Born and bread in Scotland, The Fratellis are proving to the world that there’s reason to get excited about the world of rock n’ roll at the moment with their debut outing “Costello Music”
Personally, the Arctic Monkeys are the best ‘new’ band I’ve heard in the past eighteen months…the Fratellis however must come a very respectable second. With my constant deploring on “NME-esque” bands, the Fratellis offer up something different to the norm. Jumpy, exciting, addictive music.
After originally releasing it about a year ago, “Chelsea Dagger” would be most people’s first taste of the band, and many would have been caught almost unaware of chanting the chorus in their head back and forth and tapping their feet to the rhythm for the rest of the day after having heard it on the TV or radio. That song set their benchmark and after listening to the album,
there’s certainly more than just a one-off single on this production…
The term is quite simply “Catchy”. After a first listen, tracks such as “Henrietta”, “Got Ma Nuts From A Hippie” and “Country Boys and Girls” may all seem quite ‘similar’…however on further inspection every single one of the thirteen tracks are spot on. Many say that numbers unlucky…the Fratellis clearly see it as a perfect combination to rock the listener to the core.
The music gives certain connotations of sounding like bands such as Supergrass and The Buzzcocks – punchy pop-rock that is bound to get people watching them live to think they’re the best band on the planet. That mantle may be slightly too high…but there’s no reason not to say they’re the best up-and-coming band out there.
Those who think they no very little about the band other than perhaps one or two of the singles; “Chelsea Dagger”, “Whistle For The Choir” – a mellower, acoustic song that still gets into the infectious sing-a-long mode – “Baby Fratelli” – taken from the soundtrack to the recent comedy movie Hot Fuzz – and the latest single “Ole Black n’ Blue Eyes”, well you may be wrong…
“Flathead” – my personal favourite, were I to be pinned down and name one single track – was recently used for an iTunes advert. This is just a piece of excellent, foot-tapping, exuberant music. One for those interested to download for sure. Again it proves that just chanting “la la la la” in different rhythms can be far more effective at getting an audience spurred into life that a verse from the pen of a lyrical genius such as Dylan or Lennon (yes, an interesting comparison when you think about it!).
Other stand out tracks have got to include “For The Girl”…yes “la la la la” is used in a different rhythm, again, and could arguably be even more catchy than those songs that have come before it, especially having seen them live and they finished with this number...it took a few days to get out of my head…but hey, that’s a good thing in my book.
The breakneck speed of “Creeping Up The Backstairs” will get any crowd into a frenzy of excitement. “Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night” is another big favourite of mine with it’s punchy rhythm and drumbeat, and “Vince The Loveable Stoner” once again gets the chanting aspect of music into yet another track.
Of course, all this mention of not using words and just “la la la la” in different rhythms will leave many people thinking what a monotonous, unoriginal, unimaginative band. How wrong could you be?! The Fratellis have nailed it spot on how to write the music they’re good at…good times tunes.
The words, when not being broken up by chanting, are somewhat dark and pessimistic, but the contrast between them and the punchy rock style that they’ve produced compliments each other perfectly. The sound is bound to get a sweaty crowd jumping and chanting along to every beat.
For those that think they're interested and know nothing about them, songs you've gotta try out include "Flathead", "For The Girl", "Ole Black and Blue Eyes", "Henrietta"...in fact if it were down to me, I'd just say get the album. Trust me, you'll be hooked.
There’s no glittery impression of glamourous rock that means nothing here…this is just good music, the way it should be – expressive, catchy and down right infectious.
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excellent review! I agree with you all the way except that I would put The Fratellis to the first place oere Arctic Monkeys :p
Pmshack99 16.07.2007 14:38
Great review. I'm a bit on the fence about the Fratellis, cant decide if I like them or not most of the time! I definitely DON'T like the arctic monkeys though!!! P x
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