Frank Turner - Positive Songs For Negative People (Album Review)
Thursday, 06 August 2015
Written by Laura Johnson
'Positive Songs For Negative People’ is an apt title for Frank Turner’s latest go around. Here the folk-punk troubadour continues to adopt a ‘glass half full’ approach, pushing ahead in the face of of pessimism and self deprecation. The intent here is not to scream at his demons from the rooftops, but to win them over.
The rousing Get Better demonstrates how this particular strain of resilience and optimism can still pack a punch, as Turner sings: “I’m a machine and I was built to last...we can get better, because we’re not dead yet.”
The Next Storm, the lead single, keeps that momentum going: “I don’t wanna spend the whole of my life inside, I wanna step out and face the sunshine.”
It’s a thread that runs throughout the record and, understandably, only frays on Song For Josh, a tribute to the manager of Washington’s 9:30 club, Josh Burdette, who died in 2013. The track was recorded a year later during a Turner show at the venue and is a candid tribute to the pair’s friendship.
The Opening Act Of Spring leans on the folk side of things and sees the storm metaphor spilling over into the latter half of the album. Mittens, which is clearly meant to be tongue in cheek, is instead a notable bum note: “We used to fit like mittens but never like gloves.” Similarly, Turner’s lyrics hit a rocky patch on Love Forty Down, which trips over a jarring tennis metaphor.
A step towards redemption is not far away, though, as Out Of Breath, with its manic, pirate ditty quality, brings a refreshing change of pace to an album that was beginning to wane. The hope again flows freely on Demons: “God damn it’s great to be alive.”
‘Positive Songs For Negative People’ may be a celebration of personal breakthroughs for Turner, but it steadfastly refuses to smash any musical moulds. A somewhat complacent follow up to ‘Tape Deck Heart’.
Frank Turner Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri August 07 2015 - LONDON Garage
Sun August 09 2015 - GLASGOW King Tut's
Thu November 05 2015 - LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru
Fri November 06 2015 - SOUTHAMPTON O2 Guildhall
Sat November 07 2015 - SOUTHAMPTON O2 Guildhall
Mon November 09 2015 - FALMOUTH Princess Pavilion
Fri November 13 2015 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Sat November 14 2015 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE University
Sun November 15 2015 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Mon November 16 2015 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Wed November 18 2015 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Thu November 19 2015 - SHEFFIELD O2 Academy Sheffield
Sat November 21 2015 - BRISTOL Colston Hall
Sun November 22 2015 - BRISTOL Colston Hall
Mon November 23 2015 - MANCHESTER Academy
Thu November 26 2015 - LONDON Alexandra Palace
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