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 | Tracklist:
1. Eulogy
2. Peggy Sang the Blues
3. I Still Believe
4. Rivers
5. I Am Disappeared
6. English Curse
7. One Foot Before the Other
8. If Ever I Stray
9. Wessex Boy
10. Nights Become Days
11. Redemption
12. Glory Hallelujah
| Ranking: #31 for 2011 | |
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On 219 Lists
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| Summary: Swap your confirmation for your dancing shoes |
In a way Frank Turner really did a number on his future self with his 2008 release Love, Ire and Song. For those of us that grew attached to it, Love, Ire, and Song became a generational album. It was the perfect combination of the self-loathing doubt, transitional angst, and drunken glory that embodies growing up. Sadly for Frank, everything he would release after would be compared to it, justly or not. Since then, his perspective has changed. Frank has gone from retelling his most trying moments verbatim, like he did on his first two albums, to channeling those core frustrations into something more. His first attempt at this, Poetry of the Deed was both a hit and a miss. While songs like “Try this at Home” and “Dan's Song” still balanced this bigger picture with his introverted realization, a number of songs on the album came off as overreaching and trite. Late last year he released the Rock n Roll EP as a sort of teaser for England Keep My Bones. With the exception of “I Still Believe”, it was more of a diversionary tactic than a preview of things to come, as it felt like a continuation of Poetry of the Deed's ups and downs.
Luckily, England Keep My Bones finally gets the combination right and stands right alongside Love, Ire and Song as one of Frank Turner's best works. “Eulogy” kicks off England Keep My Bones in a triumphantly anthemic fashion. Its opening stanza is lovably everyman, declaring “everyone can raise their glass and sing,” but it's his closing shout of “Well, I haven't always been a perfect person/ I haven't done what mom and dad have dreamed/ But on the day I'll die I'll say 'At least I fucking tried!'/ That's the only eulogy I need,” which sets the tone for the rest of the album. Throughout England Keep My Bones Frank touches on his identity, both cultural and personal, bringing back the familiar and comforting sounds of a man coming to terms with his self which Poetry of the Deed so desperately lacked. The former is showcased brilliantly in tracks like “Rivers”, “English Curse” and “Wessex Boy”, which feels like a natural continuation of “To Take You Home”, in which Frank delves into the longing of just being at home that he faces on the road. Part nostalgia part patriotism, Frank's England is idyllic; where petty politics are replaced by the rolling countryside in which he achingly remembers from thousands of miles away. Frank's other half is the Frank we're used to, the Frank whose introspective insight sounds as if he's singing to and for his audience, be it a crowd of hundreds or a kid in his bedroom. From the escapism in “I am Disappeared” to the grab life by the horns joie de vivre of “Peggy Sang the Blues” he captures both the highs and the lows, but it's the reflective stance in songs like “Nights Become Days” that carries the most weight. Blurring the line between the exuberance of youth and burning out on heavy drug use, it is achingly somber and penetratingly accurate.
Even as it nears its end, England Keep My Bones still feels as if it's growing towards something bigger. That something is the album's last track “Glory Hallelujah”. The title is dripping with irony as the closer is Frank's self-proclaimed atheist anthem. Much to his credit, it is one of his finest moments too. “Glory Hallelujah” is heart warming in its cries of “There is no god”. It's funny how a song with such an austere stance on what is obviously a bit of a divisive stance is so comforting. It just goes to show that when he's on, he's really fucking on, and thankfully on England Keep My Bones Frank is with out a doubt “on”.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
Excellent review, can't wait to hear this now.
Digging: The Walkmen - Heaven Digging: The Walkmen - Heaven | | | Album Rating: 4
so does mean you can send me a copy now
=D
super review
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome.
Digging: fun. - Some Nights | | |
i think ive heard about this guy before
Digging: Simian Mobile Disco - Unpatterns Digging: Simian Mobile Disco - Unpatterns
| | | Album Rating: 4
Amazing. I cannot wait to get this. He played some of his new songs when I saw him play in December, and I've been excited ever since. Do you think this is better than Love Ire & Song...?
| | | Album Rating: 4
Excitement just tripled.
Digging: Purplene - Purplene Digging: Purplene - Purplene | | | Album Rating: 3.5
whoa i need to hear this
Digging: Dead Congregation - Graves of the Archangels Digging: Dead Congregation - Graves of the Archangels | | | Album Rating: 3
Must get this
Digging: Walknut - Graveforests And Their Shadows Digging: Walknut - Graveforests And Their Shadows | | | Album Rating: 4
tied. also "one foot before the other" sounds like million dead.
Digging: Love American - Disquiet | | |
4.5-review and 5-rating don't match up...?
Digging: El-P - Cancer For Cure Digging: El-P - Cancer For Cure
| | | Album Rating: 3
A 5? It's that good?
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
"But on the day I'll day I'll say"
Are those the actual lyrics or did you make a typo?
| | | Album Rating: 4
"tied" It's a must-get for me then. Pre-ordered the deluxe edition, it's got 3 extra songs on it. Shall be interested to see their calibre.
| | | Album Rating: 4
typo. it's fixed now. and the rating for the review is just a little bit more objective than my personal rating that's all
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gotcha. This sounds pretty good, based off of your review. I'll certainly give it a few listens.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Great review. Cant wait to hear the whole thing in July.
Digging: Hilary Hahn and Hauschka - Silfra Digging: Hilary Hahn and Hauschka - Silfra | | | Album Rating: 4
Oh shit I need this. Good review!
Digging: The Flashbulb - Arboreal Digging: The Flashbulb - Arboreal | | | Album Rating: 4
Excited to hear this. I just skimmed over the review so that I go into the album without 'spoilers'. Hoping a leak comes soon.
Digging: Animal Collective - Honeycomb/Gotham Digging: Animal Collective - Honeycomb/Gotham | | | Album Rating: 4
Wait, how have you heard this?
Digging: You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude Digging: You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude | | | Album Rating: 4
advance copy
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