Frightened Rabbit’s new album “Midnight Organ Fight” is the Glasgow band’s second full length album. They were formed in 2004 as three piece which included two brothers Scott & Grant Hutchisson (guitar/vocals & drums respectively) and their friend Billy adding a second guitar sound to round out the band. They began playing locally in Glasgow’s pub scene and building a small following that just seemed to keep growing. Their first album was released by the bands personal label to great acclaim on the internet. They got so much publicity from that album that Universal picked them up for this years release of “Midnight Organ Fight” their second offering as a band.

The album seems to sneak up on you. It is a grower in the sense that my first initial listen’s outside of some poingnent attention grabbing lyrics and some good pop sensibility I did not quite get what all the fuss was about this album. Subsequent listens though bring how well done this album is to the forefront. I can’t say that this is a Great album, but it is very good and very well done. The songs flow and have an album feel to them which in this digital age is always a pleasantry from a band.

I can’t help but think if the band released a single they would be remiss to not start with “Fast Blood”. A song that just builds to soaring melodies. Scott pours his heart and soul into singing on this song and you can hear it in his voice. Sonically on this track they have some interesting guitar playing that is not flashy but does just enough to capture your interest. ”Old Fashioned” reminds me of an Uncle Tupelo song and on “Poke” I just can’t help but hear a similarity to Bright Eyes singing style, yet  even with some of these similarities you never feel like that band is copying anyone.  It truely  is their own sound they are exploring.

They certiantly have a way with attention grabbing lyrics. None more glaring then on “Keep Yourself Warm” when he preaches to the listener that “It takes more then Fucking someone you don’t know to keep Warm, you won’t find love in a hole”  On the wonderfully penned song “the Twist” he explores this theme a little differently telling all that will listen that he “Needs Human Heat, I need Company”,  Then later on the track “Floating in the Forth” he confides to the listener that he’ll “save suicide for another day”. The attention grabbing  lyrics are not just for relationship songs though on  ”Heads Roll Off” we find them questining religion  right from the start with this opening line: ”Jesus, is just a Spanish Boys name, How come one man got so much fame”.

It would be easy for someone to hear this album two or three times and just walk away and dismiss it as yet another band writing sad lyrics with and indie rock singer and indie rock melodies, and I guess at the core that is what Frightened Rabbit has done with this album. That said walking away from this album is a grave mistake because the more you listen the more you notice that they do what they do very well and you start to find your self singing along with them. I was very pleased with this album and I’m excited to see where this band goes. I could certainly hear them on the next indie laden soundtrack for a movie that comes out. They would fit in well and certainly deserve the further exposure.

3.25 Stars out of 5

Click here to Buy “The Midnight Organ Fight” NOW

Here is a very honest and naked solo perfomance by Scott of “Fast Blood”

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