On September 1st pop rock band The Script released their brand new fifth studio album entitled “Freedom Child” via Sony Music and Columbia Records. After the bands last album “No Sound Without Silence”, The Script went on a hiatus, to spend time with their families back in Ireland after four studio albums dating back to 2008. But since we last heard from them pop music has changed and Danny O’Donoghue from the group shared his thoughts on the evolution of current pop music saying “If you take a listen to radio now, there aren’t too many bands – guitar, bass, drums, vocals. Everyone has some kind of production element.” “Rain” was released as the first single from the album and their first song since 2014.
O’Donoghue also went onto explain the origin of the album title saying “It came from Mark’s side… His seven-year-old came up to him one day and asked, ‘Dad, what’s terrorism?’” The album title was inspired by its song of the same name, which addresses terrorism and the need for harmony. He also mentioned how the album covers many topics “Divided States of America”, a song on the album was explained by O’Donoghue, who said “We were in America when Trump’s inauguration was happening, and you couldn’t walk down the street without seeing how divided America was. The guy selling cigarettes could be a Democrat and the guy he’s selling them to could be a Trump supporter.”
So what can you expect from this album? The band have done what I didn’t think they were capable of, being interesting. The band has managed to keep there significant sound of pop rock, and combine it with political lyrical content. The album sound reminds me of a Coldplay album, because aside from there political endeavor the album is also encased with love ballads. I think “Freedom Child” is an album that will top the charts and it’s the radio and ITunes machinery that will bring it there. The songs will be played because they’re sonic wallpaper, the press will be good because the interviews/exclusive photo shoots are desired.
Back in July in a radio interview the band spoke about “Freedom Child” and stated it was packed with “extreme emotions… We cover everything from terrorism, to heartbreak, to euphoria.” So why the direction into political issues, well Mark also did shed some light on that also saying “Our freedom has been attacked, Our creative, sexual and religious freedoms have been under attack from different enemies and as a band we have to have a message about that. We are so bombarded by the negative you have to believe in the power of music to have meaning and to heal.”
Me personally I think this album holds its own, and there blend of rock music with melodic pop is something that’s missing from current music as they so pointed out in there interviews. I’ve never really been a fan of The Scripts music, but this album took a shine to me because it’s so current not just in it’s sound but lyrical content also. These guys are definitely no strangers to success having three albums reach Number 1 (the only one that didn’t, 2012’s #3, peaked at 2) and their UK album sales alone top out at three million. All signs are pointing to another success this time around, and in an age where bands struggle to compete in the Top 40, “Freedom Child’s” lead single “Rain” is on course to hold inside the Top 20 for its fourth consecutive week.
The song “Freedom Child”, which was quickly made the record’s title, was the fastest a decision over an album name had ever been reached by the band – who will mark 10 years since their debut release next year. “It’s very important for us and we know having that as our album title means we will get asked about this everywhere and it will go down in print and kids will hear these songs,” says O’Donoghue. “These are all things we know will happen and I’m really proud of that.”
Growing up in Ireland in the Eighties and Nineties, the threesome Mark Sheehan, Danny O’Donoghue and Glen Power are acutely acquainted with the effects of terror, political division and the long time it can take for wounds within communities to heal. “We grew up under it and we’re aware of it a hell of a lot more on the social impact that it plays in the years afterwards,” O’Donoghue says. “It can only be through a new generation and education that change will happen.” While artists from Katy Perry to Jay-Z are aligning themselves politically during a turbulent period of international unrest, this Irish trio are eager to highlight the importance of crossing that divide to educate, particularly with the younger listener.
For fans of The Script you will like this album if you enjoyed there previous releases even with the different direction lyrically, and not only will this chart I feel I think it’ll attempt to break down barriers. “Freedom Child” is available on ITunes now.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
“Freedom Child” tracklist:
- No Man Is an Island
- Rain
- Arms Open
- Rock the World
- Mad Love
- Deliverance
- Divided States of America
- Wonders
- Love Not Lovers
- Eden
- Make Up
- Written in the Scars
- Awakening
- Freedom Child
*Image Source: metrouk2.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNJuU1D3shU
