Album Review: Positve Songs For Negative People by Frank Turner

Album Review

Positive Songs For Negative People (Deluxe Edition) by Frank Turner – Released Friday 7^th August 2015

Since releasing his first album Sleep Is For The Week in 2007 Frank Turner has released five studio and three Best Ofs albums. Frank’s mixture of punk, folk and rock on topics including: politics, love, death, war, and social injustice has taken audiences by storm worldwide.

As the title of his sixth album suggests the songs take negative influences and transform them into positive outlooks. Five of the tracks clock in at three minutes or less; like life itself they rush by in a blink of an eye. Get Better speaks about still having time to fix past wrongs. The Next Storm is an upbeat song about overcoming troubles; everyone goes through bad times but that it is important to face them head-on. The Opening Act Of Spring is an irresistible ditty of asking for forgiveness after hurting someone you love, surrounded by metaphors of nature and awakening. Mittens laments unrequited love: “…we used it fit like mittens, but never like gloves.” The fast-paced and relentless Out Of Breath is about not knowing how much time you have left, making the most of your life; it is the only one you’ll have. A similar theme is echoed in Demons’ honest lyrics: “Doesn’t it just break your heart to know that none of this will last?” and “… it’s great to be alive”; sadness juxtaposed with optimism. The tennis metaphor laden Love Forty Down, about fighting back against defeat and not letting life get you down, is deeper than the first listen suggests. Final track, Song For Josh, recalls the memories of a friend’s suicide; questioning why they never asked for help. Tear-jerking and heartfelt, it strengthens the message of the album: you never know when you or a loved-one will leave this world forever.

The Sleeping Souls band brings extra breadth with a range if instruments including: piano, electric guitar, organ, mandolin, and percussion.

The deluxe edition has an extra disc with acoustic versions for ten of the twelve songs. They show that, even with a different accompaniment, Frank’s lyrics remain prolific, life affirming and true.

Frank has delivered another album of purpose, intelligence and meaning. While many of the songs focus on death, it is an album very much about life. They are not just Positive Songs For Negative People but Positive Songs For All People.

Key Tracks: The Next Storm, The Opening Act Of Spring, Demons, Song For Josh

 

8/10

Album Reviw: Blood by Lianne La Havas

Album Review:

Blood by Lianne La Havas- Released Friday 31^st July 2015

Lianne La Havas released her debut album Is Your Love Big Enough? in 2012. The album went into the top five, received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Mercury Prize later that year. The twenty-five year old has released her second album, but will it stand up to the success of the first?

Legendary music superstar Prince is a big fan of her work, clearly hearing something special about her voice and noticing her star quality. They performed together for American television on Saturday Night Live in 2014. 

Matt Hales who, under the name Aqualung, achieved top ten success with Strange And Beautiful back in 2002, co-writes and produces many of the tracks. He has also worked with established artists such as Leona Lewis and Paloma Faith; he brings a wealth of experience. Lianne started her musical career as a backing vocalist for Paloma; now life has come full circle.

The album’s main theme is one of personal identity and discovering your true self.

On Green & Gold Lianne explores taking a look at her life and how far she has come since childhood with both refection and perception; an autobiographical coming of age song. What You Don’t Do has bouncy piano chords, drum beats and lyrical optimism; it’s about appreciating a person for who they are. The beautiful Tokyo has some very poignant lyrics: “Grew a thicker skin but now it’s wearing thin. You can see right into me.” The (literally) haunting Ghost laments the circle of blame in a relationship and trying to find a way out. Never Get Enough has a much rockier, electric feel; while it shows the diversity of her sound, it feels a little out of place.

Blood is a very cohesive and often consistent record; however it takes a few listens for the songs to stay with you and for the lyrics to be fully appreciated. Lianne has grown in strength vocally and the songs have more purpose and direction than her previous album. Her honey-sweet yet well executed vocals make her one of the best soul singers of her generation. Blood has honesty in its veins, giving it life and pumping it right to its heart.

Key Tracks: Green & Gold, What You Don’t Do, Tokyo, Ghost

7.5/10