Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010)

Bands of this ilk characterize what’s going on with the indie rock/pop crowd these days. They meld genres by including various instrumental themes and stylistic motifs over a skeleton that’s just standard pop/rock at its core. The illusion is something grand and abstract, but strangely accessible, when in reality it isn’t far removed from much of what we hear out there every year. Frightened Rabbit are a pop group, and quite a good one at that. They are led by a vocalist who sings in a rather serious tone though the Scottish accent is relatively pleasant to listen to. A healthy dose of strings and keyboards give these songs in a whistful glow, and the addition of occasional woodwind and string instruments makes this feel like an artful collection of songs. Admittedly, their style is somewhat derivative, which isn’t a bad thing in and of itself, but it colors my perception of that album. I hear The Arcade Fire as an obvious touchstone, most notably on “The Loneliness and the Scream.” There is an austere quality to the music that makes it hard not to take seriously, but also limits the “fun factor” inherent in the music. It is a very pleasant album, as its affect is serene and calming. Certainly not a brilliant work but Frightened Rabbit show that you can be a follower and still produce something worth indulging in. My favorite tracks are "Nothing Like You" and "Yes I Would" which sound the least like the bulk of the album. The former being more upbeat and the latter stripped-down.

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