that a band like this sings a song about dancing, but that's the topic in "Slow Dance." Nixon takes us into his mind as he sings "She pardons me for stepping on her toes / I've heard she's a pageant queen / so what's she doing dancing with me?" The band follows that with "All In Your Hands" and "It's Not What They Said," both stellar examples of talent.

The peak of this release is "Alone In This Bed (Capeside)." Singing about the loss of a loved one, Nixon sings, "Tonight I'm reaching out to the stars / I think that He owes me a favor / it doesn't matter where you are / I'll hold you again." The loss is carried from Nixon's heart through his vocals and *sniff* it's an emotional song. Balancing out the emotional tearjerker, the band ends this release with two upbeat rockers.

Framing Hanley has the potential to join the rankds of Breaking Benjamin, 3 Days Grace and others that are enjoying commercial success on rock radio. This album contains material that is well written, devoid of filler and full of hooks -- a rarity in rock these days -- that make these guys worth keeping an eye on.

Rating: A

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© 2007 Paul Hanson and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Silent Majority Group, and is used for informational purposes only.