Debut album from hotly tipped Glaswegian three-piece FRIGHTENED RABBIT. Though the past year has seen Frightened Rabbit finally step into public view, with some amazing live shows, the past year or two have largely been about the band quietly, commitedly honing their sound and cultivating their art. That's all set to change, with the release of the band's debut single 'Be Less Rude' An unconventional three-piece with a clearly defined personality, and a gift for being able to nail a near perfect pop song, Frightened Rabbit convey candid tales of ordinary folk with a wry, acerbic wit via an eloquent, emotive, modern garage-pop aesthetic. Suffice to say, their album 'Sings the Greys' is full of that lovely warm guitar sound and melodies that Glasgow bands seem to do so uncannily well.
J**E
Three Stars
Acceptable
E**M
Frightened Rabbit 'Sing The Greys' Review (7/10)
Frightened Rabbit are an unconventional three-piece specialising in a raw yet melodic brand of indie-pop undertaken with a fervent garage rock aesthetic. Originally formed by vocalist Scott Hutchinson as a solo project, Frightened Rabbit bolstered its ranks with Scott's brother, Grant (Drums, vocals) and Billy Kennedy (vocals, guitar). After sending a demo in to Fat Cat (Sigur Ros, Mum, Set Fire to Flames), 3 tracks appeared on Fat Cat's innovative demo page to much acclaim. `Sing the Greys' was originally released last year in an ultra-limited quantity, yet this plush re-release by Fat Cat not only cements the fact that `Frightened Rabbit' are going places, but also adds remastering and a live bonus track.`Sing the Greys' consists of 12 tracks and clocks in at a comparatively short 34 minutes. The band announce their arrival with a bang thanks to the stomping opener, `The Greys' which is a haunting and powerful lament centering on a rousing cluster of perpetual riffage and tight, busy percussion. `Music Now' is another stand out track, starting off with a skeletal and angular post-punk rouse before moving gorgeously into a fully fledged, melodic slice of dynamic indiepop bliss which recalls modern-era Idlewild at their best. Frightened Rabbit slow down proceedings with the throbbingly warm Christmas-time indie-ballad `Yawn' which grows in stature towards the end and serves as a perfect intro into the effervescent and crashing dynamics of 'Be Less Rude'. On this track the three-piece work together with complete synergy and the time spent honing their sound over the course of last year has fully paid off. Elsewhere listeners are greeted with the military-esque, angular percussion/fret work of `Go Go Girls', an accomplished track which is teaming with life thanks to the captivating range of the vocals. `Square 9' is soaring piece built on a churning backdrop of guitar and percussion, and brought to life with a bouncy pop-punk melodic riff which acts as the centerpiece and accentuates the vocals. The closer `Snake' is a brooding yet jangly slice of Americana complimented wonderfully by accented English vocals. As a bonus, the album features a live version of `The Greys' which sees the threepiece inject a keen sense of urgency and DIY rawness in to the mix. On this proof, one is tempted to catch `Frightened Rabbit' live. On this album, the band has taken the unconventional decision to forego a bassist and this decision has not backfire, because, instead of detracting from the sound, its adds to the garage-rock aesthetic, whilst Alan Douches remastering creates a full bodied sound stripped of any grating whiney-ness.Overall, `Sing the Greys' is a brief yet `no-nonsense' album bristling with life. The three-piece demonstrate their ability to create raw, energetic and angular pieces which are throbbing with energy, yet not robbed of melody. Furthermore, the unique vocal delivery gives a real sense of intimacy to the album and contributes to a fully honed package. (RM)For fans of: Idlewild, Of Montreal, Arctic Monkeys, Sebadoh, The Autumns
E**M
Frightened Rabbit 'Sing the Greys' Review (7/10)
Frightened Rabbit are an unconventional three-piece specialising in a raw yet melodic brand of indie-pop undertaken with a fervent garage rock aesthetic. Originally formed by vocalist Scott Hutchinson as a solo project, Frightened Rabbit bolstered its ranks with Scott's brother, Grant (Drums, vocals) and Billy Kennedy (vocals, guitar). After sending a demo in to Fat Cat (Sigur Ros, Mum, Set Fire to Flames), 3 tracks appeared on Fat Cat's innovative demo page to much acclaim. `Sing the Greys' was originally released last year in an ultra-limited quantity, yet this plush re-release by Fat Cat not only cements the fact that `Frightened Rabbit' are going places, but also adds remastering and a live bonus track.`Sing the Greys' consists of 12 tracks and clocks in at a comparatively short 34 minutes. The band announce their arrival with a bang thanks to the stomping opener, `The Greys' which is a haunting and powerful lament centering on a rousing cluster of perpetual riffage and tight, busy percussion. `Music Now' is another stand out track, starting off with a skeletal and angular post-punk rouse before moving gorgeously into a fully fledged, melodic slice of dynamic indiepop bliss which recalls modern-era Idlewild at their best. Frightened Rabbit slow down proceedings with the throbbingly warm Christmas-time indie-ballad `Yawn' which grows in stature towards the end and serves as a perfect intro into the effervescent and crashing dynamics of 'Be Less Rude'. On this track the three-piece work together with complete synergy and the time spent honing their sound over the course of last year has fully paid off. Elsewhere listeners are greeted with the military-esque, angular percussion/fret work of `Go Go Girls', an accomplished track which is teaming with life thanks to the captivating range of the vocals. `Square 9' is soaring piece built on a churning backdrop of guitar and percussion, and brought to life with a bouncy pop-punk melodic riff which acts as the centerpiece and accentuates the vocals. The closer `Snake' is a brooding yet jangly slice of Americana complimented wonderfully by accented English vocals. As a bonus, the album features a live version of `The Greys' which sees the threepiece inject a keen sense of urgency and DIY rawness in to the mix. On this proof, one is tempted to catch `Frightened Rabbit' live. On this album, the band has taken the unconventional decision to forego a bassist and this decision has not backfire, because, instead of detracting from the sound, its adds to the garage-rock aesthetic, whilst Alan Douches remastering creates a full bodied sound stripped of any grating whiney-ness.Overall, `Sing the Greys' is a brief yet `no-nonsense' album bristling with life. The three-piece demonstrate their ability to create raw, energetic and angular pieces which are throbbing with energy, yet not robbed of melody. Furthermore, the unique vocal delivery gives a real sense of intimacy to the album and contributes to a fully honed package. (RM)For fans of: Idlewild, Of Montreal, Arctic Monkeys, Sebadoh, The Autumns
