Frank Turner’s work ethic is certainly not in doubt. For the video to promote his recent single ‘The Road’, from his third album Poetry of the Deed, he successfully carried out the startling feat of performing 24 gigs in 24 hours.
His labours in the recording of the album itself have been similarly enthusiastic, with the London singer songwriter taking command of the full range of labels that are thrown his way, from Billy Bragg-esque folk to punk and rock.
Opener ‘Live Fast Die Old’ is one of the best tracks, sounding more like The Hold Steady than Billy Bragg, complete with blue-collar rock staples such as piano intro and organ solo. It also carries a theme that is strewn across the album, of getting old, losing your youth and reaching life’s crossroads.
Second track ‘Try This At Home’, is much different, this time more akin to Blur guitarist Graham Coxon’s solo work. A spirit of 1976 punk call to arms, ‘Try This At Home urges people to, “stop waiting around for someone to patronise us, lets hammer out a sound that speaks of where we’ve been.” But it adds more to this. While 1976 punk was arguably more style over substance, Turner, who is Eton educated and comes from Hampshire, urges those who are about to pick up their guitars to, “forget about the haircuts and stupid skinny jeans.”
The pace slows down for ‘Dan’s Song’, which is back to Billy Bragg style basics, conjuring up images of summer ending and the simple pleasures of life.
More Hold Steady influence comes with title track ‘Poetry of the Deed’ before a clutch of disappointingly mediocre tracks, including the single ‘The Road’, which sounds too much like the Levellers for my liking.
The quality picks up though towards the end, especially with the Procol Harem keyboard sound of ‘Sunday Nights’. Penultimate track ‘Our Lady of the Campfire’ is another standout. A piano intro once again, opening up into a folk rock tribute to city life, far removed from the rural sounding title.
Poetry of the Deed could indeed be Turner’s breakthrough album, as a number of other reviews have suggested. It has certainly got something for everyone. For his small but passionate bunch of fans tracks such as ‘The Road’ are sure to stand out. For me, I want more of the Hold Steady stuff, which is where Poetry of the Deed really shines.
7/10
by Joe Lepper, Sept 2009
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