Sunday Music Spotlight – Frightened Rabbit

Scotland is known for many things: haggis, kilts, thick accents, and whiskey being the chief among them. Musically the Scots run the gamut from The Bay City Rollers to The Vaselines. Somewhere lodged comfortably in the middle is Selkirk’s Frightened Rabbit.

Brothers Scott and Grant Hutchison started writing songs together in 2004, with Scott on guitar and Grant on drums. They soon enlisted friend Billy Kennedy as a second guitarist and Frightened Rabbit was born. They played Glasgow clubs to build their reputation, and soon enough they holed up in a recording studio.

The resulting album, Sing the Greys, earned the band rave reviews for its solid melancholic pop. On the strength of those reviews the band played SXSW in 2007, cementing their reputation in the US. Seeking to build that reputation even further the band released their second album, The Midnight Organ Fight, in April. Far from a sophomore slump, The Midnight Organ Fight is measurably better than their debut, both in the quality of the music and the overall tone. The melancholy is muted, mixed with other emotions. It shows a band just hitting their creative stride, with possibilities abounding for the future.

Frightened Rabbit - My Backwards Walk

Insistent guitars, subtly accented vocals, pounding drums, and a hint of organ. This standout from The Midnight Organ Fight is a pretty fair representation of the band.

Frightened Rabbit - I Feel Better

I’ll be the first to admit I don’t often notice drum parts in pop music. But this one really stands out to me. Since the band doesn’t have a bassist the drums are essential, and they really make this track.

Videos

“Heads Roll Off”

“Old Old Fashioned”, Live

Links
Buy The Midnight Organ Fight
MySpace
Official Site

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frightened_Rabbit

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/49604-midnight-organ-fight