Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Album Of The Year (easily), October 17, 2003
Wow - This is easily the best album of the year. I have owned Frengers for almost a week, and there is nothing like it. I mean you can compare little bits of brilliance to other bands, but really what's the point. I will say there is a certain shoegaze element that seems to shine through many of the songs, which I favor strongly. My only regret is that I didn't knwo about this band 4 years ago when I could buy their previous releases under $100.00. I saw the debut disc go for $300.00 on eBay...Honestly, after listening to Frengers, I can see the obsession infecting me soon.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engage Mew, December 12, 2006
After purchasing "And the Glass Handed Kites" and, admittedly, listening to it every day for two months straight, I thought it might be prudent for my future enjoyment of the album to put it down for awhile. Within days, I was missing Mew. To combat this feeling, I resisted the urge to put "And the Glass Handed Kites" back in the player, and instead ordered "Frengers." After all, in my initial research of Mew's oeuvre, I found several tunes that I liked that were not on that recording.
"Frengers" is easily as strong a recording as "And the Glass Handed Kites," but for different reasons. Undoubtedly, fans of one will like the other, as they share the same overall aesthetic. However, in comparison, "Frengers" has some significantly distinguishing characteristics. Most importantly, "Frengers" is not bound by the conventions associated with the "conceptual album." While "And the Glass Handed Kites" is probably the more mature effort of the two, "Frengers" may be a better introduction to the group, as it is more single-friendly. Succinctly, if I were to introduce someone to Mew, I would undoubtedly suggest "156," followed by "Snow Brigade." In both of these tunes, they are able to reference the epic scope of their vision in a succinct format.
While these songs stand out to me as an individual, I genuinely like all the other songs on "Frengers." Unbound by the conventions of the "conceptual album," "Frengers" shows Mew's ability to encapsulate, and therefore show the strengths of their short-form works. While "And the Glass Handed Kites" inarguably shows that they have the ability to sustain a conceptual narrative, "Frengers" is an example of the potential strength of their singles.
The Lowdown: "Frengers" is the middle ground. Mew pushes the boundaries between accessibility and experimentalism, and I see "Frengers" as a transitional album in the tradition of Yes' "Drama" and Genesis' "And Then There Were Three." I foresee great things for them in the future if they continue to push the envelope.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
obscenely underrated, January 23, 2006
how these danes aren't better known outside their homeland and the UK is incredible. i first heard 'frengers' a few years back after a friend told me about them. i 'acquired' a copy and from the first note i was sold: this is an amazing band.
in an age where we want to pigeonhole every band and musician out there, mew defy all conventional description. they really aren't 'indie,' nor are they 'alt-rock,' or 'pop,' or 'rock,' or any number of other labels. nor do they 'sound like anyone else.' there are few bands out there today that have cultivated a truly unique sound and don't sound like anyone else. mew, thankfully, is one of those bands.
'am i wry? no' is one of the best album openers in recent memory. it's worth listening just to hear the bassline. it's a mind blow in every sense of the word, and one of those tracks you play over and over and over. trust me, you've never heard anything like it. other top tracks include "snow brigade," "her voice is beyond her years" (with Stina Nordenstam), and "she came home for xmas." though there's really not a weak moment on the whole album.
Jonas Bjerre's vocal will certainly make your ears perk up and listen--you'll either love it or hate it. there's really no middle ground. the songs themselves are alternately fist-in-the-air rockers like 'am i wry? no,' and 'snow brigade,' and torch songs like 'symmetry' and 'she came home for xmas,' both of which show mew's unique ability to write stimulating athems and affecting ballads. and that's no easy thing to do.
mew's not for everyone, but even the most discerning music fan would have a hard time not falling in love with these guys. and for you self-professed music snobs, if mew's not already a part of your collection, make sure you add it soon. they deserve a spot.
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