Day 47: Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight

The Modern Leper

Accents.  Accents, accents, accents.  When a singer has a prominent accent of any sort, their band automatically becomes better in my book.  Yeah, that’s probably a bad thing.  Sure, it was the cause of my now-regrettable Mumford & Sons phase.  I am also aware that it puts me on the same level as a fourteen-year-old girl who just discovered Muse.  Truth is, I don’t care.

Let’s take a look at some of the great bands with accents, the ones that I still love, even after that initial novelty has worn off.  Groups like The xx, Arctic Monkeys, and lets not forget, Los Campesinos!, the world’s greatest band (that is an objective fact).  They all have accents, but I’ve learned to love them for their actual sound.

I’ve noticed that I am especially drawn to the Scottish accent.  I love bands like Franz Ferdinand, We Were Promised Jetpacks, and now Frightened Rabbit.

I hope the effects of singer Billy Kennedy’s Scottish brogue won’t wear off, but it wouldn’t be the first time.  In the past, with certain bands, I’ve suddenly looked past the accent.  At that point, I realize that I’ve been listening to what is essentially the same song played on repeat ten times, and then packaged as an album (Mumford).

But I don’t think that’ll happen with Frightened Rabbit.  I did my best to look past the accent, and I found that there really are a bunch of legitimately good songs on this record.  Kennedy’s lyrics are genuine and heartfelt.  Sure, they’re a bit melodramatic at times (“you’re the shit and I’m knee-deep in it” on My Backwards Walk) but I firmly believe that music can greatly benefit from a touch of melodrama.

Frightened Rabbit also prove that they’re versatile.  Whether they’re rocking out on fast-paced, depressing, opener The Modern Leper or confessing everything on Floating in the Forth, they always seem in their element.  Accent or no accent, I like this band.