| Reason EP | |
| Type: | EP |
| Artist: | The Fray |
| Cover: | TheFray-Reason-LP-.jpg |
| Released: | 2003 |
| Genre: | Alternative rock |
| Length: | 22:41 |
| Label: | Independent |
| Producer: | Aaron Johnson |
| Prev Title: | Movement EP |
| Prev Year: | 2002 |
| Next Title: | How to Save a Life |
| Next Year: | 2005 |
Reason EP is the second EP from Denver-based rock band the Fray, released in 2003 by an independent record label. In October 2007, the EP was re-released by Epic Records.[1]
All songs written by Isaac Slade and Joe King, except "Vienna", co-written with Dan Battenhouse.[2]
The drums on "Oceans Away" and "Vienna" are done by Zach Johnson, the first drummer for The Fray. For "Together", the guitar is played by Mike Ayars.[3] The tracks "Vienna" and "Oceans Away" were featured in the band's first EP, Movement. "Vienna" was again featured on the band's debut album How to Save a Life.
Reason EP launched the band into prominence in its native Denver city.[4] The songs from the EP began receiving airplay on Denver radio stations, especially on KTCL. The band were invited as a headliner at a local theatre and later, it was voted Best New Band by Westword (a local alternative newsweekly). The band also won in the rock category of the "Westword Music Showcase Awards."[4] Epic Records A&R man, Mike Flynn grew interested in the band after hearing the third track on the EP, "Vienna". He stated that the song "was real music. It was timeless music.[4] Epic later signed the band in 2004.[1]
Following its re-issue in 2007 (by which time the band had achieved mainstream success with the release of its debut album, How to Save a Life), Allmusic, in its review of the EP, compared it unfavorably to the radio-friendly style of the debut album, but stated that "the music is pleasant enough, with moodswinging melodies and tasteful piano fashioning some fine, middle-of-the-road pop/rock tunes."[5] Westword gave the EP a positive review, stating "the music is epic, no doubt, but it's played on a wholly human scale" and compared The Fray favorably to Coldplay.[6] CNET later termed Reason EP as "a career changing EP".[7]