Review: Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones
Frank’s 3rd album Poetry Of The Deed was not perfect. It was too long and a little too samey (rock song, rock song, acoustic song, acoustic rock song, repeat). Nevertheless, it had some brilliant moments proving the ex-Million Dead frontman (and mention of his old band will be returning later in this review) certainly hadn’t lost it, merely just got distracted along the route.England Keep My Bones goes a long way in correcting many of it’s predecessors flaws. The straight up (for want of a better word) anthems are few and far between, replaced by tracks that sound closer to 2008’s Love, Ire & Song, albeit with his band (now know as The Sleeping Souls) more heavily present. Take ‘I Am Disappeared’, a perfect example of Frank’s finest word play coming together with the band in top form. It’s rather brilliant.
As with the rest of Frank’s back catalog, the majority of this albums highlights lie in the stripped down tracks. The folky ‘Rivers’, charming ‘Wessex Boy’ (note insanely relatable lyrics) and haunting ‘Nights Become Days’ being three such examples. It all comes together on ‘Redemption’, a heart-wrenching tale of a regretted break-up that is comfortably the best track on the album (unless you’ve got the deluxe edition, where ‘Balthazar, Impresario’ might give it a run for it’s money).
It has it’s weaker sides, but they at least show promise. The acapella English Curse is certainly different and interesting, but loses it’s power when confined to a studio. The Million Dead-esque (told you) ‘One Foot Before The Other’, whilst great fun and incredible lyrically, lacks the screamy vocals that music craves.
With Frank, I always find myself returning to the same conclusion. As great as he is when he’s singing about life lessons and music, his true magic is when he’s bearing his soul. Fortunately, England Keep My Bones is a wonderful balance of the two.
8.5/10
