In lieu of 2002's skate-metal and earnest AOR grunge, on follow-up album
Stanley Climbfall Lifehouse are more at ease than most with
Scott Weiland's swampmonster vocals and power-crunched guitar riffs. The band also knows how to dig a big chorus out of its thick dynamics when called for, a useful tactic reminiscent of
Silverchair's first album and the big-gestured rock of
Creed and
John Cougar Mellencamp.
Ron Aniello and
Brendan O'Brien bring their recognizable hair metal production to the effort. ~ Dean Carlson, All Music Guide