Review Summary: How can you not sing along to this?
After the post-hardcore band Million Dead broke up, Frank Turner decided to start playing in an acoustic solo project. Although this is a very unlikely direction for Turner, especially considering how different his past work was, he is able to make it work. Taking nods from the likes of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, Turner is able to create something all his own in “Love Ire & Song”. Many of the little acoustic licks seem to feel very welcoming and remind me of the aforementioned singer songwriters. A very good example is at the beginning of “To Take you Home”, where he plays a small lick that sounds like it could have been off of Pink Moon by Nick Drake. However, this album is very different than the previously mentioned singer songwriters in the fact that this album is very upbeat for the most part. Along with that the punk influence is made apparent through the themes of some of the songs, particularly “Love Ire & Song”. Not only that, but it allow Frank Turner to stand out in an overpopulated genre that’s filled with other singer songwriters.
As a whole, Love Ire & Song is the sound of a punk rocker settling down and becoming calmer. Don’t take this the wrong way because Turner is still energetic as he always was, but instead of rebelling against the government he singing about having fun, personal and social problems, and in one case he is supporting Cancer research. Sonically, “Love Ire and Song” is the sound of the insightful guy at the back of the bar who is not afraid of making jokes. This sort of fun loving theme that is present for most of the album is what drives the album. Other than his superb lyrics, this energy is where Turner tends to shine the most. Just the pure positivity in the lyrics is admirable. It just makes the listener to go out and do something, and that is what makes listening to this album so enjoyable.
Ultimately, the better numbers on the album are the ones that have this fun-loving atmosphere. “I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous”, “Reasons Not to be an Idiot”, “Photosynthesis”, and “Love Ire & Song” all shine in this regard. The majority of these song are toward the front of the album making it a little top heavy, but there are no major flaws in the album which makes it a fairly cohesive listen. Turner’s crafty wordplay, and lyrics are very good at catching the listener’s attention. Stories are perfectly implemented into the songwriting that never fail to paint a picture in the head of the listener. In the end, this is what makes the lyrics so engaging, and relatable. His lyrics make you feel as if you could have been the person that is described in the songs. When listening to this album it is hard not to feel at home.
By the time the beautiful, piano accompanied closer comes on it is clear that Frank Turner’s work is celebrating life itself, and that is something to revel in. It’s almost hard to not relate to it. It makes you want to just go out and have a good time with your friends, and never fails to cheer you up on the worst of days. It is the essence of enjoying life, and oh boy does it hit close to home.
