The Fray is the sixth album from British singer-songwriter John Smith – it’s a compelling collection of 12 songs about resilience, devotion, and hope. Smith’s last year has been especially tough on top of the pandemic, containing the loss of a pregnancy and a cancer diagnosis within his family, all of which inform the music found on The Fray. Smith channels grief into a set of bare songs featuring his flinty vocals and thoughtful arrangements. There is a compassionate vibe throughout The Fray’s melodic folk, built on Smith’s subtle guitar playing. The Fray was co-produced by Smith and longtime friend and producer Sam Lakeman (Cara Dillon) at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio with an all-star backing band – pianist Jason Rebello (Sting, John Mayer), bass player Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman, Nadine Shah), drummer Jay Sikora (Paolo Nutini), and Jessica Staveley-Taylor (The Staves). Special guests include: Bill Frisell, who provides an elegant guitar solo on “The Best of Me”, and vocal support from Sarah Jarosz, Lisa Hannigan, and the Milk Carton Kids. Album standouts include: the folk-pop opening track “Friends”; the self-questioning track “Deserving”; the atmospheric sea shanty-like “To the Shore”: the piano-tinged title-track featuring the Milk Carton Kids; the healing waltz “Just As You Are”; the deeply tender “She’s Doing Fine”; the soul-searching “One Day at a Time”; the hopeful laidback vibed “Hold On”; the post-break-up number “Sanctuary”; and a pair of duets with Lisa Hannigan on “Star-Crossed Lovers”; and “Eye to Eye” with Sarah Jarosz. John Smith’s The Fray is a folk album of extreme honesty and beauty, filled with songs that intensify the listener’s emotions and experiences over the past year, ultimately offering hope during hard times. – Written by JFelton
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