There are a few bands, that even though you were just introduced to them, feel like you have known about them forever. Several factors can be behind this. 1) They may remind you of a band that you are already a fan of. 2) You heard them in a movie or commercial and have that ah ha moment when you find out who they are. Or 3) They strike you in a way you cannot fully explain.
For me, Frightened Rabbit falls into the first and third category. I was first introduced to them in 2010 when they released their third album ‘The Winter of Mixed Drinks’. When I first listened to them, they sounded so familiar, yet different. They remind me of that mid-90s Alternative angst music scene that was perfected by Alanis Morissette or Pablo Honey era Radiohead. Yet I couldn’t recall a time that I heard lyrics about relationships that were so personal and honest. They really struck a cord and I became an immediate fan.
You see Frightened Rabbit lives on the edge. They could very easily be classified as an emo style band, but there is a maturity and sincerity in their music that no emo band could ever dream of achieving. This puts Frightened Rabbit in their own category.
With the release of their fourth album overall and first on Atlantic Records, Frightened Rabbit’s ‘Pedestrian Verse’ continues the tradition of big hooks and heart felt lyrics. With ‘Pedestrian Verse’ you can hear Frightened Rabbit maturing as a band. The music on this album is polished, refined, and progressive. A great example of this is the opening track “Acts of Man”. The piano and drumming set the tone for a brooding song about a man who sees the awful way other men treat women, yet is powerless to stop it.
And it’s not just the music that grows, lead singer and lyricists Scott Hutchison continues to bring his experiences to the forefront as he explores the world around him. A great example of this is the song “Woodpile”, my favorite track and lead single off the album. Hutchinson is able to capture the sense of loneliness that few songwriters can, and this song is a perfect example. This song is destined to be a Frightened Rabbit classic for years to come.
Now Frightened Rabbit isn’t all doom and gloom. There are a few up beat tracks. Housing (in) is fast paced and a great lead into Dead Now, which features some exceptional guitar work and is anchored in a steady bass beat. Frightened Rabbit is a band that wears its emotions on its sleeves. They are consistently producing great alternative music. They are worth checking out and should be around for years to come.
By: Peter Kreten