SCARS & STORIES

The Fray ( Epic)

U2 lite, or maybe the poor man’s Coldplay? You choose. But it doesn’t matter, because you could listen to these 12 offerings from the Denver band’s third effort — produced by Brendan O’brien — a dozen times and still not be able to match the titles to a song. That’s because most of these tracks are so undistinguished they evaporate as soon as they leave the speakers, while your mind seeks any possible diversion. Corporate arenarock clangers mix with soppy pianoandstrings ballads featuring falsetto vocals, all aimed clearly at highly emotional teens or synchro rights. When you hear a Duran Duran- ish sort- ofrocker like Here We Are or an nearstirring chord riff like the one in 48 to

Go, you feel almost grateful. Almost.