In choosing a moniker suggesting frailty and vulnerability, Glasgow’s Frightened Rabbit may open themselves to misguided speculation about being “twee” or something far less exciting. Their sound may not be as beastly as countrymen Mogwai, but these upstart Scotsmen are more Bugs Bunny than whimpering hare.
With the bombast of The Arcade Fire and the noisy sensibilities of The Twilight Sad, Frightened Rabbit command a scruffily extravagant indie pop sound on their debut, Sing The Greys. There’s nothing particularly fussy about their arrangements; each song consists of the typical guitar, bass, and drums formula. Yet within these constraints, the band achieves a disheveled sort of heroism.
Singer Scott Hutchison introduces the leadoff track, “The Greys,” with an opening line destined for legendary status: “what’s the blues when you’ve got the greys?” Whether or not this is meant as irony is unclear, but his earnest delivery makes it a compelling plea alongside spunky, jangling guitar riffs. Less immediately bombastic is “Music Now,” a pretty, simple ballad that beats Snow Patrol at their own game.
Nowhere is the band’s emotional directness as heavy handed as it is on “Be Less Rude,” a song that paradoxically stands as both their prettiest and most rocking track, mixing everything they have and making it work. It’s a rare case in which an artist fares better by avoiding restraint, but that’s exactly what makes Frightened Rabbit succeed.
– Jeff Terich
Frightened Rabbit: www.frightenedrabbit.com
Fat Cat: www.fat-cat.co.uk