One of the unexpected dilemmas presented by this whole music blogging malarkey is thus: do I just write about “new” music? Or can I write about absolutely anything at all? Ultimately, of course, there’s no limit to the nonsense I can spout here, but surely some sort of editorial discipline should be exercised for the sake of readability. So, I propose an ungodly compromise: I’ll limit myself to posting about stuff that’s new to me. Accidental discoveries and recommendations form a far greater part of my current listening time than genuinely new stuff – that’s just how taste works. Plus it can sometimes take a record a little while to be “broken in”. Most of my latest favourite albums have been recommended to me by friends recently, but were actually released ages ago; such as Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers by The National, circa 2003, and Frightened Rabbit‘s The Midnight Organ Fight which I discovered this morning but was released all the way back in April by FatCat Records.
My late discovery of this album has really annoyed me, because I’ve only gone and compiled my Top 10 Albums of 2008 early, thus denying this spectacular record its deserved spot. Curses! Don’t I feel silly now…
Coincidentally, this latest Frightened Rabbit album has been the topic of some heated debate on the Song, by Toad site (scroll down to the “comments” bit to see what I’m on about). Many are the detractors that claim the record sounds unforgivably like Snow Patrol. Which is almost true. Sure, there’s epic-indie-high-register-guitar-pedals aplenty, and the voices are somewhat similar, but this records contains lyrics that Snow Patrol would never dare put on a record. It’s a dirty, aggressive and confrontational album, and I love them for it. Poke is my new favourite song by miles.
Get yourselves a copy, if only for the uncommon and well-overdue satisfaction of seeing Bon Iver being knocked for six…
Frightened Rabbit – The Modern Leper
Frightened Rabbit – Poke
9 December 2008 at 4:49 am
Just happened upon this page from an incoming link. It’s good to see another “Midnight Organ Fight” lover. I am currently in the process of posting my top albums of the year list, and this one (which I’ve been having on constant repeat for months now) will be high on it, for sure.
Awesome blog.
9 December 2008 at 4:51 am
Nicely said, Sir! And as you know, I quite agree xoxox
10 December 2008 at 9:02 am
nice post – love the music too – thanks
I recently seem to keep finding posts about artists who are on Fat Cat….which is spooky, since they’ve been (unread) in my bookmarks for ages by total coincidence after I was casting about for domain names ( yeah, I’ve got a 14lb cat…) & stumbled into Fat Cat’s site & thoughtooh, looks interesting, better keep it.
10 December 2008 at 3:44 pm
it’s a great album. sing the greys is also brilliant. great band
13 January 2009 at 8:06 pm
[…] Gaelic TV, live, Rapal | I’m still deeply enamoured of Frightened Rabbit’s LP Midnight Organ Fight, but the production is starting to sound just a little cheesy. Thankfully the songs (and their […]
10 April 2009 at 5:46 pm
Quality album. As with any Frightened Rabbit fans I find, I will wholeheartedly recommend We Were Promised Jetpacks to you; very similar sound. A bit less ‘folky’ than FR but just as good.
Have a cheeky listen to one of their songs on my blog..
26 April 2009 at 9:49 pm
[…] to atone for this unforgivable sin by purchasing Midnight Organ Fight (I could hardly write such a glowing review of the thing and not have actually bought it for myself) and it appears that sence of guilt has […]
13 January 2010 at 11:12 am
[…] have been kept interested throughout 2009 first by the excellent Quietly Now! (a live version of Midnight Organ Fight) and the pre-Christmas single Swim Until You Can’t See Land. This single was our first […]
6 February 2010 at 10:05 pm
[…] Rabbit’s Midnight Organ Fight, from 2008, if you’re interested. Not necessarily the best album of the last few years, but […]
11 October 2010 at 7:02 pm
[…] was never going to exceed the greatness of The Midnight Organ Fight, but I knew that before diving into this new record; there was always the hope that it might be […]
21 November 2011 at 6:53 pm
[…] admirably, but if you’re new to the band I’d strongly recommend that you seek out their earlier work first. Production duties on this record were handled by the band themselves, which is always […]
7 November 2012 at 9:07 am
[…] Frightened Rabbit would be releasing a new LP in 2013. That was good news because as creators of one of the best albums of the last half-decade, FR LPs are always worth paying attention to, but also because there would inevitably be a host of […]
15 November 2012 at 8:38 am
[…] Frightened Rabbit would be releasing a new LP in 2013. That was good news because as creators of one of the best albums of the last half-decade, FR LPs are always worth paying attention to, but also because there would inevitably be a host of […]
15 November 2012 at 9:10 am
[…] admirably, but if you’re new to the band I’d strongly recommend that you seek out their earlier work first. Production duties on this record were handled by the band themselves, which is always […]
15 November 2012 at 9:16 am
[…] Rabbit’s Midnight Organ Fight, from 2008, if you’re interested. Not necessarily the best album of the last few years, but […]