published: 25 /
1 /
2007
Label:
Xtra Mile
Format: CD
Heart-on-sleeve honest and melodic debut solo album of folk punk from one-time Million Dead front man Frank Turner
Review
Moving on from the simple acoustic tunes of his previous 'Campfire Punk Rock' release, this first full album sees ex-punk songwriter Frank Turner continue on his path to becoming, if not a household name, at least a fans’ favourite. Punk’s loss it the rest of music’s gain. Although there is more instrumentation and arrangement than in his previous releases the core of wry humour and delicate observation is as compelling as ever.
Turner has a knack with a tune that suggests he has been at this game for far longer than he has. And he turns this knack to such everyday subjects as lost weekends, sour break-ups, and that awful moment when someone says “hi” and you don’t know who they are.
The heart-on-sleeve honesty of this album could be uncomfortable if it wasn’t carried on such melody. While angst in ‘Father’s Day’ would fuel a whole album from lesser songsmiths, so catchy is the tune it’s melded to that if your concentration lapses you may sing along unaware that someone is describing a moment of gutwrenching discord.
There is a rather English humour about 'Sleep is for the Week' as well, most evident on ‘Once We Were Anarchists’ where a childhood love of punk rock is turned into a quickfire country-bluegrass stomp complete with banjo and fiddle solo.
Possibly the first essential listening of the new year.
Track Listing:-
1
The Real Damage
2
Vital Signs
3
Romantic Fatigue
4
A Decent Cup of Tea
5
Father's Day
6
Worse Things Happen at Sea
7
My Kingdom for a Horse
8
Back in the Day
9
Once We Were Anarchists
10
Wisdom Teeth
11
The Ladies of London Town
12
Must Try Harder
13
The Ballad of Me and My Friends
Band Links:-
http://www.frank-turner.com
http://www.facebook.com/frankturnermus
https://twitter.com/frankturner