MÖNGÖL HÖRDE / Möngöl Hörde [2014]

Known best for his folky-punk songs, nice guy Frank Turner takes some time off from his busy schedule to have a laugh while returning to his harsher punk-rock roots with the 2014 self-titled album, Möngöl Hörde.
The three-piece act are as loud and aggressive as The Refused but never once do they sound like they're taking themselves too seriously.  Yes, it sounds pissed off (and probably is) but it's more of shit-eating grin "fuck you" than an overly mundane "you're all mindless sheep" fuck you.  The lyrical subject matter for the most part is pretty light on substance but when it does make a clever point, it sneaks up on you and smacks you square in the face.  It might just be a one-off album but the song-writing is solid and the playing it tight enough to make one hopeful for more material in the future.

3½ tapeworms in Natalie Portman out of 5

Songs of Note: Make Way; Staff to the Refund Counter

FRANK TURNER / Tape Deck Heart [2013]

After a 3 years of sold out concert halls and massive festivals, it wouldn't be right for English folk-rocker Frank Turner to keep singing about struggling to make rent and riding the bus on 2013's major label debut Tape Deck Heart.

Instead he opts for a broken heart record about self-evaluation, change, ageing and staying sincere to the love of music.  Like fellow folk-rocker Billy Bragg, Turner's vocals and songwriting flourish with passion, anger and loneliness while keeping positively grounded in honest reality.  Adding in some mandolin, honky-tonk piano and multiple overdubs makes for a more polished record far from the acoustic folk of his early days but never once does you feel as if he's doing it to sell records.  Turner once again proves he's an artist that is really hard to dislike.

4 odes to punk rock out of 5

Songs Of Note: Losing Days; Four Simple Words

FRANK TURNER / Last Minutes & Lost Evenings [2012]

After a long string of shows with Social Distortion, Green Day & The Gaslight Anthem it's become quite apparent folk-punker Frank Turner is about to breakout in North America. So it would only make sense to release a compilation of his best songs, hand-picked by Turner himself, to introduce the uninitiated to his foot-stomping brand of upbeat, spitting folk rock.  

2012's Last Minutes & Lost Evenings is tight little package of fan favorites that showcases Turner's irresistible charms and witty songwriting.  For fans that already own all his albums, it comes with a fantastic DVD of a complete 26-song performance in Wembley Stadium that proves he is a born showman with the type of power and passion that will make the hairs on your neck stand up.  Now release the damn live show on CD for listening on the run.

3½ somebodies to love out of 5

Songs Of Note: The Real Damage; I Still Believe [DVD]

FRANK TURNER & JON SNODGRASS / Buddies EP [2010]

Written in 4 hours and recorded the next day in 2010, English folkster Frank Turner and alt-country Drag The River's frontman Jon Snodgrass' 10" EP Buddies is nothing but good fun.

Each silly little acoustic song is bookended by drunken banter showcasing good buddies doing what they love to do.  It's not great material but it's so much fun  and written & recorded in under 24 hours it can be forgiven.

3 sexy Victorian swim trunks out of 5

Songs Of Note: just grab the damn thing from iTunes and listen.   

CUCKOO'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2011

People keep saying new music is crap but I don't believe it. Out of the 50 albums or so that I reviewed this year, I can honestly say I'd recommend atleast 80% of them which is pretty good. Granted I did do some digging to find some of this stuff...but it's worth it when you find it.

It wasn't that tough a decision to narrow down my top 10 seeing as I awarded only 10 albums with 5 "stars".

(click on the names for the mini-reviews)

10. BLUE SKY BLACK DEATH / Noir

9. THE CURE / Bestival Live 2011

8. PJ HARVEY / Let England Shake

7. THE WAR ON DRUGS / Slave Ambient

6. VESPERTINA / The Waiting Wolf

5. TOM WAITS / Bad As Me

4. ANDREW JACKSON JIHAD / Knife Man

3. LYDIA LOVELESS / Indestructible Machine

2. LYKKE LI / Wounded Rhymes

1. FRANK TURNER / England Keep My Bones


Some honorable mentions go to:

BANG DATA / Maldito Carnaval
BLINK-182 / Neighborhoods
DIRTY BEACHES / Badlands
DOOMTREE / No Kings
DUM DUM GIRLS / Only In Dreams
DAVID LYNCH / Crazy Clown Time
JEFF MARTIN 777 / The Ground Cries Out
PUSCIFER / Conditions Of My Parole
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS / Songs Of Man
VARIOUS ARTISTS / Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

FRANK TURNER / England Keep My Bones [2011]

Nice-guy Englishman folkster Frank Turner is really coming into his own on his 4th studio album England Keep My Bones.
Lifting the album title from Shakespeare, Turner's songwriting style is noticeably the strongest it's ever been. While he's dropped the "I'm the underdog" type lyrics, Tuner has opted for more of an album based on his English identity and the rich history of his homeland. Retaining his punk rock like attitude and strong sense of the genuine and passionate, Turner seems to be heading to greener pastures.
England Keep My Bones proves no matter how big Turner is getting, he can still be fun, real and never forgetful of where he came from.

5 Lives and Deaths of King John out of 5

Songs Of Note: I Still Believe; Glory Hallelujah