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Member since:20.06.2006
Reviews:262
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Review rated by 36 Ciao members on average: very helpful
This debut by the The Fratellis was released in 2006 to pretty critical acclaim and went straight into the UK charts in #2 (behind only Justin Timberlake).
The Inlay sleeve cover (as can be seen above) has three women looking like their from the '60's and the booklet features lyrics, this can be very helpful to decipher tyhe singing in place ;-).
The opening track is "Henrietta" which was their debut single and their first top 40 hit (reaching 19 in the UK and 6 in Scotland (the boys are originally from the town of Paisley, near glasgow). The track sets off the whole tone to the album with a high tempo feel, strong guitar and simple indie formula. The lyrics help set it apart from their contemporary's and introduce the album as fun indie. 10/10
The following track "Flathead" keeps the same formula and the song is perhaps the reason the lyrics are in the booklet. The high tempo can be come hard to follow (or rather sing along to), however once you realise whats being said you begin to really appreciate it. 8/10
The third track is "Cuntry boys and city girls" (yes i did spell it right, and I'm not trying to be rude...), this song
again following the simple formula with the singer's vocals being a difference between this and the earlier songs as he seems to change from a relaxed "tone" (wrong word but I can't think of the right one) to a more aggressive one throught the song. This song has a really sing-a-long feel part way through that endears the listener, and helps the song feel different but also the same. 8/10
"Whistle for the choir" Takes a break from the fast tempo up beat sounds and feels kind of acousticy and slower from the opening three songs, which gives you a bit of chance to think. The soft catchy feel forces you to sing along and smile whilst you do so, and makes a wonderful interlude in the album. 9/10
"Chelsea dagger" Was the second single taken from the album and the early feel of Henrietta returns for one of the stand out tracks. The track is apparently named after one of the bands wive's. The tracks scat sung chorus gives the song a kind of drunken sing a long feel, whilst the rest of the lyrics are brilliant and sit well with the guitar and drum sounds to make this song irreisistable. 10/10
"For the girl" heaps the happy fun feeling of but seems to perhaps have some sad undertones "She said I can't love you any more than this". This is a sort of record that The Libertines needed to be worthy of their hype, and instead the song comes from "these three miserable cunts" who didn't need or have the hype that Doherty and Borat had. 9/10
"Doginabag" an admittedly odd title (yup it's all one word...which makes it even odder), the song takes a slow, more american sound and has a more relaxed feel. Sadly despite the brilliant lyrics it feels disjointed and it a let down to most of the rest of the album. 7/10
"Creeping up the backstair" Is back to the fast and frantic music of "Chelsea dagger" with a wonderfully catchy chorus and a fantastically fun feel, and gives another huge insight into modern day british indie music. 10/10
"Vince the loveable stoner" a fun slower song that asks you to sing along with itor at least smile at one of the most suprising tracks from the album. Keeping the Fratellis formula but slowing it down the break up the album a little bit, a wonderful track but not their best. 8/10
"Everybody knows you cried last night" A very strong beat with amazing lyrics, my personal favourite track from this brilliant album, the chorus is the best on the album, the music is just breath taking and the song fits perfectly together. A 5* track with out any questions asked. 10/10
"Baby Fratelli" was the fourth single from the album and named after a band member, also it was (as a single) unusually released on a USB stick. The song makes odd refrences (such as "Bluebird" as in the car, which was also featured in "Vince the loveable stoner"). The vocals sound looser than the rest of the album which gives this an odd feel, but the normal formula is kept and a catchy feel is most certainly evident. 8/10
"Got my nuts from a hippy" The bastard child of the Libertines and the Zutons would sound exactly like this song. The fun indie music and fun sounds merged perfectly together so that it could fit on any indie album and not feel out of place. A brilliant chorus that fits sublimely in with the rest of the song, and shows that this is a band that has everything really helps makes this another fantastic track. 9/10
"Ole black 'n' blue eyes" The final track to a scintalating album goes back to the slower and simple sounds of the few more relaxed songs they have. A good ending to a wonderful debut album that should surely catapult them to worldwide superstardom in the near future.
Overall a brilliant debut album which was under-aknowleged (probably because their Scottish :-P), that was unlukcy at the time of their release due to other indie bands around at the time getting all the headlines for one reason or another (Libertines/Babyshambles/the other one-Doherty's drug problems, Arctic monkeys-smashing records left right and centre).
Yep, I agree with just about everything you say here, Its a great album all round, and the 2 singles are excellent indeed, especially " Whistle for the Choir ".........Roy......
by (6%):
09.05.2007 20:41
I keep hearing good things about this lot but so far I've not knowingly actually heard any tracks.
09.05.2007 00:36
Very good review - only heard one of their singles but sounded pretty good.
08.05.2007 19:13
Yep, I agree with just about everything you say here, Its a great album all round, and the 2 singles are excellent indeed, especially " Whistle for the Choir ".........Roy......