The Midnight Organ Fight

Frightened Rabbit, Frightened Rabbit | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 15, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fat Cat
• ASIN: B000ZOSMXI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,901 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #13 in Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Scotland

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

They call themselves Frightened Rabbit, but there's nothing shy or timid about this Glasgow trio. On The Midnight Organ Fight, singer/guitarist Scott Hutchison says what he thinks--what he feels--and he doesn't hold anything back. That doesn't make the follow-up to 2006's Sings the Greys a difficult or painful listen. It's cathartic. In "The Modern Leper," Hutchison laments that "a cripple walks among all you tired human beings," while in "Good Arms vs Bad Arms," he admits that "I might not want you back, but I want to kill him." For all the unvarnished honesty, a cautious optimism shines through, particularly on the ebullient "Old Old Fashioned," within which he suggests, "We can get old, old fashioned just like they did in '43!" Aside from their keen melodic sense, the musicians alternate between acoustic strumming and electric thrumming; fast songs and leisurely ones, like the Simon and Garfunkel-ish "Poke.” Though the Glaswegians have their own thing going on, they still bring a few other acts to mind, particularly the Shins, Arab Strap, and indie-era Snow Patrol. Followers of those more established entities will find an equally appealing, if pricklier sensibility at play throughout this Fight. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A near-perfect indie-pop album, April 16, 2008

By 

J. Fahey - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Midnight Organ Fight (Audio CD)

What a difference two years can make.

Frightened Rabbit's debut, Sing the Greys, was an unassuming burst of jangly, emotional indie rock. It was a pleasant, if unfocused, album, but with The Midnight Organ Fight, the band has taken a huge leap forward, refining their sound and showing remarkable growth in their songwriting. The band has smoothed over some of the rough edges, but by tightening things up, their songs have become much more effective.

The album opens with its best song, "The Modern Leper," in which the acoustic strumming builds in intensity, supporting singer Scott Hutchison's pained, defeated lyrics as he questions how someone could ever "love a modern leper on his last leg." This self-loathing characterizes the lyrics throughout the album, as Hutchison deals with feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and desperation. Lyrically, it's a sad and sometimes dark album, but it's also about a person who, upon reaching his lowest point, is slowly trying to pick up the pieces and find a way to move forward, even if he doubts his ability to do so. It's hard not to be drawn in by Hutchison's warm, quivering vocals. Even on the album's loudest, most energetic tracks, his voice underscores every emotion, as it sounds perpetually on the verge of cracking.

But what the band shows above all else is that they know how to write a pop song. Their melodies and subtley catchy choruses make this a highly accessible album, filled with small-scale anthems that could find a mainstream audience if given the proper chance.

This is one of the finest indie-pop albums of the year.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What would it sound like if Snow Patrol had a set of brass ones?, May 28, 2008

By 

Jason Stewart "claddagh37" (Petaluma, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Midnight Organ Fight (MP3 Download)

I just finished listening to this for the second time in a row, and I am going to play it again. Passionate, heartbreaking lyrics, driving walls of percussion and guitar. Really damn good. And his Scottish accent makes the songs sound even more bloody, like the wounds are still raw.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely brilliant album, May 11, 2008

By 

Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Midnight Organ Fight (Audio CD)

So far Frightened Rabbit's THE MIDNIGHT ORGAN FLIGHT has been my favorite new album of 2008. I fell in love with this from the very first track of this melodic, but hard driving album. What amazes me on repeated listenings is the sheer number of really great songs. But even the lesser songs have grown on me with repeated listenings.

Their name definitely belies their music, which is bold, assured, and confident. If you just listen to the music, it is difficult to figure out how many people are in the band, but thanks to multi-tracking they are manage to make this many sounds despite being a trio. If you go to Youtube and check out their videos they play the same songs on the album with much simpler arrangements, usually just guitar, bass, and drums. On the CD, the songs are dominated by the outstanding vocal work of guitarist Scott Hutchison, whose brother Grant is the drummer for the band. Live, they seem often to go to a Sleater-Kinney like two guitar/no bass arrangement.

The first time I listened to the album my favorite song was "Modern Leper," which leads off the album. On repeated listenings it was surpassed by cuts like "Feel Better" and the rousing "Fast Blood." I also loved the tough moral lessons sung in "Keep Yourself Warm." But really, after a dozen or so listenings I can listen randomly to any cut on the disc and experience nothing but delight.

I can't recommend this album strongly enough. Though they are a Glasgow band, they aren't very much like Belle and Sebastian or Camera Obscura, though they possess a lot of the same musicality that drives both of those bands. I can't imagine anyone who loves Indie Rock not being completely blown away by this album. This should make a lot of end of the year Top Albums lists.