Air Traffic

I’m a sucker for piano rock. This is something I’m not ashamed of. Lots of rock fans abhor the idea of introducing a piano into a song, unless it’s a ballad. But I love the extra dimension and nuance a piano can add to a song.

That said, I’m not sure I’m the most unbiased person to give an objective review of a shamelessly catchy and unabashedly pretty piano rock record called Fractured Life by Air Traffic. The best way to describe Air Traffic is The Fray meets The Hush Sound. If you’ll allow me to be technical for one second, the style of the piano on this record ranged from the Jazz influenced (the bouncy and upbeat “Just Abuse Me” and “I Like That“) to the classically tinged (the melancholy “Empty Space”, which sounds like it could have been in one of my Royal Conservatory piano repertoire books).

The downfall with some bands who incorporate a piano is to make almost every song into a ballad. Thankfully, Air Traffic avoids this, except for the excessively sappy and sentimental “Shooting Star”, one of two missteps on this album. The other misstep is the 23 minute long closer and title track, “Fractured Life.” “Fractured Life” isn’t a bad song, per se, but it’s a misstep because of the band’s baffling decision to inexplicably include a fifteen minute silence in the middle of the song. Now, it’s possible that I’m missing something. Maybe it can only be heard by dogs. Maybe it’s a tribute to John Cage’s “Four Minutes and Thirty Three Seconds”. Or maybe it’s just the normal space found between that last track and a secret bonus song, either way, neither were anything special.

Air Traffic knows how to write hooks, and I guarantee their songs will suck you in. Their brand of pretty, upbeat, and catchy piano rock will ensure they take their place with other accomplished piano rock bands such as The Fray, Coldplay, or Jack’s Mannequin.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Just Abuse Me
02. Charlotte
03. Shooting Star
04. No More Running Away
05. Empty Space
06. Time Goes By
07. I Like That
08. Never Even Told Me Her Name
09. Get In Line
10. I Can’t Understand
11. Your Fractured Life

Run Time: 55:49