How to Save a Life (album)

How to Save a Life is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The Fray. It was released on September 13, 2005, by Epic Records.

Prior to its release, The Fray had independently released two extended plays and signed with Epic in December 2004 after the single "Over My Head (Cable Car)" became a sleeper hit on Denver radio stations. Recording sessions for How to Save a Life mostly took place over six weeks in Echo Park Studios in Bloomington, Indiana, with other sessions taking place in New York City and Colorado. The album was produced by Aaron Johnson and Mike Flynn and incorporates dramatic melodies and piano-driven ballads, while its lyrics exhibit themes of loss, regret, personal crisis, and heartache.

Four singles were released for the album, including "Over My Head (Cable Car)", "How to Save a Life", "Look After You" and "All at Once". "How to Save a Life" reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and "Over My Head (Cable Car)" reached number 8, while the album peaked in the top 15 on the US Billboard 200 and was a top ten hit in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

How to Save a Life received mixed reviews from music critics, who praised the band's production style but criticized its content as derivative. "How to Save a Life" was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and "Over My Head (Cable Car)" was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.