Audio By Carbonatix
Denver scenesters have long believed that the across-the-board success of even one local band would draw A&R reps to the area in droves. Well, the Fray has finally turned this trick, and as a result, acts like Lazyface, another sensitive, piano-heavy combo, may get a sniff. But while Smile is a mostly pleasant listen, the six-song EP demonstrates how difficult it is to make an impression within the mainstream format.
The only teeth-grating element here is the funk-free rapping of drummer Michael Dybing, which sabotages portions of “Mirrors” and “Beautiful.” Otherwise, tunes such as “Anyways” and “My Line” hold their own thanks to the gruff vocalizing of Sam DeWitt and lush keyboarding by Aaron Rocha. After the ditties have run their course, however, they don’t linger very long. Although they’re well played and professionally structured, they lack the panache or personality that would differentiate them from the thousand other tunes they resemble.
And if these guys get signed anyhow? Then they owe the Fray a big, wet kiss.
