10 Best Soft Rock Albums Of The 2000s

The Fray's pop-infused debut LP saw them reach almost immediate commercial recognition thanks to the beloved titular single. Taking a page out of Coldplay's book, the Denver outfit neatly blended piano arrangements into their rock sound to great effect.

Frontman Isaac Slade struts his stuff on the vocals front, impressing with a raw, emotive performance throughout. His distinctive singing voice is a perfect fit for the brooding, often vulnerable lyricism. Focusing heavily on painful human experiences such as loss and loneliness, The Fray struck a chord with listeners, quickly garnering a loyal fanbase in the process.

The rich audio cocktail of piano-driven melodies, dynamic percussion, and soaring guitar solos, The Fray display a multi-layered, focused sound that keeps the album moving along at an efficient, no filler pace. At the time of its release, the group's explosion into the mainstream was greeted with a lukewarm reception. Many dismissed it as relatively unoriginal in the increasingly crowded world of sensitive alt-rock groups at the time.

However, in the years since, The Fray's relentlessly emotional approach to a softer, more intimate form of rock in their debut has helped to cement them as key figures in the 21st century soft rock scene. Their 2009 sophomore LP's huge success at the time of its release confirmed the passion the group had stirred in listeners back in '05.