The album opens up with the smash radio single, Spin, a driving alterna-pop tune which eases up on the momentum for a tedious bridge before diving back into the electric guitar hooks that lend this song its edge. This is followed by Wash, a melodically monotonous song heavy on repeating some of the most uncreative lyrics of this record: "you wash over me, you wash over me like rain. you wash over me, you wash over me like sunshine." Luckily for all Lifehouse fans, the album quickly improves.

Wade leads us into Sky is Falling with understated, well-crafted opening lines, and all is well with the world. Anchor turns up the intensity with an electric introduction, easing the listener between melodic channels and an athemic chorus, while the verses of Am I Ever Gonna Find Out stand out as an album highlight. Title track Stanley Climbfall abandons the usual Lifehouse formula to experiment in gently flowing, melancholy leads, a dreamy chorus, and the playful tweaking of "stand, climb, and fall" to bring us the record's protagonist, oddly-named everyman Stanley. Fans in a subdued mood will be hard-pressed to avoid singing along on the "da da das" before Out of Breath returns them to more familiar Lifehouse territory.

Just Another Name is a personal favorite, starting with a kicky rhythm guitar before bringing in the rest of the band on this tribute to the artificiality of the social games of popularity and fame. "Which mask will you wear today?" Wade inquires. "Everybody knows your name, but they don't know whho you are." In the hands of others, this song could become a melancholy rejection of the world, but Lifehouse turns it into an atypical but highly enjoyable up-tempo track.

Take Me Away reintroduces the lush guitar arrangements that have become the band's calling card on the radio circuit, granting die-hard No Name Face fans a breath of their old Lifehouse before the European influences of My Precious and the humdrum verses and uplifting chorus of Empty Space. Space gruadually unwinds the tension before the album's lullabye, The Beginning. Bonus tracks How Long and an acoustic version of Sky Is Falling close out the record.

All in all, Stanley Climbfall is good, well-crafted, and cunningly produced. It isn't another No Name Face, but it wasn't meant to be. It has an artistic vision all its own. Still, the unremarkability of Wash, Empty Space, and certain parts of other tracks bring it down to four stars. Quite the respectable sophomore release.


Would give it 7 stars if possible   January 2, 2003
Jason Staroscik (Rock Springs, WY USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I knew it would take a monster effort from Lifehouse to follow up 'No Name Face' so I was a little reluctant to jump right in and buy this one. It didn't take long to realize that 'Stanley Climbfall' is not only better than the band's first release, but it has quickly moved past Creed, Nickelback, and 3 Doors Down to the top of my personal playlist. Every CD that I own has at least one or two tracks that I would consider mediocre at best and skip as I was listening, but not on 'Stanley'. Every track has a unique hook, from the sure-to-be radio hits 'Spin' and 'Out of Breath' to the addicting 'Just Another Name'.

Here's how I rate each song:
1. Spin - 8.5/10
2. Wash - 8.0/10
3. Sky Is Falling - 9.0/10 - Addictive, you will be humming this one all day.
4. Anchor - 8.5/10
5. Am I Ever Gonna Find Out - 9.5/10
6. Stanley Climbfall - 9.0/10 - Slower, great lyrics.
7. Out of Breath - 9.0/10 - Sure radio hit, awesome beat.
8. Just Another Name - 10.0/10 - This one is so different from anything Lifehouse has done, I think you'll either love it or skip it. The guitar-tamborine combo at the start sets the tone before the drum kicks in. It's the best song I've heard from any band in a long long time.
9. Take Me Away - 8.5/10
10. My Precious - 8.0/10
11. Empty Space - 8.0/10
12. The Beginning - 8.5/10 - Very U2 sounding, adds a new dimension to the band.
13. How Long - 8.0/10
14. Sky Is Falling (acoustic) - 9.0/10 - Excellent acoustic version of track 3. Could have been released either way, good decision to release as a bonus track.

If you are a fan of 'No Name Face', you cannot go wrong with 'Stanley Climbfall'.


Lifehouse still stands tall with Stanley Climbfall   March 10, 2003
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I was so skeptical of this one. I think NNF is one of the most amazing albums I own, and I didn't think they could even come close to touching that one. Well they did fall short a little teeny bit (none of these songs even come close to "Everything"), but overall this album is still incredible. I'll break it down track by track:

1. SPIN- this was the first single. I really like the song a lot, it's catchy and has a hard edge. But for some reason the lyrics remind me of "Hanging By A Moment" a lot...
2. WASH- I like this one. The lyrics are great and it's just a really amazing guitar-driven song.
3. SKY IS FALLING- This is the first song on the album that jumped out at me when I listened to it for the first time. Perfect, soft, melodic rock.
4. ANCHOR- This song is really interesting. It has a very soft, winding kinda feel. "I stand with a blank expression now / And I can't believe myself"
5. AM I EVER GONNA FIND OUT- The song on the record with the hardest edge. Great, upbeat song.
6. STANLEY CLIMBFALL- Ah, the title track. This is probably my favorite song on the album. It builds you up and brings you back down. And the lyrics really make you think.
7. OUT OF BREATH- This is another great song with lots of energy and awesome drum work.
8. JUST ANOTHER NAME- For some reason this song makes me want to tap dance... and I really have no idea why. Midtempo.
9. TAKE ME AWAY- I am so in love with the beginning of this song: "This time / All I want is you / There is no one else / Who can ever take your place."
10. MY PRECIOUS- A nice ballad. So much emotion.
11. EMPTY SPACE- This is my second favorite. The chorus is amazing. You need to hear this song!
12. THE BEGINNING- This is actually the perfect ending for this album. A "billow-y" ballad.

Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with this one. Jason Wade has such an emotional voice and such a talent for writing. You need this record!


Lifehouse asserts itself with "Stanley Climbfall"   June 6, 2003
Mike (Chicago, IL USA)
14 out of 18 found this review helpful

The boys of Lifehouse were left with quite a daunting task when they began recording their second album, the follow up to the multi-platinum debut "No Name Face" which included the most played song of the year 2001, "Hanging By A Moment." Lead singer Jason Wade penned most of the tunes for "Stanley" on the tourbus between shows. The result is a finely crafted piece of rock and roll melted together with dashes of adult contemporary and pop music. The cd plays out like this:

1. Spin- 8/10 rating
First single off the album. A catchy tune with a rockin hook but one could do without the singing during the bridge and the lengthy instrumental at the end of the song that the radio cuts out.

2. Wash- 7/10 rating
A solid tune that starts out with a distorted guitar and builds up to a catchy chorus.

3. Sky Is Falling- 8/10 rating
Very melodic and beautiful song.

4. Anchor- 6/10 rating
This song is good, but one can become lost in the chorus when Wade becomes very difficult to understand, not one of the best songs on the album.

5. Am I Ever Gonna Find Out- 7/10 rating
A forceful song that ends as quickly as it begins. A new sound for Lifehouse on this song, and a good one at that.

6. Stanley Climbfall- 10/10 rating
A beautiful ballad, this song is flawless both musically and lyrically. Possibly the best song on the album.

7. Out Of Breath- 8/10 rating
Similar to the smash "Hanging By a Moment" as far as tempo is concerned, this is another catchy rock tune from the boys.

8. Just Another Name- 6/10 rating
Not one of the best songs on the album, this mid-tempo tune loses the listener in the boring chorus.

9. Take Me Away- 10/10 rating
The second single off the album, this is another masterpiece from Lifehouse. Rivals "Stanley Climbfall" as the best track on the cd.

10. My Precious- 6/10 rating
A dull song that Wade wrote in a similar way to "Hanging By a Moment" where he wrote it during the recording of this album. Too bad the result of this song wasn't as successful.

11. Empty Space- 9/10 rating
Beautiful ballad with wonderful lyrics.

12. The Beginning- 9/10 rating
Another wonderful song that builds up to a strong bridge.

13. How Long- 9/10 rating
A great bonus song about the 9/11 attacks, this song shows off the emotinal side of Lifehouse.

14. Sky Is Falling (Acoustic)- 8/10 rating
Great rendition of a great song

Overall, this is a marvelous cd from the boys of Lifehouse. Although they may not garner as much airplay with any of these songs as they did with the freakishly popular smash "Hanging by a Moment," this cd will get its share of radio hits and will help further the career of these talented musicians.