Frank Turner - Love Ire and Song
by Daniel Cressey
published: 6 / 4 / 2008
Label:
Xtra Mile
Format: CD
intro
Often fine, but unfortunately at times somewhat overblown new album from former Million Dead frontman and punk-turned-folk artist, Frank Turner
Punk-turned-folkie Frank Turner’s latest album looks set to solidify his position as one of Britain’s better new songwriters. He has an undoubted talent with a guitar and a catchy tune. Sadly, on some of the tracks here he also has a tendency to be rather overblown. At the climax for ‘Jet Lag’, for instance’ he gives the chorus of an otherwise pleasant slow song a totally unnecessarily over the top warbling. The simpler tracks here are by far the best, and not just vocally. There’s a parallel tendency to go overboard on the instruments and much of this album would benefit from a less is more approach. There are some fine tracks here. The single ‘Photosynthesis’ is brilliant. As is ‘St Christopher Is Coming Home’. It is noticeable that Turner is at his best when tackling everyday subjects (getting old and not seeing enough of your friends respectively on those two tracks). This is the approach that served him well on his last album, 'Sleep Is For The Week'. What made that so listenable was fact you could immediately relate to the subject matter – losing in love, cups of tea, hangovers – even if you couldn’t have put it to music so well. That element is missing from much of this new album, unless you tend to live the jet set, international lifestyle of a rising alt-folk star and are used to taking home the prettiest girl in the club (‘Jet Lag’ and ‘To Take You Home’ off this release). Actually ‘To Take You Home’ is one of the best tracks here, and Turner seems to be wryly aware he may be over doing the self promotion, noting on ‘Reasons Not To Be An Idiot’, “I’m not as awesome as this song makes out.” Actually, he probably is musically and he shows it on occasions. But he only really shows it when he’s not trying so hard.
Track Listing:-
1 I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous2 Reasons Not to Be an Idiot
3 Photosynthesis
4 Substitute
5 Better Half
6 Love Ire & Song
7 Imperfect Tense
8 To Take You Home
9 Long Live the Queen
10 A Love Worth Keeping
11 St. Christopher Is Coming Home
12 Jet Lag
Band Links:-
http://www.frank-turner.comhttp://www.facebook.com/frankturnermusic
https://twitter.com/frankturner
live reviews |
Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, 26/1/2019 |
Writer Shirley Procter and photographer Amanda J Window watch and photograph Frank Turner playing an energetic and crowd-pleasing show at new Manchester venue the Victoria Warehouse. |
Borderline, London, 13/2/2007 |
features |
Hold Steady (2007) |
Pennyblackmusic phootgrapher takes photos of former Million Dead front man Frank Turner at a gig at the Soho Revue Bar in London |
reviews |
Poetry of the Deed (2009) |
Lively third album of punk folk anthems from former Million Dead front man, Frank Turner |
The Road (2009) |
The First Three Years (2009) |
Long Live the Queen (2008) |
Reasons Not to Be An Idiot (2008) |
Sleep is for the Week (2007) |
Campfire Punkrock (2006) |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart