Album review: LIFEHOUSE – Out Of The Wasteland plus interview

Ironworks [Release date 22.06.15]

Lifehouse have sold over 15m. albums worldwide with considerable success in their native US, yet they remain relatively unknown here in the UK. This album sees the band on a new record label and back after a short hiatus.

The music features upbeat melodies and they certainly know how to pen an instant song like lead single ‘Hurricane’. ‘Runaways’ sounds like Snow Patrol at their best, whilst ‘Fight’ has a hint of the Goo Goo Dolls (Lifehouse’s drummer toured with that band during the band’s hiatus).

‘Stardust’ with its drum dance beat and synths is a dreamy piece of pop rock, whilst the slower paced ‘Central Park’ takes a REM-like guitar and again the vocals lead the song.

The melancholy ‘Wish’ is driven along by the Jason Wade’s vocals and a gentle acoustic guitar and strings arrangement. The string arrangements are aided by film score composer James Newton Howard. ‘Hurt This Way’ features harmony vocal overload (and I am a sucker for harmony vocals) with a damn fine tune. All that and a xylophone too!

Lifehouse know their way around a good tune and this album should certainly further help their music get wider recognition in the UK. A lot of these songs would sit easily on BBC Radio 2′s playlist and digital stations like Planet Rock. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

A few quick Q’s with Jason Wade…

Could you take us through your excellent new album ‘Through the Wasteland’? e.g. stories behind the songs, songwriting process etc.

The process was very different on this album. It wasn’t about sitting down with an acoustic and writing a song. It was more about using the studio as a canvas and using all the various instruments as colors and textures. Most of the songs came out of experimenting with sounds.

What are the band’s expectations of this album and tour as it is your first on your new label and after the band has been on hiatus

We are very much looking forward to being back on the road with these new songs. It’s been four years since a proper tour, so we feel rejuvenated.

With Ben Carey leaving the band are you officially carrying on as a three piece or is Pelle Hillstrom a full-time band member?

We have a new guitar player named Steve Stout, who is going on the road with us. Really great guitar player

How did you hook-up with your new label Ironworks Music after so many years on Geffen?

It was a completely organic thing. We have been working with Jude since the beginning, so it seemed natural to keep it in the family

You have UK dates just announced. Have you seen your fanbase in the UK start to grow?

Absolutely. The fans in the UK have been amazing. One of my favorite shows I’ve ever played was at Shepherds Bush Empire a few years back

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