OK – I know what your thinking – “another Frank Turner review, we know the guy’s a legend but Jesus”. Well I thought I can’t review two albums and not the rest of his catalogue.

“First Three Years”, as the title perhaps suggests, is a compilation of Frank’s first three years of solo music, and was initially released in December 2008, which is only available from Xtra Mile Recordings. In January, it was released to the general public as “Love Ire and Song + First Three Years”. I decided to go for the album on its own, since obviously I already have “Love Ire and Song”, however they are pretty much the same price – £9.99 for album on its own, or for £8.99 for the double album.

Over the years, Frank has released a couple of odd bits that only the real fans tend to bother to get, his first EP, “Campfire Punkrock”, was released in 2006 and the “Real Damage EP” was released in 2007, they are both included in their entirety on this CD, except “Real Damage” from the so titled EP, since that was the album version, instead there another version of it from a split he did with Reuben.

Also in 2006, was a split 12”, with Jonah Matranga, where they each covered two songs from the other’s country, so Frank did two American tracks. The third source of tracks, was from the “UK Softcore Tour CD”, which was the tour Frank headlined with Jonah Mantranga, Joshua English and Jacob Golden, and it features another two covered tracks by Frank.

The rest of the songs were previously unreleased, and featured some recordings from the studio sessions of his latest album, and some other odd recordings he had lying around.

The Tracks

The Real Damage

Essentially the same as the album version, but just sounds that little bit more raw, musically it is the same, but has some little piano twangs every now and again, which suit the song well.

Campfire Punkrock Tracks

Nashville Tennessee

This was one of the first songs I saw Frank perform, it has a distinct feel of county folk, and is the perfect introduction to Frank Turner’s music. It is about his style of music, and what he has to offer, and about people who pretend they are from America.

Well I've been to Texas state, I didn't think it was all that fucking great,
And Nebraska is just a bunch of songs,
Holloway and Hampshire is where I belong.
And I don't know anybody who plays pedal steel guitar,
All the city roads are twisted and I do not own a car.
I was raised in middle England, not in Nashville Tennessee,
And the only thing I'm offering is me.

This remains to this day, one of my favourite songs, and is amazing to see live. It has a fantastic sound to it, and if you listened to just one Frank Turner song, then this one would be the best introduction.

Thatcher Fucked the Kids

This song has a great twangy guitar sound, and was another of the first songs I saw Frank perform, and one of the ones that drove me to buy “Campfire Punkrock”. Lyrically, it essentially blames a lot of society’s problems on Margaret Thatcher’s time in government, which I can’t really say whether he is right about or not – purely since I do not know, but regardless it is an awesome song, and the lyrics make sense.

And it seems a little bit rich to me,
The way the rich only ever talk of charity
In times like the seventies, the broken down economy
Meant even the upper tier was needing some help.
But as soon as things look brighter,
Yeah the grin gets wider and the grip gets tighter,
And for every teenage tracksuit mugger
There's a guy in a suit who wouldn't lift a finger for anybody else.

This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the One of Me

A catchy little number, about trying to leave the town you were born in, and getting away finding out what the rest of the world is like. I really get what he means with this, since I’ve lived in a tiny village in the Fens all my life, and can’t wait until I leave for something bigger. The lyrics are pretty good, and it has a toe tapping rhythm to it.

Casanova Lament

With simple melodic guitar strings being gently plucked, and some soft violin strings near the end this song has a real beauty to it, and when I first heard it I listened to it over and over again, and it still remains a favourite of mine. Lyrically, it is straight to the point, and well written, basically about sleeping around / one night stands, and how they are taking their toll.

I really don’t care what you did on your Gap Year

A smooth flowing song, with a slow drum beat to it. In all honesty, it isn’t one of my favourites, and I don’t really listen to it that much, but it’s certainly not a terrible song, in essence it is in a similar vein to ‘Casanova Lament’, but slightly less a love song. It is about staying up all night, being completely wasted, but not caring about anything over than getting with someone, but put in a much prettier and less blunt way than that.

From the Jonah Matranga Split

The Outdoor Type

Another of my absolute favourite Turner tracks. It is a cover of The Lemonheads, which are one of Frank’s favourite bands, and I am torn between which version I like, since they both offer something unique. It has a sad feeling to it, and simple guitar with some sort of melody behind it, before it has some French strings or something come in. The song is actually a little humorous in the lyrics, but presented in a way in which it isn’t.

No, I can't go away with you on a rock-climbing weekend
What if something's on TV that's never shown again?
It's just as well I'm not invited, as I'm afraid of heights
I lied about being the outdoor type

You are my Sunshine

I should think that everyone knows this song, as it has been covered by a million people over time. To be perfectly honest, Frank’s cover is nothing that special, although is probably better than most versions. His voice has a softness to it, and actually sounds a little tired, like after a weekend of going out, having a really dry throat from drinking and smoking too much. Still, it’s a not bad track – but I think the best version is by Less Than Jake.

Tracks from The Real Damage EP

Sea Legs

A common theme in Frank’s music is about being away from home, his friends and his family, and I think this is one of the first songs he wrote which tackles that issue. It has a sea feel in the guitar, and lyrically is purely about being away from home. It’s a pretty good track, and captures Frank’s passion just like when he performs this song live.

Back to Sleep

This song would have fitted in perfectly well with “Sleep is for the Week”, and is another song about looking for the perfect girl. It is an OK track, but doesn’t stand out as a brilliant song compared to many of the others on this album.

Sunshine State

It has a fast flowing guitar behind it, and Frank’s lyrics are sang perfectly, is has a depressing air to it, and seems to be about splitting up with someone, and them moving away, near the end Frank realises that really, her love wasn’t actually any good for him. It is a smooth track, and was the best from “The Real Damage EP”

Heartless Bastard Motherfucker

A lively song, which is really catchy, and has an awesome title :P. Musically, has a jangle of acoustic guitar, with some electric underneath, and a medium paced beat. It is about people who pretend they are something they aren’t.

Softcore Tour Tracks

Pay to Cum

A cover of Bad Brains, it’s a simple song with just Frank and his guitar. I don’t listen to it that much, in fact I lost my original Softcore Tour CD somewhere, and didn’t hear it until I got sent a CD with it on for sticking stickers around London advertising Frank’s second album. Its not a terrible track, but with any cover, they just aren’t as strong as an original.

Fix Me

A cover of a Black Flag song, again just Frank and his guitar, but this cover is much better, has more feeling to it, more force. His voice carries some passion in it, and is a good little track, albeit not one I listen to that much.

Love Ire and Song Recording Sessions

Hold your Tongue

Why oh why was this not on the actual album? Seriously, this is an incredible song. A simple song, Frank with his guitar for the verse, and it packs so much feeling, at the main bit of the song, he is accompanied with some piano, which gives an immense sense of emotion.

So hold your goddamn tongue
You forget yourself
How could I be the one?
If you're wrapped round someone else?

It brings in some patented Frank passion, and his voice does all he is good at, from a simple soft singing, some forceful singing, and melodic singing – covers all the bases, creating a brilliant track, and to be honest it would be worth buying the album just for this.

Front Crawl

A love song combined with Frank being away all the time. Saying how much someone means to him, and that he would “have to cross eight borders and three seas”. Musically it has a repeating string plucking guitar chord, and some light jazz sounding guitar accompaniment. There is an instrumental part of the song with a flute

or something, and it reminds me of ‘Potters Wheel’ by John Denver…strange I know.

Jet Lag (rock)

The final track on “Love Ire and Song” is Jet Lag, but Frank could never get the rock version of the song perfect, and in the end recording a slow, piano piece when he was a little drunk and it fitted perfectly and was used for the album – you even hear at the end of it “that’s the one!” from Frank.

This version is the rock version, which they eventually got working, and it is brilliant. It has a massively different feel to it, from the original being slow, sad and emotional, this version is fast paced, and feels more resilient – like he is working passed the Jet Lag. I much prefer this song, and think it works really well, but think the other version fitted in on “Love Ire and song” much better.

Truck Sessions June 08 Tracks

Photosynthesis

Worst Things Happen at Sea

Imperfect Tense

These three tracks pretty much just sound like demo’s, I don’t know what the Truck Sessions were, but assume they are small live recordings. Photosynthesis, has the passion installed of the actual album track, but just has that distant sound that demos have. Worst Things Happen at Sea is better quality, and the only advantage it has over the studio version is that it has more of the passion which Frank packs in live. Imperfect Tense is the same sound-wise, but differs from the studio version since is now acoustic, it having been a punkier track on “Love Ire and Song”. Out of the three, this is better track, since it offers something different.

Other Recordings

District Sleeps alone Tonight

A cover of a song by The Postal Service. Do you remember me saying that normally a cover can’t beat an original song in terms of passion from the singer? Well I have eaten by hat on this one. This is the best song from this collection, it is fantastic, and since I got his CD last week, I have listened to this one track about 100 times, had it just on repeat. I checked the original out – and it is so rubbish compared to Frank’s version – it sounds like a Frank original.

The music is the gentle acoustic guitar throughout, and Franks voice carries the song so perfectly. The chorus melts through you, it has been stuck in my head for a week, and is just amazing.

You seem so out of context in this gaudy apartment complex
A stranger with your door key explaining that I am just visiting
And I am finally seeing
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving

The only thing The Postal Service did right was write the lyrics, their version just sounded too distant, unemotional and bland. Frank has made it his own, brought in all the elements needed to make the song shine.

Smiling at Strangers on Trains

Originally of Frank’s old band – Million Dead, which was a much heavier song, and I think I prefer this one. It is Frank and his guitar – as normal, with a brush drum beat. It is another really golden song of this album. With some passion in his voice, and a sweet flow.

Dancing Queen

Obviously it’s an ABBA cover. He started doing it at the Softcore Tour, finishing his set with the four of them (Jonah, Joshua, Jacob and Frank) singing it – which was rather cool. It’s much better than the original mainly because I’m not an ABBA fan, but it doesn’t quite have the huge dance to feel that it should have.

Conclusion

So you have sat their and read through all the tracks, and seen which ones I think are really ace – or you’ve skimmed down to the bottom to get the gist. I wouldn’t say that this is an essential album to own, his two proper albums are, definitely, but this is probably more for the real fans of Frank – which have been growing in numbers hugely over the past year. But, if you are going to by “Love Ire and Song” you should buy the version that comes with this, as for the money you spend- it is well worth it.

The album has some real gems, and it is good to have all the EP’s, splits and odd bits on one CD at last. The tracks are varied, obviously since they come from different bits. Really it could do without the Truck Sessions songs, with the exception of ‘Imperfect Tense’ which was a credit to the album, I would have liked to have seen his covers of ‘Huntsman Come’s a Marchin’’ which was originally by Chris TT, and ‘Chelsea Hotel #2’, the Leonard Cohen classic on the album. Both are incredible and introduced me to another two amazing artists. Frank’s cover of Cohen is the best version I have heard, beating the more well known cover by Rufus Wainwright. I e-mailed Frank and told him this to which he said:

“There were a few bits and bobs we didn't have room for actually.. next time! See you in October.”