Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
(Fat Cat)
http://www.myspace.com/frightenedrabbit

Scottish brothers Grant and Scott Hutchinson formed Frightened Rabbit in 2004, and in the following years the band grew to a quartet with Bill Kennedy and Andy Monaghan. They released their debut album, Sing The Greys, in 2006, but only pressed 1000 copies. This time around, the band has teamed with up with producer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol) and the result is their polished second effort, The Midnight Organ Fights. No matter who’s behind the soundboard, though, these guys are sure to deliver a messy, mellow mix of beautifully insightful indie-pop.

This album will make you feel like you’ve found Scott Hutchinson’s book of private poetry on the sidewalk– but don’t worry, you don’t have to return it. Open it. Listen. Enjoy. His lyrics are refreshing, and unlike so many in this genre, they don’t sound pretentious or forced. Perhaps the best example of this master’s craft is the song Head Rolls Off, a question-of-faith anthem that shows this guy can take anything and mash it into a song that is both thoughtful and danceable.

Frightened Rabbit’s new songs fit perfectly into the formula for inevitable success, but their limited popularity and the honest lyrics make it feel like these songs were written just for you. So while tracks like The Twist and I Feel Better will make you want to pass this album around to all your friends, songs like The Modern Leper and Keep Yourself Warm will make you wish you had kept it as your own little secret.

Patrick Hoy