The Frames - For The Birds

CD: PLATEAU001CD
RELEASE DATE: 2001
LABEL: Plateau

The Frames are Irish and "For the Birds" is the Dublin quintet's fourth album release and includes collaborations with Steve Albini (who produced Pixies, Nirvana and Low) and Craig Ward from dEUS. The album starts off with an instrumental "In The Deep Shade" which is a stunner with the mandolin and piano quietly dominating the opening chords before the violin arrangements slowly creep through the melody. It is enough to keep one enchanted and wonder what the rest of the album would sound like�� The rest of the album is just full of surprises as it takes you through a surprising fusion of sounds ie folk, pop, rock interspersed with violins, mandolins, banjos, piano and wailing guitar arrangements. One can be carried away by their gentle ballads such as "What Happens When The Heart Just Stops", or get one's feet thumping on some of the more upbeat songs like "Fighting On the Stairs". Or just simply soak in on the emotive melodies with beautiful guitar renderings such as "Headlong" and "Early Bird". The album is an acoustic Monet masterpiece in artistic terms. The band has shaken off the aggression of past works to unveil a delightful and content side of the Frames. This however doesn't mean that they have abandoned their characteristic loud guitar and vocal combination. The songs give the album a great sense of balance and equilibrium. Add the eclectic mix of sounds and arrangements and you get a gem of an album!

Beoordeel