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Product Description
Review
It’s been three years since Frightened Rabbit released their last record, The Midnight Organ Fight, a startling, brittle and quite brilliant break-up record that bared the rather bruised soul of the band’s principal boy Scott Hutchison. It was at times a painful, funny, heart-lurching record that, as it drew to a close, seemed to promise sweeter times to come.
In its successor, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, we find Hutchison has been true to his word. From the off the record strikes a brighter beat – its opener, Things, telling of abrupt new starts, abandoning worldly possessions and fleeing for the hills: “I left them on the floor,” he explains as the music surges, “and ran for dear life through the door.”
Things is followed by first single, the gloriously anthemic Swim Until You Can’t See Land; a song that seems buoyed not so much by optimism as a dogged desire not to drown: “Are you a man?” he gulps. “Are you bag of sand?”
It’s these brasher, brighter songs, along with second single Nothing Like You and the folky strains of Living in Colour, that strike you first; they’re rich radio-pop, still happily a little coarse and mumbling, but undeniably hummable. With a little time, though, the more intricate tracks creep up on you – the whirling centrepiece of Skip the Youth, say, or the fine-drawn lyrics of Not Miserable.
When Hutchison first spoke about the new material, around the time recording began, he told of how, “The theme is going to be about pushing yourself to the edge of things and being alone… It’s not all fun and games, but hopefully it’ll just be less obviously personal and brutal than the last record.” Certainly, The Winter of Mixed Drinks paints us a considerably less stark landscape, though – and this is really a minor point – gone too is some of the Frightened Rabbit roughness and vulgarity.
At times, this album could be interpreted as a grasp for a bigger audience; the Scots have been ploughing this furrow for seven years, and finally now seem poised on the brink of something grand. Accordingly, The Winter of Mixed Drinks is more polished, more polite than the band’s earlier offerings, but it’s reassuring to note that the band’s scruffy-hearted charm still lies just below the surface. --Laura Barton
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having bought the album, I listened to it roughly twenty times in the first week. Each listen continues to reveal something new in the music, be that an illusive lyric in the rasping vocals of Scott Hutchinson, or a glimmering instrumental nuance. Simultaneously dark and enlightening, each song demonstrates the intricate genious of this band. I love this album. Buy it, you know you want to.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
4.5 stars
Frightened Rabbit's previous album "The Midnight Organ fight" has attracted a fierce loyalty for its stunning songs of passion and heartbreak. It is one of the great British albums of the past decade bar none and showed that this Scottish band alongside other contemporaries like the Twilight Sad are bringing an awesome level of new energy to music north of the border.
The weight of expectation particularly after an album so loved is bound to be sky-high but more than that "TMOF" is a deeply personal record which the listener almost appropriates from the band and its great confessional songwriter Scott Hutchison. Are we therefore inevitably heading for dissapointment?
Hutchinson himself has stated that that the Winter of Mix Drinks is "less obviously personal and brutal than the last record" and I suspect that those looking for the ferocious lyrics combined with the gossamer tenderness of songs like "Poke" or "My Backwards Walk" may be disappointed. The Winter of Mixed Drinks (great title) is a much more expansive rock album; some have even called it a bid for stadium status. Whatever the case it marks a linear progression from "Midnight Organ Fight" into a much bigger sound and a new chapter for the band. This is achieved in this reviewers humble opinion without Frightened Rabbit losing those key characteristics that generate the passionate fan base and the rough edges which make this band such a joy.
The album gets off to a superb start with "Things". Waves of guitar roll out and then Hutchison's vocal kicks in. It is a big song that builds over four minutes into an anthem that will have the lighters waved in the air at festivals and will be superb show opener. It is followed by the single "Swim until you can't see land" a melodic rock song with wonderful band harmonies and a tender lead vocal. The highlights then start to pile up.
"The Wrestle" sees Hutchison's distinctive Selkirk accent and vocals to the fore in what must be a brilliant emerging anthem for the band. The thumping second single "Nothing like you" is bold and brash song that will be a live favourite. The albums highlight quickly follows. "Footshooter" it's a signature song by the band and effortless. Underpinned by a yearning melody and beautifully paced. It is precisely because of songs like this that this band is so special. The same applies to the truly wonderful "Not Miserable" with Hutchinson's voice to forefront and with the wonderful slow build so characteristic of FR. The album ends with the lovely and plaintive "Yes I would" which is probably the song from this album that would have sat happiest on the Midnight Organ Fight.
This album therefore marks a departure but a welcome one. The context of TMOF was a of a torrid break up for Hutchison and in a strange way it reminded me in spirit of Joni Mitchell's "Blue" albeit the music is miles apart. It's probably a one off, never to be repeated. The Winter of Mixed Drinks is more conventional but also bigger and bolder. It is not so painfully confessional but the essence of Frightened Rabbit is intact and possibly the best emerging band in the UK has produced its bid to be a major league player.
Frightened Rabbit's previous album "The Midnight Organ fight" has attracted a fierce loyalty for its stunning songs of passion and heartbreak. It is one of the great British albums of the past decade bar none and showed that this Scottish band alongside other contemporaries like the Twilight Sad are bringing an awesome level of new energy to music north of the border.
The weight of expectation particularly after an album so loved is bound to be sky-high but more than that "TMOF" is a deeply personal record which the listener almost appropriates from the band and its great confessional songwriter Scott Hutchison. Are we therefore inevitably heading for dissapointment?
Hutchinson himself has stated that that the Winter of Mix Drinks is "less obviously personal and brutal than the last record" and I suspect that those looking for the ferocious lyrics combined with the gossamer tenderness of songs like "Poke" or "My Backwards Walk" may be disappointed. The Winter of Mixed Drinks (great title) is a much more expansive rock album; some have even called it a bid for stadium status. Whatever the case it marks a linear progression from "Midnight Organ Fight" into a much bigger sound and a new chapter for the band. This is achieved in this reviewers humble opinion without Frightened Rabbit losing those key characteristics that generate the passionate fan base and the rough edges which make this band such a joy.
The album gets off to a superb start with "Things". Waves of guitar roll out and then Hutchison's vocal kicks in. It is a big song that builds over four minutes into an anthem that will have the lighters waved in the air at festivals and will be superb show opener. It is followed by the single "Swim until you can't see land" a melodic rock song with wonderful band harmonies and a tender lead vocal. The highlights then start to pile up.
"The Wrestle" sees Hutchison's distinctive Selkirk accent and vocals to the fore in what must be a brilliant emerging anthem for the band. The thumping second single "Nothing like you" is bold and brash song that will be a live favourite. The albums highlight quickly follows. "Footshooter" it's a signature song by the band and effortless. Underpinned by a yearning melody and beautifully paced. It is precisely because of songs like this that this band is so special. The same applies to the truly wonderful "Not Miserable" with Hutchinson's voice to forefront and with the wonderful slow build so characteristic of FR. The album ends with the lovely and plaintive "Yes I would" which is probably the song from this album that would have sat happiest on the Midnight Organ Fight.
This album therefore marks a departure but a welcome one. The context of TMOF was a of a torrid break up for Hutchison and in a strange way it reminded me in spirit of Joni Mitchell's "Blue" albeit the music is miles apart. It's probably a one off, never to be repeated. The Winter of Mixed Drinks is more conventional but also bigger and bolder. It is not so painfully confessional but the essence of Frightened Rabbit is intact and possibly the best emerging band in the UK has produced its bid to be a major league player.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's been a while waiting for the new Frabbit album but proved to be well worth it.
The sound is more polished and polite but none of the appeal has been lost and there are a couple of anthemic wonders.
I can only reccomend you go out and buy this album and if you can catch them live as they are a superb gig band.
The sound is more polished and polite but none of the appeal has been lost and there are a couple of anthemic wonders.
I can only reccomend you go out and buy this album and if you can catch them live as they are a superb gig band.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good
It's good, but very varying quality imo. Definitely worth a buy if you like Frightened Rabbit though.
Some songs are just too repetitive.
Some songs are just too repetitive.
Published 1 month ago by eko
Frightened Rabbit
this album is brilliant, soulful and heart-warming. have enjoyed everything this guys make and was blown away by the power and beauty of the this album. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Cranna
Truly uplifting
I'll keep this short and sweet. This album is magic, pure magic! It combines energy, great lyrics, catchy melodies, hooks and a real feel good feeling. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Patrick Sykes
Magic Rabbit
Excellent album, I will be ordering up the rest of their collection as soon as I can.
Published 21 months ago by C. Arnott
A good 3rd album
Frightened Rabbit have impressed me again with this album. Although not as directly heart wrenching and emotionally heavy as The Midnight Organ Fight, The Winter of Mixed Drinks... Read more
Published on 4 April 2010 by J. Duffy
Selkirk's Finest
These guy's had there work cut out to top there last release the midnight organ fight, there are alot of good tunes on this disc Skip the youth & Swim until you cant see land are... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by Black Douglas
Magic Left Behind
Frightened Rabbit's new album 'The Winter Of Mixed Drinks' makes
a big noise. No doubt about it! Read more
a big noise. No doubt about it! Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by The Wolf
'Mixed Drinks' but not mixed quality - great stuff
It was always going to be tough following up such a widely acclaimed album as the Midnight Organ Fight (MOF). Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by Mike J. Wheeler
Error in MP3 Download
Be aware 1st couple of tracks may not download correctly. There also appears to be a problem with this album downloading correctly on iTunes. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2010 by M. Nesbit
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