I'm not a die hard Lifehouse fanatic, nor am I Christian (what lead singer/songwriter Jason Wade mostly writes about), but I know good music when I hear it. Yes, it's catchy, but it's so much more than that. The lyrics are very emotional and thought provoking - you'll hear a song five times and analyze it differently each time. The lyrics don't have this hit you over the head obvious theme to them - they can kind of be analyzed however you want. This album is exponentially better than No Name Face both lyrically and musically. Sure, maybe the songs aren't as radio friendly as those on No Name Face, but I think that's a good thing because we get much better quality songs here. Give it a listen - if you like emotional music that makes you think, you will not be disappointed.

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:

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

"Stanley Climbfall" is more than just a great album. In my opinion, it far surpasses "No Name Face" simply because of it's radiant, emotional lyrics that still send chills down my back 2 years after it was released. I've owned the album since October 2002 and this is such a wonderful work of art. Lots of work and feeling was put into the 14 songs of Stanley Climbfall. I have introduced Lifehouse to so many of my friends and they all love them. Whether you're a rock, rap, hip-hop or any other kind of music fan, "Stanley Climbfall " is a must have. Hear them, feel them and enjoy them.

Spin-This is one of the most up-beat and fast paced songs on the album. It turns a bad mood into a good one. 10/10

Wash-The drum-work in this song seems to show itself a little more than the rest of the album. 10/10

Sky Is Falling-One of the most haunting but beautiful tracks on the cd.

Anchor-Anchor gets my adrenaline pumping with its harmoneous, non-stop alternative rock. 10/10

Am I Ever Going To Find Out-This song makes me think about what it is that I am looking for in life and if I ever going to find what it is that i'm looking for. 9/10

Stanley Climbfall-In life, we all stand, climb, fall and get back up again. This song explains it all. 9/10

Out of Breath-This song is one of their harder songs but in the same, it is very emotional and gives me chills when I hear it. 10/10

Just Another Name-This song is kind of hard to follow. Nevertheless, it has a great beat and good lyrics. 8/10

Take Me Away-This is one of their best rock songs on the CD. It gives hope to all of us wanting to get away and leave our past lives behind. 10/10

The rest of the music on the album are all 10/10s. In my opinion, the second half of Stanley Climbfall gets more powerful and beautiful. I recommend "Stanley Climbfall," by Lifehouse to everyone that appreciates great, real music...

-Justin Maietta, CA

Lifehouse's sophomore effort, oddly-titled Stanley Climbfall, proves this band goes far beyond the realm of one-hit wonders. After the double platinum success of their debut album No Name Face, mostly due to the sensational popularity of the first single "Hanging By A Moment," which became the Most Spun Song of 2001, many critics speculated that the band's 15 minutes of fame were over. After a listen to Stanley, every hasty critic will be eating his/her words!

This album's clear evolution from its predecessor makes evident the lack of anxiety Lifehouse felt about creating another "Hanging." Lead singer/songwriter Jason Wade, along with bassist Sergio Andrade and drummer Rick Woolstenhulme, kept the focus off the past and on the future during the album's creation, concentrating less on another radio-friendly hit and more on staying true to the music. This is obvious in tracks like "Wash," a complete masterpiece of ingenuity. The album's title track is a melodic winding road of soothing harmony and vocal prowess.

Admittedly influenced by such brit-rockers as U2, Coldplay, and Radiohead, Lifehouse has carved out their own sound in a genre of copycats. Songs like "My Precious" showcase this new European influence, while tracks like "Take Me Away" and the first single "Spin" incorporate driving guitar rhythm with soul-searching lyrics. Wade's spiritual influences produce epics like "Empty Space," "Anchor," and "The Beginning" - quite probably the best ending for a record in years.

Stanley Climbfall, the sophomore release by Lifehouse, is both a bumped up and broken down version of their debut, No Name Face. Stanley Climbfall is full of funky beats and grooves that catch your ear and pull you into the CD, making you want more. The first song, and first single, Spin is a song that grabs you with the chorus and drags you along, `while the world keeps spinning round.'

Personally I think one of the best tracks on the album is `Anchor.' I remember hearing this song when I saw Lifehouse live on September 1st at the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle. The song has a slow driving beat that's punctuated by the raucous chorus and a simple guitar solo that plows up a chromatic scale. To contrast the slow melody throughout the song the cutoff is abrupt.

Track six, the title track, is derived from the line Stand, Climb, and Fall. This song is a slow ballad-like lullaby that instantly pulled me in with a simple guitar riff. The lyrics are really what make this song, my favorite line being `am I only melting these diamonds in the making.'

Another highlight on the disc is a song called `Take Me Away.' It's faintly reminiscent of `Hanging by a Moment' because of the steady guitar and driving beats, building up to an irresistible chorus.

Lastly, if you are lucky enough to purchase the disc early you'll get two bonus tracks: `How Long' and an acoustic version of `Sky Is Falling' an earlier track on the disc.

The bottom line is the disc is perfect if you want to kick back and listen to some good acoustic rock music. The combination of Jason's vocals and guitar, Sergio's bass licks, and Rick's solid drumming all come together to make this sophomore effort a perfect follow-up, even though other critics may think differently.