Framing Hanley PROMISE TO BURN

Audio Mixer: Dan Malsch.
Recording information: Anarcy West Studios, Nashville, TN; Black River Studios, Nashville, TN; Soundmine Recording, East Stroudsburg, PA.
Photographer: Mark Anthony Jeffries.
Nashville, TN-based post-grunge/emo/alternative outfit Framing Hanley's sophomore effort is a less metallic beast than 2008's The Moment, but what Promise to Burn lacks in speed it more than makes up for in melodic angst. Anthemic and mostly miserable, the album sports its fair share of open highway, "nobody understands me/can't we make this work" pity jams, but when they are as catchy and streamlined as "War Zone," "You Stupid Girl," and "Back to Go Again," it's easy to forget you're listening to some dude read from his tenth grade diary. ~ James Christopher Monger

• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop