I only wish that I'd bought this album years ago (Costello Music - Fratellis)

Member Name: markysparky

Product:	Costello Music - Fratellis
Date:	27/06/09 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Uplifting, great songs

Disadvantages: Only 44 minutes long

I didn't really know what to expect when I bought this album just 8 days ago. I was familiar with their Chelsea Dagger song (it's often featured on televised darts as players take to the stage) and liked it enough to take a chance by buying Costello Music. The CD case told me that this was a Special Edition (?why), that it was Brit Award nominated in 2007 and that you can unlock exclusive extras of The Fratellis' website by putting the CD in your computer drive (I've yet to try that, I'm not usually impressed by so-called extras).

The album's 13 songs total 44 minutes of play and all but one track falls in the 3 to 4 minute category. Having looked on wikipedia, I've learnt that the name "Fratellis" was taken from the baddies in the Spielberg kids' film Goonies. The 3 band members hail from Glasgow.

I have played this album loads in the short period I've owned it. Why? because it is fantastic, a refreshing surprise, well crafted pop songs with an indie (non mainstream) feel. Great songs that I want to sing along to, lyrics which reveal a hidden depth of complexity and musically very solid.

And now for the songs:

Henrietta - raunchy and punchy a good opening number and has me tapping the table (or whatever's available) every time.

Flathead - to me this is the "Bara bap bara ra ra ra.." song. Another beautifully crafted, rhytmically addictive song

Cuntry Boys & City Girls - latin guitar intro, there are many interesting changes of tempo in this song - suddenly accelerating into one verse before slamming on the brakes in another. Great stuff.

Whistle for the Choir - a more sedate piece. An acustic guitar strums through this ballad. Demonstrates the band's versitility. Also some Roger Whittaker style whistling.

Chelsea Dagger - the band's early signature piece. Now I've heard this anthemic song several times I can really appreciate it's true excellence. A great mood lifter and one to freak out to on the dancefloor (not that I personally would do such a thing at my age)

For the Girl - Tongue-twistingly fast lyrics on this, the shortest and one of the best, track paced out by rapid drum beats and electric guitar rifts. It will leave you singing "La la la la la la luh la" before you know it. Includes one of favourite lines "She was into the stones when I was in to the roses" (love it).

Doginabag - More of a laid back, early 70s rock band feel to this one. Again shows the band's versatility but hasn't got the impact of most of the other tracks.

Creepin Up the Backstairs - Wow! I'd heard this song without realising it was one by the Fratellis. Fan-blinkin-tastic. As with Chelsea Dagger, this one flies along at a breathtaking pace - great drum solo intro, beefed up with rhythm and then electric guitars - a very cleverly constructed 3 minutes plus.

Vince the Lovable Stoner - This one starts off with country and western style guitar (or is it rockabilly?) and this seems to be a musical influence on this song - one of the weaker on the album - the chorus "rock a honey, rock a honey woo hoo" really grates after about 10 repititions.

Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night - Another classy pop song. Stylish musically and vocally well blended - how do the mange to fit so much into 3 1/2 minutes???

Baby Fratelli - Another clap your hands above your head classic with interest at every change in tempo

Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy - My least favourite from the album. A pretty bog standard offering - not bad but lacks the wow factor (although one of the guitar rifts reminds me of The Ruts Babylon's Burning - which is a good thing)

Ole Black 'n' Blue Eyes - A melodic, slower paced finale. Not stand out.

This album is an upbeat, feelgood work and packs more into 44 minutes than many artists can manage in 78. My expectations were certainly well exceeded and I'm going to search out the band's more recent album, as a matter of priority.

Summary: 13 well-crafted modern-day pop classics