Frankie has a talent for writing, whether that's in his email newsletters or music on an album Frankie has a way with words. A way of drawing you in, he writes in a tone that speaks to you. Yes you. I've been really enjoying the album since it dropped through my letterbox and it's already got memories linked to it. In fact I know in years to come when I listen to it I will be reminded of this time and what I was doing now. It will remind me of cycling to work, driving up and down the motorway in the sun and sat in a desk on my own at work listening to album after album. I've listened to some other albums a lot during this period of time, Two Door Cinema Club's (TDCC) being one of them but there's definitely something special about this album.
The album has quite a lot of anthemic elements, sing along sections backed up by catchy riffs and beats taken straight out of the 80s and 90s. In fact the intro to Ungrateful sounds so familiar I wish someone would put me out of my misery and tell me what it sounds like please. Anyway it makes an album that I can listen to and then put on again straight away. I guess that's the pop nature of the album but there is more depth than that suggests. I have already touched upon the lyrical skills of Frankie but Fragile really does sound like a soul classic, admittedly it sounds like it's been covered by Frankie (so much so I had to check they'd written it). Unlike quite a lot of their songs it starts slowly and then builds up. It's the kind of song that should someone like Simon Cowell select it for X-Factor and open it up to a wider audience it could be a massive hit, like he did with Biffy Clyro I guess.
I was asked the other day by Schonberg which album was my favourite so far this year and I would say three so far could compete for it. TDCC, The Vaccines and Frankie & the Heartstrings. As TDCC was released last year I guess that makes just two. If you don't own them yet I think you need to get down your local independent record shop, don't you? (I won't judge you if you go to a supermarket but I don't think you'll find it there).
Frankie & The Heartstrings - Fragile by 3WTM
Could be a cover of a soul classic?
Frankie & The Heartstrings - Ungrateful by 3WTM
Please tell me what 80s song the start sounds like.
2 comments:
I personally like the album and the song 'Hunger' - but just look at what sort of vitriol it's caused in some people... http://changingsame.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/chasing-the-shitegeist-frankie-and-the-heartstrings-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%98ungrateful%E2%80%99/
Hi Schonberg,
Thanks for the comment. I had a read and I'm a bit surprised. Not by the fact that he hates the song so much but that he could be bothered to write so much about hating it. I have to say I didn't read it all, I got a bit bored after the first section. He had some valid points (and some that weren't) but I still can't understand why anyone would spend their time slagging off an artist to such an extent. Everyone wants guidance as to what's good and what to avoid but seriously...
Anyway glad you've tried the album. I'm going to see them tonight, first gig in a while.
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