Tangled Magazine

Brian McFadden – Set In Stone
Released April 19, 2008
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
An album review by Laura Hartley

Brian McFadden spent 2 ½ years writing and recording his latest album, Set In Stone, and it sounds like time well spent.

Twisted is a great opener to the album, really setting the standard for what you are about to hear. It offers interesting and fun lyrics (“I’ve been chased by angels, I’ve been drunk out of my mind”), combined with up-tempo music.

The second track on the album is also the first single, Like Only a Woman Can. Written about his Australian fiancé, Delta Goodrem, the song has almost every teenage girl (and a lot of grown women) in tears, with heartfelt lyrics and soft guitar chords.

Possibly the the most appealing song on the album is Jones, a catchy song about an unmotivated friend living on his mothers couch. A captivating guitar solo is heard, and Delta Goodrem offers backup vocals (as she does on 3 other tracks).

Room to Breathe offers harsh and unsympathetic lyrics (“Is it wrong that I don’t care that I don’t want you anymore, near my face near my friends… I don’t care how you feel”) as well as showing off Brian’s vocal range. It’s easily the most memorable song on the album.

Some songs fade into the background, including the title track Set in Stone. If you are expecting a big exciting song for the title track, this is a let down. While it offers meaningful lyrics, “My soul’s been hiding in a cloud so scared of change…listen to your heart and let it blow your world apart…nothing’s ever set in stone”, it’s too slow to grab attention.

This album is far more positive and optimistic than his debut solo CD, Irish Son, which had him singing primarily about a gloomy past (songs included, Demons, Sorry Love Daddy, Walking Disaster and He’s No Hero). Set In Stone sounds creative and fresh, and represents a new chapter in Brian’s life, both professionally and personally. It is catchy, enticing and engaging, and overall worth buying.

In Australian stores now.