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Frightened Rabbit – Head Rolls Off & Good Arms vs. Bad Arms

Continuing my recent love affair with Scottish musicians, today’s post deals with the, quite frankly, brilliant band from Glasgow, Frightened Rabbit.

Frightened Rabbit
Frightened Rabbit have released their new album, “The Midnight Organ Fight”.

Yesterday I finally recieved my copy of Frightened Rabbit‘s new album, “The Midnight Organ Fight“, following a month of extreme expectation after I was exposed to their single “The Modern Leper” at the beginning of April. While that song raised my hopes somewhat, it in no way prepared me for the perfection that is “The Midnight Organ Fight”. This is an album that almost never puts a foot wrong, and is easily a contender for my “top albums of 2008” list.

There’s a sincerity to lead singer/songwriter Scott Hutchison’s lyrics that immediately draws you in; it’s like a stream of consciousness of poignant observations… in fact, I’ve heard his lyrics described as “all the stuff you wish you’d said at the time of the break up but were too drunk/tired/dumbstruck/sad to sputter“, and I couldn’t put it better myself.

I might not want you back, but I want to kill him […]
I’m still in love with you and can’t admit it yet.

– Frightened Rabbit, “Good Arms vs. Bad Arms”


All of this is delivered in Hutchinson’s charming Scottish brogue – sometimes seemingly in direct contrast to his subject matter – and jangly, mixed guitars that only serve to heighten the urgency and immediacy of the emotions that lie just below the surface.

It’s beautiful, desperate, angry, and so damn tight, that I’m amazed this is only the band’s sophmore release. Put simply, Frightened Rabbit are everything that I got into this gig for.

Below, I’ve included the video for their first single, “Head Rolls Off“, and then two tracks off the new album; the aforementioned “Head Rolls Off”, and the heart-breaking “Good Arms vs. Bad Arms“.
Do yourself a favour, and get this album. Seriously.

Listen: Frightened Rabbit – Head Rolls Off
Listen: Frightened Rabbit – Good Arms vs. Bad Arms

4 replies on “Frightened Rabbit – Head Rolls Off & Good Arms vs. Bad Arms”

Found this post searching for lyrics (which are impossible to find, by the way). Couldn’t agree more with you though — fantastic album.

Hi Annon,
Glad the search – even though it wasn’t your final target – brought you by! If you like Frightened Rabbit, you might like some of the other tunes I feature on this blog, so hopefully you’ll come by again sometime :)

Good review matey – I’ll be bookmarking your site.

I’ve had “Heads Roll Off” on repeatedly at window-cracking, ears-bleeding volume since I found out about this band on Monday. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Music that’s worth being alive to hear.

Hi Doggles,
Thanks for stopping by… that’s probably one of the best ways I’ve heard the music described :)

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