Review:

on 2012-02-09 gutterseed Said:

I had no idea this band existed. I think they have potential. I wouldn't give them over a 5/10. I don't care for the the fillers, i.e "the badda bop bop bop bop's" on flatella. I realize the point for them are to leave the listener guessing, but also find that type of lyrical prose as lazy. I believe they lack in lyrical ability as well. Anyone can fill a song with bop bop's. Take the time to think about what you want to say and say it. Take the time to write your song. If you want to leave the listener guessing, use your lyrical prowess and be creative. Maybe they're doing it for audience participation, I'm not a fan of it.
Love the bassline on Chelsea Daggar. Once again, the first verse is nonsensical babble. Ray Charles could get away with letting his voice contribue to the rhythm, but these guys do a horrid job of it. You know have the band has the talent because the rest of the song is full of great lyrics.
I almost didn't make it through the entire album because bands that do this annoy the living crap out of me, especially when their songs and lyrics are worthy enough to show they have the talent. Take the extra time to write the the lyrics.
The Gutteraie is proof they have the talent. Fast tempo, speedy guitar riffs, fast harmonica, great lyrics. Anyone can use fillers, but it's obvious to me that the fratellis doesn't want to spend the time to apply themselves.
Onward to for the girl, could be a great tune, excellent lyrics, when they're actually singing. Great lyrical story, but enough with wasting my time with "la la's" and "bop bops". Sit down and write what the person you're talking about said instead of masking your pain and thinking of playing stadiums getting the crowd to chant "bop bop" or La La".
I absolutely love Doginabag. The sound is dirty, descriptive, dark, yet upbeat at times, with a great outro because of the tempo change.
Creepignupstairs is a good tune, upbeat, good bass line, and for once, a great chorus. It's simple, but apparently they're a very simple lazy band with a handful of tunes that keep you entertained. I love the tempo changes in this song when they move from the verse to the chorus. Singing Acapella and clapping/snapping make the song saavy.
Vince the loveable stoner, what can I say, with a strong foothold and love for old school country and western music, I love that intro. The guy really can't yodle, but I give him props for trying. I love that simple bluesy sound.
I'd have to say the one thing I love about this band is their potential. The one thing I hate is the stupid filler's that take away from their musical talent. Good overall rhythms, tempo changes, and lyrics, ditch the woo hoo and bop bop's and sit down and write. Tell the listener what the person you're talking about. They just that in "everybody knows you cried last night".
The music is simple, I wouldn't go so far as to call them stereotypical. The album improves as it goes on, I guess when you're stoned and under pressure to make a deadline and are short on material that's what happens. Maybe he had writers block, but thee doo wops don't do anything for your music.
Good album with good songs, lacking in creativity. The rhythm of each song is diverse, which keeps the listener entertained. The lyrics are great, when the singer actually sings, and the tempo changes are outstanding.
I like the bluesy/jazzy/funky scales. All this band has to do is write. Even the backup vocals are great. Apply yourself guys, get yourself out of that pop category to the punk category. You're not going to sell out arenas with simple chords and basslines, so write some lyrics. I would imagine (aside from the first few songs) that this band is actually better live than in the studio, sometimes that's the only time you're going to find a band that can actually play and write music.
Not Rated

Review:

on 2007-03-10 sublogic Said:

If Costello Music by The Fratellis was the stereotypical Pop/Punk-Rock fusion, the 13 tracks on their debut would add up to about a half-hour of material. But like contemporaries, such as the Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, and Little Barrie, The Fratellis use the time to explore the whole landscape of music that has influenced them.
I may suggest that you save the 1st track, “Henrietta”, until you’ve listened to the rest of the album, because the vocals were slightly annoying at first. I appreciated the production, but I didn’t think it was the right track for the album to jump off with. The true starter is the fore mentioned “Flathead”. With an infectious beat and expertly crafted vocal arrangements, mainly the choral background, the song ends with a fading bluesy guitar. “Cuntry Boys and City Girls” howls with a “Cinderella, Cinderella” chorus and the guitars and horns tear around kind of like ….And Out Come The Wolves. “Whistle For The Choir” is a sort of country ballad in which singer, Jon Fratelli, speaks of girls that feign disinterest. “Chelsea Dagger” drops a tale of groupie liberities but becomes a tale of longing that has a huge Stadium Rock sound.
I really loved the guitar decisions on the album. There are hints of Southwestern Blues, like on “doginabag”, Frantic Rock-a-billy on “Creepin Up The Backstairs”, and Steel and Slide on “Vince The Lovable Stoner”. “Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night” has a distinct Bo Diddley influence for the hook and with a nice little solo near the end. “Baby Fratelli” reminds me, along with many of the other songs, of why I always react so strongly John Lennon’s howls. It’s such a primal, dirty sound, and matches the idea that defining beauty is impossible. This brings me to the final, and my favorite, tracks of the album. “Got Ma Nuts From A Hippie” is about an enlightening encounter in the back of a van and works it’s way up so well, you almost feel like a voyeur. Let’s liken it to “Radar Love”, just not as epic. “Ole Black n Blue Eyes” is the right way to finish up, with a “price of fame” song, dealing with the realities and results.
Vocally and musically, Costello Music has the type of risks, progressively at least, you want to see taken.
Rating: 7/10