Half Drunk Under a Full Moon-The Fratellis Album Review:

 

The band from Glasgow, Scotland is back with their sixth album “Half drunk under a full Moon” their first album in three years and this album the Fratellis recapture the magic of their first two albums “Costello Music and “Here we stand” that made people fall in love with their music. John Fratelli and company are back with the style that really defined them as a hybrid of chamber-barouqe pop/indie rock band with those orchestral sounds like strings, horns and piano. This album is meticulously crafted to a tee on every orchestral sound, harmonizing vocals and the band just plainly having fun while rocking out like they usually do.

The album starts off perfectly with the journey they are taking you on here with the track title “Half drunk under a full moon” which has a delicate balance of instruments that has the orchestral sound that gives us a hint as to how meticulously the album is composed, while the lyrics range from celebrity references to repetitive refrains that are reminiscent of a chant you’d hear in an amphitheater.” It continues with a nice brass section underneath the catchy love song “Need a little love”.

While the song “Lay your body down” is an emotional song that is reminiscent of their first two albums where it sounds like a classic rock song/folky style they are known for. The track “Six days in June” really rocks out as it’s a much bigger and somewhat jazzier version of their old style. “Action replay” has a great piano and orchestral sound which again harkens back to their old style with the lyrics that don’t make sense but seem perfect.

Songs “The last songbird” and “Living in the dark” are both catchy rock songs that you can sing along to like their previous work with the later talking about a staying in a complicated relationship but like most of the album it touches on being born and being alive. While “Oh Roxy” plays on homage to portraying female protagonists which they have done before with great harmonies, flutes and strings.

The other two songs “Strangers in the street” and “Hello stranger” the song that ends the album, have amazing vocals with emotion to them and former has great guitar work. It again shows how they perfectly crafted each song is but most importantly each part of a song. Their music is usually fun/light hearted but this album shows that the Fratellis have another side to them a deeper side. I am not saying you will get “half drunk under a full moon” literally but this album brings you on a dreamlike journey from start to end. It also shows they are back to what made them great/popular with this album and “if you hear music say yes” and I say yes.