These three lads from Ireland can write
pop songs like the devil. In a former musical life, the
two main contributors Danny O'Donoghue (vocals) and Mark
Sheehan (guitar) were in a boy band called Mytown. They
were as horrible as all the other boy bands but they could
sing and perform like real musicians.
They were given their shot at redemption
when they were allowed to record as The Script. The results
are revealed on the band's debut album for RCA records.
The Script is an album full of great pop production and
enough glam to make Justin Timberlake jealous. Pop is fun
and easy to listen to and that's exactly what you get. When
you think of The Script, think of their musical cousins
Maroon 5 and One Republic.
The album opens up with "We Cry," a cool
little ditty that is superficial and also deep. It is very
pretty and highlighted with a high-pitched sort of rap chorus.
The songs are not all so forgettable and contrived.
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" is an example
of how a good pop song can be full of emotion and deliver
power of that emotion. Everything works well in this song.
It grabs you lyrically and the production is resigned into
the moment; the band manages to pull off a truly touching
song. You listen over and over and you still feel it. Another
stand-out song is "Breakeven." It has the best lyrics on
the whole album in it: "What am I supposed to do when the
best part of me was always you, what am I supposed to say
when I'm all choked up and you're OK." I think it expresses
a usually unspoken truth about relationships. The level
of commitment and passion for the other person is rarely
equal.
This album is far from perfect but still
very good. Sometimes you'll love it and sometimes you'll
hate yourself for loving it. There is definitely something
here that separates The Script from the rest. They can sing,
they can write and they pull it all together. It may be
a bit too sweet and poppy for some, but the rest of us still
enjoy the occasional treat of a good pop album.
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