Music Review
The Fratellis "Costello Music" is perfect for the spring
Rine Vieth
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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The Fratellis are not for the faint of heart.
This needs to be said flat-out at the start. Costello Music, the first major release from the band, is a beautiful piece of rock music, but stays a bit hard to understand. The release starts off with a blasting "Henrietta", a plea to Henrietta to take money from her father and hang out with a less-than-desirable crowd. It's so happy and upbeat from opening guitar/drum jamming, it's hard to pick up on the fact that Henrietta is married and that her husband might attack the singer and his friends. The guitars and drums are hugely prominent throughout the release. In truth, the band is only three members so the sound is not a huge, orchestral production.
The second track, "Flathead", was featured on a recent iTunes commercial and has no less energy than the first track and no less irony. "I heard they kicked the boy 'till he bled" is not a happy bit of writing, but again, it's hard to notice because of the guitars, drums, and the almost-uplifting vocals. In "Chelsea Dagger", the next big track, the vocals come into play again with a repetitive chorus-like bit that imitates the music. Describing a dance that seems to be just on the verge of out of control, the Fratellis have no problem having fun in the chaos.
The middle of Costello Music seems to be a bit muddled and slow, but after such an amazing start, it's more than forgivable. The release picks back up with "Vince, The Loveable Stoner", a track that seems country-influenced, but set at a very fast tempo while still retaining the classic-rock-esque sound that seems to define them. "Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy" seems much more rock than the rest of the release, yet midway through the song, one could swear that it was an '80s punk band.
Ending on a not-so-happy-but-danceable note ("Ole Black 'N' Blue Eyes"), the Fratellis seem poised to be a great new chapter of rock music. With fans of indie and punk joining together, Costello Music can be called nothing less than a success. Yes, there are slow points, but the overwhelming waves of "bad society" sung over loud guitars more than makes up for it.
Final verdict: Costello Music is exactly what should be playing while you throw a Frisbee on the lawn. Put it on. Now.
This needs to be said flat-out at the start. Costello Music, the first major release from the band, is a beautiful piece of rock music, but stays a bit hard to understand. The release starts off with a blasting "Henrietta", a plea to Henrietta to take money from her father and hang out with a less-than-desirable crowd. It's so happy and upbeat from opening guitar/drum jamming, it's hard to pick up on the fact that Henrietta is married and that her husband might attack the singer and his friends. The guitars and drums are hugely prominent throughout the release. In truth, the band is only three members so the sound is not a huge, orchestral production.
The second track, "Flathead", was featured on a recent iTunes commercial and has no less energy than the first track and no less irony. "I heard they kicked the boy 'till he bled" is not a happy bit of writing, but again, it's hard to notice because of the guitars, drums, and the almost-uplifting vocals. In "Chelsea Dagger", the next big track, the vocals come into play again with a repetitive chorus-like bit that imitates the music. Describing a dance that seems to be just on the verge of out of control, the Fratellis have no problem having fun in the chaos.
The middle of Costello Music seems to be a bit muddled and slow, but after such an amazing start, it's more than forgivable. The release picks back up with "Vince, The Loveable Stoner", a track that seems country-influenced, but set at a very fast tempo while still retaining the classic-rock-esque sound that seems to define them. "Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy" seems much more rock than the rest of the release, yet midway through the song, one could swear that it was an '80s punk band.
Ending on a not-so-happy-but-danceable note ("Ole Black 'N' Blue Eyes"), the Fratellis seem poised to be a great new chapter of rock music. With fans of indie and punk joining together, Costello Music can be called nothing less than a success. Yes, there are slow points, but the overwhelming waves of "bad society" sung over loud guitars more than makes up for it.
Final verdict: Costello Music is exactly what should be playing while you throw a Frisbee on the lawn. Put it on. Now.
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