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Who We Are

by Lifehouse

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Who We Are is another set of rousing anthems from this reflective trio. On their fourth full-length, the Los Angeles three-piece sets the template for a harder-rocking effort with dynamic opener "Disarray," in which singer/guitarist Jason Wade admits he doesn't know where he's going, but "wouldn't have it any other way." The band rocks even harder on album highlight "The Joke," a song inspired by a real-life suicide. It's a risk that pays off, although the lyrics almost make the subject seem more defiant than regretful. Throughout the record, Rick Woolstenhulme's drums sound like they're cranked up to 11--not that there's anything wrong with that (Bryce Soderberg holds his own on bass). In other words, the music isn't shy (or subtle), but Wade's words read more like questions than answers. Granted, closing number "Storm," with Rocco DeLuca on organ, brings things to a gentle close, but most tracks follow in the over-sized footsteps of post-grunge precursors, like Live and Stone Temple Pilots. Then again, as Abigail Van Buren used to say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." If Lifehouse ever find what they're looking for, to paraphrase yet another sage, they may as well pack it in. --Kathleen C. Fennessy