The Reason

THE REASON
FOOLS
ANTHEM/WARNER CANADA


“Prejudice is the reason of fools” is a famous quote from Voltaire. The 18th-century French philosopher meant that instead of relying on evidence and knowledge in making decisions as rational people do, fools rely on ignorance and hateful misunderstanding. Is that an allusion The Reason was aiming for when they named their third full-length Fools? Song titles like “Where Do We Go From Here?” and “The Ending of Us All” suggests it might be. But before recording Fools the Hamilton-based quintet weathered some personal turmoil, including a shift in labels, a change in drummers and some romance drama. Whatever motivated them, they’ve produced a damn fine album with plenty of crunch and stirring vocals by singer Adam White. /Gregory Beatty. - Prairie Dog Magazine

By Travis Persaud
The Reason continue to move onward. With their latest album, they don't revert back to the screamo ways of Ravenna or completely replicate the pleasant peppy pop from Things Couldn't Be Better. Rather, Fools is a down-tempo album with melodies and textures hidden behind seemingly simplistic, radio-friendly jams ("Work With Me"). While the Reason haven't completely switched gears and created an overtly difficult album, it does take multiple listens to decipher the gems. "Come & Go" rests on Adam White's unwavering voice and a soothing bass line. The entire song is wrapped in tension, waiting for the expected explosion, but it never comes. The band enter, but quickly fade away and it resolves in the same quiet fashion it started in. Tracks such as "The Ending of Us All" will satisfy those craving what the Reason did on their last album and "The Longest Highway Home" will undoubtedly turn into a live anthem. But as the 11-track record ends, there's a sense that something's missing. While Fools is worthy of your time, the emotion is subdued and, at times, impossible to find, making it tough to enter into on its first few spins.
(Warner) - Excliam!

Warner Music Canada

By: Valerie Bennett

Canadian rockers The Reason are on back the radar with the release of their third full-length album, Fools, which hit record store shelves on August 24, 2010. The band has finally come into their own with their latest release. While their debut album Ravenna had a heavy, hardcore-driven sound, and their follow-up Things Couldn’t Be Better took a perky pop route, Fools demonstrates that The Reason have found their true voice. That’s not to say that they don’t incorporate the aforementioned sounds because they certainly integrate subtle traces of each; however, the band adopts more prominent rock elements to harness their particular sound.

It’s evident in Fools that the album has been strongly influenced by the band’s time on the road and the theme can be noted throughout the songs. A brief skim of the track titles (“Run”, “Where Do We Go From Here”, “The Longest Highway Home”) as well as the lyrics in each, reveal a life of touring and traveling coast to coast to perform.
The album begins with “Come & Go”, a song about the blur of all that comes and goes on the road while being separated from a steady life at home. With Adam White’s evocative vocals above mid tempo instrumentals, the introductory track stands as a thinking piece to get your mind in gear for what the rest of the album has in store. The following track “Where Do We Go From Here” paints a similar picture.

“The Ending Of Us All” carries a pop-esque feel, with White’s melodies layered over catchy guitar hooks and a repetitive drum sequence. Fans of their first album will be pleased with “My Love Is Gone” as they embrace their harder side once more. The track is made by White’s raspy and edgy vocals along with his ability to execute screams that would catch the attention of any hardcore music lover. Another standout on the album is “Dogs” for its catchy intro heavily based around fast and steady guitar work, structured bass lines and simple drumming. “Work With Me” is single-worthy, with its radio friendly instrumentals and identifiable lyrics.

The closing song (and first single), “The Longest Highway Home” brings the album full circle, wrapping up with the theme of life on the road, though this time telling of both the ups and downs. White sings, “This one goes out to the boys / All you boys in the back hanging out / You’ve got a love back home. / But when you’re with your friends / There’s no goddamn place in the world / that you’d rather be. / This is the longest highway I’ve been on, / on the loneliest day you’ve ever known.” It’s one of the more fast-paced tracks on the album and certainly one of the catchiest with steady framework of guitars and drums. It also throws in an unexpected bout of handclaps and rambunctious screams at the conclusion, reminding listeners that despite the serious undertone to the album, The Reason are having fun while doing their thing.

Overall, it’s a fine piece of alternative rock, complete with subtle layers of hardcore and pop and hidden instrumental textures, delivered in a raucous manner. Fools shows us that the boys have harnessed their sound and discovered their reason for making rock.

www.thereason.ca
www.myspace.com/thereasonrock
- Lithium Magazine

The Reason return with a diverse album jam-packed with straight ahead rock n' roll.

The follow up to their 2007 album Things Couldn't Be Better is a diverse collection of songs that gives us the feeling The Reason have finally found their sound. Fools has songs of different speeds, lyrical content, and energy, which makes this album a very interesting listen.

The album opener "Come & Go" sounds like something Kings Of Leon would love to have on their next album, with it's mid tempo drumming, a rumbling baseline, and raspy vocals. "Run" is a bouncy, more pop-oriented effort that is about running back home after being on the road, and the bouncy, groove-filled rhythm of "Work With Me" offers some laid back charm. "My Love Is Gone" brings a touch of darkness with it's distorted guitars and almost defeated sounding vocals. The quickly strummed acoustic guitar and pounding drums of "Dogs" compliment a well-sung chorus. I think I even heard some hand-claps too!

The gem on this album though is "The Longest Highway Home". It highlights everything this band is good at, from singer Adam White's screaming vocals that soar over a powerful barrage of noise provided by James Nelan (guitar, keys), Michael Caputo (guitar), Ronson Armstrong (bass), and Steve Kiely (drums). The song begins with a powerful burst of guitars that disappear just in time to let Adam's vocals shine, and hits a chorus that would raise even the heaviest of hands to the air.

Fools could end up sneaking on to many people's "best-of" lists at the end of the year. It's one of those albums that gets a bit better with every listen, and will likely sound amazing live at the Horseshoe Tavern on October 16th, so make sure you check them out. - Sticky Magazine