The Fratellis - We Need Medicine (21/03/2014)
Six years have passed since The Fratellis disbanded following their 2008 release, Here We Stand, the follow up to their 2006 debut Costello Music. Now on a new label, the Scottish trio have returned from the cold with their newest full length effort, We Need Medicine, aiming to cure what ails you with their intriguing mixture of alternative rock and pop.
Opening the festivities of the band's return is Halloween Blues, a fitting tone setter that assures long time fans of the band that they haven't lost their touch, while giving new listeners a taster of the sound that can be expected going forward.
The album's first real highlight comes already with the second effort This Old Ghost Town, a synth driven rock anthem that mixes intriguing lyrics with catchy beats. Interestingly, the two opening tracks give the listener a relatively complete introduction to the soundscape that will follow, which is why as the tracks pass by the album feels somewhat stagnant.
The album as a whole is divided almost perfectly between catchy, sing-a-long anthems you can imagine yourself singing along to in the shower and comparatively mellow, down trodden rock tracks. It's in no way a bad thing as The Fratellis do those kinds of tracks remarkably well, however the overall lack of variation makes it somewhat of a bore to listen to the entirety of the album on repeat playings. Rather, We Need Medicine, is destined to be a selective track rotisserie that will divide music lovers between those wanting to sing and those wanting to nod their heads in approval to a perfect blend of riff and lyrical adventure.
At the end of the day, We Need Medicine is a worthy effort to reignite The Fratellis saga. They can definitely do better but it's in no way a poor effort either.
Kris Solberg
Opening the festivities of the band's return is Halloween Blues, a fitting tone setter that assures long time fans of the band that they haven't lost their touch, while giving new listeners a taster of the sound that can be expected going forward.
The album's first real highlight comes already with the second effort This Old Ghost Town, a synth driven rock anthem that mixes intriguing lyrics with catchy beats. Interestingly, the two opening tracks give the listener a relatively complete introduction to the soundscape that will follow, which is why as the tracks pass by the album feels somewhat stagnant.
The album as a whole is divided almost perfectly between catchy, sing-a-long anthems you can imagine yourself singing along to in the shower and comparatively mellow, down trodden rock tracks. It's in no way a bad thing as The Fratellis do those kinds of tracks remarkably well, however the overall lack of variation makes it somewhat of a bore to listen to the entirety of the album on repeat playings. Rather, We Need Medicine, is destined to be a selective track rotisserie that will divide music lovers between those wanting to sing and those wanting to nod their heads in approval to a perfect blend of riff and lyrical adventure.
At the end of the day, We Need Medicine is a worthy effort to reignite The Fratellis saga. They can definitely do better but it's in no way a poor effort either.
Kris Solberg