The Fratellis
Here We Stand
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Review - The Fratellis
Reviewer: Kim Langcake
Rating:
Scottish trio The Fratellis, probably best known globally for their iTunes advertisement song "Flathead", are specialists in brash, high-energy pop tunes, and the follow-up to their 2006 debut "Costello Music" has been much anticipated. The title of their new release "Here We Stand", however, is very telling. As in, "Here we are, this works for us, it sells records, and we ain't moving."
"Costello Music" was a beered-up homage — or rip off... depends which way one looks at it — to the much-loved genre of British pop-rock. T Rex and the Gallagher brothers of Oasis might not be able to sue for plagiarism, but there was certainly much borrowing of pomp and swagger the first time around, and the Fratellis (brothers Jon, Mince and Barry) obviously saw no reason to change direction with their latest release. It may mean that there is an odd sense of déjà vu when listening to the album; somehow it feels as though we've heard these songs before, but with that familiarity comes a certain warmth. Add to this the fact that there just aren't many acts around at the moment who can do a big dumb pop song quite like The Fratellis, and you've got an album which won't break any new ground, but is a still well worth a listen — preferably up loud and in a room full of people.
The first single, "Mistress Mabel", has an Elton John piano rock feel, and, while it's a decent song, there are more single-worthy offerings on the album, such as "Shameless", a massively infectious pub-rock song with one of the hookiest choruses I've heard in a long time. Beer sales will increase at bars just by putting this onto the jukebox. The rousing glam punk of "Tell Me a Lie" could have been one of the White Stripes' finer moments, and "Lupe Brown" is another stellar hook pop song, with the jaunty rocker "A Heady Tale" also pulling big time for the comeback of the memorable, singalong chorus.
Album opener "My Friend John" has the boys turning all moody on us, but overall, musically and lyrically, the style changes little on the album. Frontman Jonny Boy sounds as though he's just having too much fun to change the pace, and while he doesn't have a whole lot to say, his turn of phrase and the energized delivery are infectious enough to carry listeners along.
For all of its repetition and blatant borrowing of riffs and melodies, "Here We Stand" is a solid rock album which slips the band past that difficult second album period. It should inspire many an inebriated but spirited singalong in pubs and bars around the world. The lyrics on "Look Out Sunshine" probably say it all when Jonny Boy proclaims, "I'm much too lazy to change." Solid pub rock should, at its core, be as honest as a good day's work, and The Fratellis certainly are that.
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