Having been stupidly questioned on his Eton past last week Frank must be glad to have his new album out for all to buy. TT is particularly thrilled to have Turner's 4th solo instalment 'England Keep My Bones' booming from the speakers.
Turner's solo career has always been an enigma. Debut Sleep Is For The Weak was littered with songs any outsider could cling to yet no real success. The single Photosynthesis from the follow up Love Song & Ire is a call to arms anthem that should have indie discos jumping through the ceilings every Saturday night. Alas, BBC6, XFM and late night radio one didn’t really pick up on Frank's genius until his 3rd album and only now is he a mainstay of their playlists.
Lead of single 'Peggy Sang The Blues' from EKMB is by no means his best work but the daytime plays on XFM is will win Frank a new set of fans. Why? Well, for one it’s a song about his Nan and how if he beat her at cards she would give whiskey to put him off his stride. More importantly, it displays everything that is great about him. When Turner steps up to the mic he sounds like he is laying down his life. The
ever increasing passion in this crescendo driven tune should have anyone saying 'post-dubstep “its time I re-evaluated my life”.
As with every Turner album there is always one song which is head and shoulders above the rest. I Still Believe is that song here. A simple rock n roll song about, well, rock n roll. These are the songs that, if your in band and not striving to make you should do us all a favour and go play golf and admit your boring.
The final track Glory Hallejuah is the funniest song which is not written by the Morrissey. The jovial chorus 'There Is No God' is delivered and doesn’t failt to raise a wry smile every time. As always with Turner there is always more to his songs than first meet the eye. This is not just an atheisis bash at religion, it is desperate plee for mankind to embrace life as it comes. By some miracle he has managed to pen Orwell's early novel 'Clergyman's Daughter' into 4minutes 35secs of folky rock n roll and remind everyone that life is short so live it now!
Redemption see's Turner in a brutally introspective mood as he examines the nature of his song writing ability. This is without doubt the bravest thing he has ever written. Musically it’s not pushing boundaries for him, but to dig in to the colon of your soul like this can only be admired.
Those who are new to Turner with this helping will be hooked for life. This is the ultimate ‘way in’ for anyone wondering 'who is frank tuner'. Catchy folk tales, rock n roll belters and poignant lyrics , this album has it all for anyone with a steeped sense of English pride
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