England Keep My Bones

Frank Turner | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: June 3, 2011
• Release Date: June 3, 2011
• Label: Epitaph
• Copyright: 2011 Xtra Mile Recordings Ltd. Except 'I Still Believe' (p) 2010, under exclusive license to Epitaph.
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 44:11
• Genres:
  • Alternative Rock
• ASIN: B00533ED0C
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,366 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars When the punk rock revolution sent shock waves... February 6, 2012

By themusiclantern

Format:MP3 Music

When the punk rock revolution sent shock waves through the United Kingdom and the United States in the late 1970s and early 1980s, many roots rockers and folk-rockers were taken aback by punk's rawness, snarling anger and in-your-face attitude. Punk's message
was one of liberation, which was also the message of Bob Dylan, Janis Ian, Jackson Browne, Neil Young and Joan Baez. But punk's critics on the folk/roots circuit were more focused on the way punks were saying things rather than what they were saying.
Times have changed, however. And these days, it isn't hard to find folk-rock/roots rock artists with a strong punk influence; Frank Turner (formerly of the London-based band Million Dead) is a perfect example.

The British singer/songwriter's fourth album, England Keep My Bones, sounds like the work of someone who was raised on folk-rock and roots rock but was also raised on punk. Turner, now 30, was born in 1981, which means that he isn't old enough to remember a time in which punk was the controversial new kid on the block. By the time Turner reached adolescence in the 1990s, punk had long since become mainstream and was making its presence felt in coffee houses and at folk festivals. So when Turner sounds rootsy and punky at the same time on inspired tracks like "I Am Disappeared," "Peggy Sang the Blues" and "Nights Become Days," he makes folk-rock, roots rock and punk sound like a perfectly logical combination. "Glory Hallelujah" is rootsy, yet it has the "question, don't accept" message and the biting edge that have been a big part of punk (both British and American) for over 35 years.

There are parallels between what Turner does and what New York City-based singer/songwriter Lach and other members of the antifolk movement have been doing in Manhattan's East Village, but Turner's work has a decidedly British appeal. Turner's connection to the UK is evident on "Wessex Boy," "If I Ever Stray," "English Curse"(which is performed a cappella), "Nights Become Days," and other unmistakably British-sounding tracks. Turner often sings about life in the UK, and he does so convincingly. But that isn't to say that he doesn't have American influences or fails to acknowledge the contributions of American rockers. On the infectious "I Still Believe," for example, he passionately sings about the history of rock & roll and gives a shout out to early pre-Beatles rockers such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley (Turner also mentions "Johnny," who presumably, is Johnny Cash, another American great who was making his mark before the rise of the Fab Four). And when Turner is singing about those American icons, he doesn't sound any less British. But he is reminding us that his roots run deep and that artists from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have helped to shape his creative identity. Indeed, Turner's roots are Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry, and his roots are also the Clash, the Damned, the Buzzcocks, Sham 69 and the Sex Pistols. Those British punks of the late 1970s and/or early 1980s were controversial in their day, but now, most musical historians realize that what they were doing was simply rock & roll stripped down to the gutsy basics. And when Turner is simultaneously affected by punk, roots rock and folk-rock on this memorable CD, he makes it sound like a perfectly natural combination.

"Redemption" is full of Springsteen-ish imagery, but again, Turner knows how to acknowledge artists he admires without actually trying to emulate them or allowing his own identity to become obscured. Turner's introspection on "Redemption" brings to mind The Boss' introspection, but he isn't pretending to be a New Jersey boy or singing about summer weekends in Asbury Park, Atlantic City or Cape May. England is still his point of reference even when he is mentioning New Jersey's favorite son.

"One Foot Before the Other" is perhaps the album's most aggressive and hard-rocking track, especially during the burning chorus. Turner doesn't hesitate to turn up the decibels on that tune. But even at his loudest and most amplified, he maintains a certain
amount of rootsiness and folk appeal.

England Keep My Bones is a fine album from this expressive singer/songwriter.

Review by Alex Henderson
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Frank has a band. You can complain or embrace it. June 12, 2011

By Erik in OC

Format:Audio CD

I've only been a fan of Frank Turner for a couple years. I started with his first two albums and I was hooked. I gave Poetry of the Deed a shot and it didn't stick at first but it grew on me and in the past year, I've listened to it more than any of his other albums, by choice.

To the present. I've had live versions of most of these songs since April, so there won't be a kneejerk reaction (no pun intended, for those that would get it). Now that I have the album, even better. Yes, he has a band, not just a man and his guitar, but his talent for great songwriting shows through. It's Frank Turner moving forward with his art, not making the same album. I'm allowing myself to enjoy it. It's pretty easy to do and I just shake my head at those whining that the music is different.

Eulogy is simple opener, the kind Frank can open with at shows, everyone will know the words, and know that a great night is ahead.

There are great songs on here with full use of the band, particularly I am Disappeared and One Foot Before the Other and there are some great ones with mostly Frank and his guitar. My current favorites of that variety are If Ever I Stray and Rivers, but like album that's well done, your favorites will change.

There are days when I want to listen to Wessex Boy on repeat, and looking at past relationships, sometimes Redemption really tugs at my heart.

Glory Hallelujah is the first I've heard of Frank dedicate a song to religion. Frank keeps it simple, and it's well written, though that double negative in the chorus bothers me a bit. It remains positive and a reminder to live the one life you have to the fullest, a common theme in many of Frank's songs.

In conclusion, this album is as expected, a continuation and progression from the sound of Poetry of the Deed. If you turned your nose up to Poetry of the Deed, you'll do the same here. And if you can't deal with change, you have bigger worries coming up in life.

Now if you excuse me, I'm going to take a drive along the coast, overcast, while I listen to this album. :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Folk punk for the car November 5, 2011

By T Cook

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

A real mix of tunes and emotions. We have sing-a-longs with a pint in your hand, we have rainy-day day-dreams of nostalgia and rather oddly, a warning to anyone fancy having a pop of emulating William Duke of Normandy and invading England's green and pleasant lands. Although the style of music swings through the emotions, the main theme of this punk-folk album is the artist's love of England. This is not however, a sentimental cowboy-esque idealistic view that one might find in US country, nor is it a right-wing 'send the buggers back' diatribe, rather a genuine love of Albion. Therefore, it was rather refreshing to listen to it, as we English are usually extremely self-deprecating on the verge of being embarrassed at being English or we have shaved our heads and are Nazi-saluting Union flags and signing 'no surrender'. This album is not perfect, the tune about the dangers of drug abuse has been done and the one about being a river was a bit too much, however the others are well worth a good listen. So my advice would be: head down to the New Forest, The Fenns, the Downs, take a long walk, find a pub, drink real ale, eat a steak and ale pie and make this the soundtrack to your afternoon of appreciating what's around you.