The Script (*sigh*)

This week, I’m still going to be reviewing one alternative artist in depth, but I would like to change it up a bit. For the most part, I’ve been looking into a new artist each week, and exploring their music to see if I liked it. I’ve been listening to new music and new artists, trying to broaden my horizons. However, this week, I want to review a band that I know by heart and that I love dearly (fitting for my passion blog, no?): The Script.

First and foremost, I was surprised that The Script was even considered to be an alternative group at all. I guess, in light of my past few blogs, I should just drop all expectations and previous definitions of the word “alternative”, and just go with it. By anyway, I have to admit I sort of stumbled across the idea to blog about them at all. I have to admit, I was at a loss this week, and I didn’t really know which new artist I should listen to. I simply googled the words “alternative music”, and got a Wikipedia page listing, alphabetically, all bands under the genre “alternative”. It was a bit overwhelming, so I just picked a random letter (S), and went to go pick a random artist there. However, when I got to the S section, I was so surprised to see The Script that I changed my mind immediately.

I love The Script. I cannot say it any more plainly. I know pretty much every song on all three of their albums by heart, I follow them on Twitter, I’ve liked them on Facebook, and I listen to them almost every day. They’re my favorite band! SO I’m really excited to give a nice, in depth review that’s a bit more personal than reviews where I didn’t previously know the artist. I would highly recommend listening to The Script, and I hope this blog inspires some new fans or listeners.

So, for some background information: The Script originated in Dublin, Ireland in 2001, and all three members (Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan and Glen Power) still remain in the band to this day. All three of their albums have debuted in the UK at number one on the charts, and have been in the top ten in the US. Their most popular songs in the US played on the radio are: Breakeven, The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, For the First Time and Hall of Fame (all favorites of mine. If you haven’t heard them, this is a good place to start. They’re winners!) All three albums, The Script (2008), Science & Faith (2011) and #3 (2012) have been quite successful and have all contained several hit singles. They’re all strong albums, but they show a nice progression and maturity of the band throughout their first few years.

My favorite thing about The Script’s music is the creativity and originality of the music. Ultimately, all music falls into one of three broad categories: good times, bad times, and love. Those are the things we as humans feel the most emotional about, so they’re common threads in all music. Yet sometimes, I find myself frustrated: because of this, a lot of music gets boring and repetitive for me. There are only so many ways to say certain things, only so many new beats or sounds to include. However, it’s my personal opinion that The Script’s lyrics are so fresh and original that they give a new take on a lot of old themes, and I love that. For example, instead of directly singing about breakups, they use neat metaphors such as those in If You Ever Come Back and Six Degrees of Separation. This makes the emotion in the songs seem a lot more genuine, real, and intense, and I love that.

I also really like how bluntly The Script uses language. Many of their songs are labeled “Explicit” for their use of the f- and s-words. However, there is a TON of emotion in every single song by The Script, whether happy or sad, so to me, a lot of times it’s fitting. It enhances the songs, rather than detracting from them.

In terms of my particular favorite songs, I thought I’d break them up into categories. For songs about the “good times” or inspirational songs, I really like Good Ol’ Days, Millionaires, Hall of Fame, This = Love and Science & Faith. In terms of sadder songs, my favorites are Six Degrees of Separation, Breakeven, Dead Man Walking, If You Could See Me Now, and Before the Worst. My favorite love songs by The Script are: No Words, For the First Time, Kaleidoscope and Hurricanes.

Sorry if that was overwhelming, but in all honesty, I really love all their songs. They’re worth a listen!