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midnight organ fight frightened rabbit
28 votes
?
by Jordan Dowling
  • Type: Album
  • Release date: 14/04/2008
  • Label: Fat Cat

Sometimes it truly is the quiet ones. Frightened Rabbit are testament to this. Two years after the (first) release of their debut album Sing The Greys, a good album but by no means a classic, and infrequent trips around the UK toilet circuit the Selkirk, Scotland-based four-piece have, from nowhere, released one of 2008’s truly great indie-pop albums. Michael Stipe, take note.

On their sophomore offering the band have shaven off the instrumental passages that snaked through their first release and created 14 blissfully simple pop songs. Opener ’The Modern Leper’ and recent single ’Heads Roll Off’ yearn for Radio 1 A-List inclusion, all witty turns of phrase and soaring, catchy choruses, and yet they still have an undeniably rustic, scruffy quality, aided by Scott Hutchinson's wailing vocals and the substitution of a bass guitar for a second acoustic guitar playing lower notes.

It is on 'I Feel Better' that this mix of cohesive songwriting and clumsy delivery is at its most potent; a decidedly up-tempo number that has the same high-octane caterwaul-led feel to it as that on Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's more jaunty moments, but transposed into the near-orchestral resplendence of The Hidden Cameras.

But the beauty of The Midnight Organ Fight is that it works in any location and/or situation. It is of such a substantial quality throughout that it can last through repeated full spins on lonely train journeys through idyllic landscapes, yet still has a high enough ratio of glorious pop hooks and distinctive ideas per song to not be ruined by a click of a ‘random’ or ‘shuffle’ button.

Although this album could very well catapult Frightened Rabbit into the mainstream, and deservedly so, it is evident this is by no means intentional. The Midnight Organ Fight is neither a genuine 'safe' option for the band nor a blatant fan-base builder which obscures the band’s own charms as has been the case for fellow countrymen Biffy Clyro and (sort of – they’re based in Glasgow) Snow Patrol.

Here there can be no snobbish derision and calls of 'selling out' or playing to the average man; in creating an album showcasing the very best of the band’s talents they have created one so perfectly fit for, as Scott so vividly puts, “the soft, soft static” of popular radio. A happy coincidence, then.

  • Frightened Rabbit 9 / 10
Words: Jordan Dowling

FR gig tonight in Glasgow

...free instore in Mono - for anyone who lives up there!


Petrified Hare

I'm well into this album! It's just a shame I can't play it all on the radio due to the odd F- and C- word..!


innit

i've heard a sly whisper that the only reason Heads Roll Off was the first single is that its the only song not to have a swear in it. dont know if they have done a radio edit or not..


we

were limited by the swearing - only did a clean version of modern leper and i feel better... albert i can email you a clean version of modern leper if you like.

Tom.


so

i guessed right about "i feel better" being a sure fire single?


I'm sooo going to see them at Great Escape

wooooooo woooo

good album indeed


this album is amazing 10/10 for me

keep yourself warm may just hav the best lyrics ive heard this year

live they are amazing, ive seen them about 10 times in last 6 months

the twilight sad and frightened rabbit are the two best bands in scotland just now

craigx


it was very close to 10/10

not quite perfect, but thats one of its charms in a way


Can't agree

more! I really really like the album. It took me a while to completely fall in love with it, but then, it became a burning passion!


decent review

This is without doubt my favourite album of the year so far and one that soundtracked my holiday just gone being forever on my ipod or on the stereo.

'The Modern Leper', 'Keep Yourself Warm' and "Old Old Fashioned' are sublime pop songs showcasing the fragile voice of Hutchinson and the simple yet pounding music of the band.

I really didn't think they would top Sing The Greys but they have done so brilliantly. But I am still slightly dubious about how they will peform when I see them on Wednesday as the youtube clips have been lacklustre.

Still, this album is the absolute shit. 9/10 is a spot on score.


'decent'?


would you prefer

I told you it was a shit review?


no

i'd appreciate it if you realised its brilliance. realise it.


no mention of

the albums key lyrical themes (decay, looking backwards, lonliness etc) that hold the album together means the review cannot be described as brilliant I'm afraid.

Keep trying though!


i will

you give me the fire i need to burn, or whatever that Eminem song said..


this album is fucking incredible

"keep yourself warm" and "floating in the forth" in particular are amazing

cant wait to see them tonight


it's all good.

strange picks for highlights though them, i reckon.


very good band indeed

and a good review aswel,had there myspace on today each song was mint first listen fair play....


love it!!

Outstanding album 10/10


Track by Track

If anyone's intersted Scott Hutchison's written a track by track guide to the record at www.raggedwords.com or more specifically here http://www.raggedwords.com/?q=node/625.

Blatant plug... I do apologise.


Excellent...

Interview coming up with the band next week too... have gone a little mad for that record. Good review by the by.


thank you

i look forward to reading the interview, also by the by.


I trust your judgement

I'm gonna order this NOW.


do it

the album also has key lyrical themes of decay & loneliness, which i didnt mention.


brilliant album

up there alongside Elbow for album of the year so far. beautiful, melodic songs with loads of sharp edges and the best Scottish-accented voice since the dude from the Twilight Sad. love it. is it a 9 or a 10? um, dunno.


Agreed...

I think it's probably my favourite album of the year also. My review of the album launch in Mono last week is here:

http://winningspermparty.com/?p=125


now thats a

fancy website name.


I love this record!

Love it.


that was a very

keegan-esque show of appreciation


The Modern Leper

Savage tune ... Great album!


Having listened to Frightened Rabbit non-stop for the past few weeks I

can fully agree with this review.

It's such a fantastic album.

Brilliant for listening to on long train journeys.

I'll be surprised if I hear a better record by the turn of the year.

Exceptional.


i dont think you will

unless Oasis release something


10/10

This and Bon Iver are the only albums to really impress the hell out of me so far. This album is particularly wonderful.


indeeeeeed


warm


yourself


keep


to


someone


fucking


than


more


takes


it