Album Review: The Script - #3

Irish rockers The Script have returned with their third album, appropriately (if not yawningly) named #3, and they have continued down their path of creating safe and radio friendly songs that infuse the elements of pop-rock with an anthemic feel.

However, #3 is just an extension of where the band was after 2010's Science & Faith, which was by my own admission rather a good release. Unfortunately this album just sounds too generic in every form, from the musical composition, which sounds just the same as albums gone by, and extending to the lyrics, which at times are cringe-worthy; “To your brother, to your sister, to your misses, to your mister, to your friends, to your foes, give the love around” (Give The Love Around). They've also added a hip hop element (or what they perceive to be) to their music, by teaming up with Will.i.am, with frontman Danny O'Donoghue taking on 'rapping' duties, which at times doesn't sound as bad as one might think. There are some okay songs on the record such as lead single Hall Of Fame and If You Could See Me Now, while Six Degrees Of Separation is spoiled by lyrics which are in the same vein as Brian McKnight's Back At One, numbering “First you think the worst is a broken heart/What's gonna kill you is the second part/And the third and the fourth…”, you get the point.

A friend of this reviewer, who will openly admit to watching 'music talent' shows like The X Factor and The Voice, religiously found this album to be right up his alley, and there-in lies who this album should appeal too.