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