Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Scott from Frightened Rabbit is a lovely guy and has been a real friend to Song, by Toad Records, so it makes me feel totally ungrateful and really fucking mean to say this, but I think this album is awful.
Hutchison still shows flashes of his songwriting gift – something which I would never deny – on sad, simple songs like Fun Stuff, but pretty much everything else on the record is so soft around the edges and so smothered in by-the-numbers radio indie arrangement that I really can’t listen to it.
The moment I realised that no matter how much I wanted to like this album, and no matter how much I tried I would always have an allergic reaction to it, comes just over two minutes into the slow build of Skip the Youth, when the chorus of backing vocals comes in for the first time. Honestly, it’s so horrible I want to set it on fire.
This kind of grand, choral leaning has always been there or thereabouts in Frightened Rabbit’s stuff, but when it was just their voices producing it, it had a note of keenness, of desperation, and it let the emotion really grip you. Now it just sounds bombastic and over-cooked and throws down a pretty impermeable barrier to me making any emotional connection with this album.
There’s still an energy to a lot of the guitar playing that I can imagine when this material gets off the stereo and into a sweaty venue it really could be great to witness. A lot of the verses are actually delivered in a style I really enjoy, but so often there is just so much superfluous fluff and air-punching going on by the time the chorus comes around that I just find myself wincing.
You get the picture by now, I am sure, so there’s no point going on about it. Basically, The Winter of Mixed Drinks and what I personally enjoy listening to are just too far apart to ever really meet in the middle, and I really do feel like an ungracious dick saying so as well.
Frightened Rabbit – Fun Stuff
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Frightened Rabbit – Skip the Youth
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Ouch!
I hope I don’t feel the same way.
I really love TMOF so have high hopes of enjoying this one too.
I love about half of TMOF, but this was one of the most uncomfortable reviews I can ever remember writing.
But your taste and my taste are different enough – you might be alright!
I liked it, after a few listens, but I can see where you are coming from.
I’m really no good at arguing on the internet.
Well taste is taste – you’re no more likely to persuade me to start liking it than I am to persuade you to stop. You might persuade me to keep trying with it though, which would be a fair comment, but I’ll be honest with you, I am not hugely optimistic.
Refreshing to read an honest review. Haven’t given any the new material a listen yet because Midnight Organ Fight was better appreciated as an album than individually but hope I feel differently. The pitfalls of a certain level of success I suppose. x
I can see where you are coming from, it is a lot more mainstream. On my first few listens I didn’t like it at all, and I am a bit obsessed by the frabbit. I think that the main sticking point for me was that i feels a lot more mainstream which didn’t sit comfortably with me at all.
If you look at it as an album by an album stepping out into the so called mainstream then it works really well.
I can completely appreciate where you are coming from, it’s good to see someone having the balls to say exactly what they think. The album is defo a grower or at least it was in my case. I guess with the number of records that you review each week, that it won’t be one that you’ll reconsider. Each to their own I guess.
Wouldn’t wanna be there next time you meet Scott though……
No. And there’s four or five of them in the band, so I could get a right battering.
Actually, I don’t know him that well, but he’s always been really nice and really supportive of what we’re doing, so I feel really shitty about this. I don’t know what else to write other than my honest opinion though. I suppose I could not have reviewed it at all, but then this record is a big deal in Scotland and I was really looking forward to it.
And besides, you’re assuming that they actually give a flying fuck what I think, which may be a little presumptuous to begin with.
you could have kept your thoughts to yourself…….
….i’m having my tea then i’ll get back to you.
I disagree with you on this one Matthew.
Look at the new William Henry Miller Pt 1 version by Meursault, you felt (well it appeared so) almost the same way about that song as you do about Frightened Rabbit’s new sound. A bit too much. The folk influence of this album if almost non-existent, which leads it to be a lot more sonic and slow building, grandiose even. It is growth rather than a step back I feel, and perhaps it seems constructed and calculated so no emotional connection can be made to the album, but ultimately Scott’s lyrics are the best he has ever written and the recurring theme of dusting off/graves/sea really do win it over for me. I also think The Wrestle, Loneliness and The Scream, Things are some of the best songs they have done.
Longest sentence ever. Oops. I see your point of view, just it’s not the same as mine. I also think a lot of people will agree with you, so I applaud you for being first to say it.
I think that’s one of the best things about your reviews, you tell it like you see it.
Right that’s enough arse licking for one evening
too many people have been treading carefully round this album and not saying what I felt when I first heard it a couple months back, I’m glad you’re not one of them matthew, and suspected you wouldn’t be.
It is growth rather than a step back I feel, and perhaps it seems constructed and calculated so no emotional connection can be made to the album, but ultimately Scott’s lyrics are the best he has ever written and the recurring theme of dusting off/graves/sea really do win it over for me.”
Actually, I don’t disagree with any of this – it’s definitely growth, rather than a step back, it’s just growth in a direction which is moving away from my taste in music, that’s all.
And I don’t think it was constructed to deliberately cut off an emotional connection, it’s more that the sounds being used happen to do that for me. I just dislike the actual sound of the record so much I am finding it very hard to figure out whether or not the underlying songwriting still appeals to me. Played acoustically or in a more raw, garagey kind of way I might be find it more accessible, but for the moment the heart of the songs isn’t really transcending the embodiment of the songs, if you get my meaning.
Lyrically, you’ll get no argument from me either – I think Scott’s lyrics are pretty much always brilliant.
what a fucking disgrace!
(j/k)
Skip The Youth is actually my favourite song on the album, which I really like overall. I love the (relative) risk they’ve taken with the two-minute build-up of grinding guitar noise, and the choral back-up bit you seem to despise I think counter-acts that really nicely, cos it’s kinda cutesy. The build-up, which you hear as bombastic, I hear as restrained (when he drawls “I’m so ti-i-i-i-red”, there’s no energy in that at all). So when they do then finally launch into “skip the youth it’s aging me too fast!” it’s like a final desperate plea bursting out of all that exhaustion, and I find that really exciting.
I thought you’d enjoy this one, Broon! The review, I meant. And the album actually, but I particularly thought the review would make you chuckle.
I’m with you Matthew on this. I really wanted to like this album but after about 10 plays so far all I can say is it does absolutely nothing for me it just sort of washes over me.
I had a bit of a concern at the Queen’s Hall gig back in August last year when I hated what they did to My Backwards Walk but at the time put it down to fact that I may have been compairing that night to the Captain’s Rest Gig in March which was something else.
I know that a lot of people who I think this will appeal to which can only be a good thing for the band.
I don’t get the comparisons with Snow Patrol that I have seen in other reviews.
I know that my stance will be put down as musical snobbery by some but that isn’t the case. I really wanted to be knocked out by this before I heard it, now I would settle for a slight dunt.
I find it interesting fatcat sent them back into the studio to do some different versions of some of the tracks on the initial album they presented them with.
Well, the nice thing about a slightly contreversial review is that it has inspired me to get off my arse and buy this album to make up my own mind.
I love Fun Stuff and the second half of skip the youth though.
Had a feeling when I was listening to the LP that it wouldnt go down well with you Toad (and indeed Drew who commented earlier), and am hugely impressed that you had the bollocks to say it. I dont really have the ability to do that – if something disappoints me, I’ll just quietly ignore it rather than slate it. Like I did when I didnt bother to review the new Tindersticks LP.
Oh and if you do have a spare moment, you can nip over to TVV and see that I’m a fan of the FR album. It was never going to be Midnight Organ Fight MkII, and I reckon its a close cousin to the debut LP, albeit with a ‘bigger’ and ‘bolder’ production that is a genuine attempt to be more mainstream without losing everything special they’ve had since they started out.
Get ready for the hate mail……but I know you’ll love responding.
Re: Scott
Which songs had to be redone do you know? That is something that I didn’t expect Fatcat to do!
JC, we are having a Song, by Toad Night in Glasgow in May. You are invited despite liking albums which I don’t think are very good.
And it’s nice that you appreciate my bollocks, but we all know it doesn’t take a lot of courage to be a dick about someone’s music on the internet
when in May??? We’re away from 8-23 so I hope its outside those dates…….
ps
You up for being part of Paul Haig Day II on 6th April???
Nope, those are the dates alright. Fucksake.
Matthew I don’t think you can even call this a review.
It’s more like a hatchet job, isn’t it?
Nah, I like this album a lot so I’m disappointed you don’t, but then our tastes mismatch on a few things. I could try to persuade you otherwise but musical opinions are tough to shift. I know I’m right, you know you’re right: vast amounts of careful argument can always founder on “I dis/like this sound”, which is impossible to argue with. And if “Skip The Youth” is the one song you pick out to criticise, and the song I like the most, then we’re probably miles apart on this album already.
Anyway, I think Frightened Rabbit will survive despite the Song By Toad mauling!
I loved TMOF and saw FR when they came to Australia. I’ve heard a couple of tracks off the new album but have been hesitant to listen to the whole thing because I’ve honestly not been that impressed with what I have heard so far. I’m too scared that I’ll agree with you Matthew, and I don’t want to because I loved TMOF so much!
And I’m with you JC: “I dont really have the ability to do that – if something disappoints me, I’ll just quietly ignore it rather than slate it.”
That’s why I didn’t review Regina Spektor’s new album last year. I just couldn’t do it.
Can’t comment. Must save material for Sunday Supplement……
Matthew I don’t think you can even call this a review.
It’s more like a hatchet job, isn’t it?
Hahahaha!!
Brilliant!
And true.
Kidding. Will save my thoughts for Sunday from……………now
Ally – well it’s one of things which makes me so sceptical about the concept of objective music criticism. You and I are listening to the exact same thing in that song and the way we describe it, especially looking at the single paragraphs on it which we both just wrote, is so totally dependent on whether or not we enjoyed it, it’s just silly.
I think you’re actually right though, this isn’t much of a review, more an explanation of why I would find it tricky, if not downright impossible, to sensibly write one. If those are the sensations underlying anything I might try and write, would you really trust anything much I had to say on this album, even if it was attempting to be detached and analytical?
I figured I might as well lay out the emotional reaction first, so people understood where everything else was coming from.
Agnes/JC – About bad reviews, this website is basically just a journal of stuff I think about music, so I will always write a bad review if I think one is merited. Basically, if I am interested enough to chase down an album as soon as it is released, then I will write what I think about it.
The only exception is if the band are too small, then I shelve it because I think it’s mean. As Ally pointed out, though, Frabbit are easily big enough and successful enough not give a shit what I think about anything.
I listened to the two samplers you put up, Toad. My inital reaction is that I am personally not too bothered. But then I havent been bothered about anything in quite a while. Not even washing myself.
I can’t get behind “emotional” music, at least, music I perceive to have those affectations applied. This, to me, has that. It reminds me of being a teenager and I hated being one. It got good at 17 actually.
Anyone know if the Pineapple Chunks have started recording yet? I am looking forward to that actually. The next Spin Doctors in my mind.
Didn’t the guy in The Spin Doctors catch some disease which caused him to permanently lose his voice?
Haven’t we had this discussion on here before?
Why has Madcow stopped washing?
All this and more in next week’s exciting episode!
Chris Barron (lead singer) got vocal paralysis, yeah. Knocked his voice out for a year or so but through sheer grit and determination he rehabilitated his voice and started singing again. They then reformed and played the Renfrew Ferry in Glasgow and blew my tiny mind. And lovely as Mr.Barron is he replied to me on myspace and commented on my page. He liked my cheesy acoustic nonsense and said so. I could have died happily at that point. Love em.
I havent stopped washing really. I got a new coat from Matalan and so decided to scrub up for the occasion. Matalan is the business.
Same cow-time, same cow-channel.
this whole post needs to be put down painfully
RCC – even the stuff about the Spinny Dees and Matalan?
well that has been mildly distracting, so maybe that should just get slapped around a bit!
Kinky!
Is that the same Chris Barron as in the Barron Knights?
I’m guessing no? And he is also not The Red “Barron” either. He was German and is dead now I think.
Snoopy was always fighting the Red Baron in his dog mind by sitting on his kennel roof with a scarf on. Remember? I do.
I have this bootleg Soul Asylum video on which the Spin Doctors appear at the end for a few songs. I’m not sure why. It makes no sense. You can have it if you want. I was given it by a girl I was seeing when I was 15 as a present. I dumped her a day later. I never really watched it after that cause I felt bad.
Wow – cool. Maybe they were friends? I dont have a video player unfortunately. Total ollllld skooooool!
That girl you dumped sounds cool.
In other news on the BBC website it says the BBC Trust is open to rethinking their proposals on Radio 6. Anyone know if there is an offical petition anywhere or should I just look for a group on Facebook or something?
There is indeed a petition:
http://www.petition.fm/petitions/6musicasiannet/1000/
And a Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=278123313911&ref=ts
Or, indeed here:
http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/34390.html
And that was worth the Three-Post Mentalism
if you want to be more pro-active in the process you could take part in this:
https://consultations.external.bbc.co.uk/departments/bbc/bbc-strategy-review/consultation/consult_view
but first read this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/strategic_review/strategic_review.pdf
Oh good stuff Chutters. I am going to post about this tomorrow actually, so thanks for those links, I’ll put them both up.
Well – I’ve done all of them bar the facebook. I couldnt read all the pdf though as I really should be working here. *sigh*. I congratulated them on BBC IPlayer and Question Time though. They aren’t doing everything wrong.
Ian regarding fr getting sent back into the studio, it came straight from Scott Hutchinsons lips, didn’t mention what songs though.
Just so you’re all aware (cos i know you’re all waiting with baited breath) i’m liking the new Frabbit album, yeah the production is a kinda cloying at first, but the songs shine through……and as you all should know i’m all about the song!
my tea was right lovely btw, calmed me right down!
Thank fuck for that!
I don’t intend to have a dig at anyone for liking it Chutters, but the songs didn’t really escape, for me. But I think my barriers to the arrangements on this album are probably a lot higher than yours.
They played Nothing Like You at the Cab Vol show the other week, and it was the tightest and most urgent performance on the night, TMOF offerings were a bit tired lumpen and slack in comparison.
So there is some hope for you to appreciate the songs, in the future, Matthew .
Well I really liked them at the Liquid Rooms, when I went with Euan. Who else was along to that – it was a really good gig.
….i dunno…..but what a trio of twats!
Really?? I thought that was a tired, jaded performance that night and one of the poorest I’d seen by them. But I was drunk. Or maybe that makes it even worse, that I was drunk and still didn’t enjoy it?!
trio of twats for sure though.
Ah well, I’ve not seen them more than once or twice to make a worthwhile comparison. I enjoyed it though.
was that playing with twilight sad at the edge thingy?
Na, My Latest Novel supported them that night.
These double bluff reviews are working, I’ve bought the album too and I probably wouldn’t have done.
I just want to end this whole debacle by saying: This year it’s all about the new meursault record
And I think I’ll give it a shitty review over at The Vinyl Villain just to be a cunt to Matthew……
Only kidding mate. Looking forward to it as much as anything else in 2010.
wrong scott. this year is all about wilco playing the barras. nothing else matters anymore.
I thought it was all about the new Foxx album…..oh yeah, it isn’t, is it? Ah well.
no no no, this year is all about me moving to London!
the rest of you are just self obsessed morons……cough
tho i might have to come back for the Wilco gig
They are playing Landan too mate.
Going back to Frightened Rabbit – Matthew, I really am struggling to know where you conjured up the word “awful” from with regards to this record. So yes, Sunday’s Supplement is definitely going to be what we discussed.
AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH stop it with the mate…..you know it annoys me! I’m coming to the Barras and going to stand behind you and shout along to the songs in your ear!
and yeah this album is far from awful…..you naughty boy!
Anyone remember Matey bubble bath? Stank like Domestos but you still liked because the bottle looked like a sailor. Or at least it did if you got enough of the stuff in your eyes.
Bart loves the stuff….go on ask him!
sorry pal
Bart washes?
well i think so.
last night we were talking about what type of soap we should use to wash out your dirty little mouth young man!
There was a pink Matey too for ladies….I heard that was Bart’s favourite.
Yeah, the girls’ Matey confused me, because at no point in the history of the Royal Navy has the uniform for female officers or ratings been pink.
Dylan, don’t blame Matey for your incomprehension of girls and/or the Navy,
In fact, don’t blame Matey for anything.
Except fun bath times.
I always thought frightend rabbit were shit
“Skip the Youth” sounds like Meatloaf.
[...] Euan ‘Steinberg Principle’ ‘Kays Lavelle’ ‘Trampoline’ McMeeken, and turns Matthew’s own review of an important local release on its head. Don’t forget if you’d like to see a Sunday [...]
I agree with a lot of what you have said here. The whole album reeks of a deliberate almost desperate need to produce something ‘anthemic’. I have no doubt that when I hear these songs played live I will absolutely love them, but I cannot shake the awful production from poisoning what I am hearing. There is nothing organic about anything on the album, it is all too deliberate.
It made me think about great second albums and they almost always work better because they are a response to the reaction of the first album. Most bands produce poor or ordinary second albums because they force the material rather than writing the songs naturally but with this the production is so over-cooked it is preposterous. What is with that kick drum sound? The choral backing vocals?
On the plus side I do think Scott’s voice sounds great, although I don’t like the overall sound, his singing has clearly improved a lot. I would just ignore this album and skip right to their angry, bitter third outing. How can it fail with the Frabbit backlash already in full swing???
This is actually their third – Sing the Greys, Midnight Organ Fight and then this.
Sing the Greys was messy, raw and absolutely brilliant, and I reckon if they get angry their fourth could be really good, like you say. I hope so anyway, because there’s lots and lots about the band that I really love.
At least they’re billing themselves as a Selkirk band these days, and not a Glasgow band. They’ve come to terms with their Borders’ upbringing – that’s real growth!
Cough
a lot of people on this here post have just made my shitlist (this is where i what L7 to start playing in the background)
If there is any normal everyday people out there reading this and you enjoyed the last Frabbit album then you’ll no doubt like this album, there is no great change.
deal with it!
I appreciate I’m a little tardy but my two cents is as follows: ultimately, the problem is that it’s just a little too neat and I don’t seem able to turn the volume up high enough to roughen the edges. It sounds as though there is a truely great album inside but someone’s shut it up in a box and written ‘breakthough’ all over it.
It’s not awful but it’s not brilliant and if it weren’t for TMOF I’d be surprised if you’d have been quite so harsh.
But perhaps I just want to love it too much and my vision is a little clouded
.