Frank Turner: Positive Songs For Negative People
"By the waters of the Thames, I resolved to start again" begins "Positive Songs For Negative People", Frank Turner's sixth full length studio record. We pick up where "Tape Deck Heart" left off, lamenting our hero's lost love on the river's edge, before kickstarting a set of songs about picking yourself up off the ground and going again. The record bursts into a strong opening salvo of "Get Better" and "The Next Storm". The latter is an enjoyable pop single but gains added potency in the acoustic version available as part of the deluxe edition.
Elsewhere, there's enjoyable throwbacks to earlier Turner. The folk infused "The Opening Act Of Spring" is rendolent of "Love Ire And Song", his second record. "Out Of Breath" is a foot to the floor punk rock inspired whirlwind that can be connected to "Back In The Day" from "Sleep Is For The Week". In other hands, you suspect the lyrics "This is the truth we have arrived, goddamn it's great to be alive" from "Demons" would sound trite. But Turner's sheer sincerity elevates the song.
The piano driven "Mittens" and Bruce Springsteen-esque "Josephine" prove the highlights of the record, big anthemic rock songs with huge choruses that I imagine will be heard filling arenas in the future. Those who are less well disposed towards a sporting metaphor than I am might baulk at "Love Forty Down", as Turner tackles adversity through the terminology of tennis.
Silent Key provides an imagining of the last moments of NASA Payload Specialist Christa McAuliffe during the Challenger disaster in 1986. It's an interesting track, if lyrically clunky. It's an event that took place less than 30 years ago and therefore within living memory of a great number of people. I do wonder whether Frank is attempting to appropriate something that isn't his to appropriate.
The record concludes with "Song For Josh", a tribute to the late Josh Burdette recorded in the 9:30 Club in Washington where he used to work. Earnest, heartfelt and genuine, it epitomises Frank's music. Overall, PSFNP is another strong collection of songs from Mr Turner. As a negative person, I can give it a ringing endorsement.
Elsewhere, there's enjoyable throwbacks to earlier Turner. The folk infused "The Opening Act Of Spring" is rendolent of "Love Ire And Song", his second record. "Out Of Breath" is a foot to the floor punk rock inspired whirlwind that can be connected to "Back In The Day" from "Sleep Is For The Week". In other hands, you suspect the lyrics "This is the truth we have arrived, goddamn it's great to be alive" from "Demons" would sound trite. But Turner's sheer sincerity elevates the song.
The piano driven "Mittens" and Bruce Springsteen-esque "Josephine" prove the highlights of the record, big anthemic rock songs with huge choruses that I imagine will be heard filling arenas in the future. Those who are less well disposed towards a sporting metaphor than I am might baulk at "Love Forty Down", as Turner tackles adversity through the terminology of tennis.
Silent Key provides an imagining of the last moments of NASA Payload Specialist Christa McAuliffe during the Challenger disaster in 1986. It's an interesting track, if lyrically clunky. It's an event that took place less than 30 years ago and therefore within living memory of a great number of people. I do wonder whether Frank is attempting to appropriate something that isn't his to appropriate.
The record concludes with "Song For Josh", a tribute to the late Josh Burdette recorded in the 9:30 Club in Washington where he used to work. Earnest, heartfelt and genuine, it epitomises Frank's music. Overall, PSFNP is another strong collection of songs from Mr Turner. As a negative person, I can give it a ringing endorsement.
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