The Fratellis
Here We Stand

THE REVIEW

Second release for the Fratellis from Glasgow, following the explosive debut of "Costello Music". And if, as Caparezza says, 'the second album is always the most difficult in an artist's career', the Scottish trio seems to overcome this most difficult test, and in great style. Certainly, there will be those who accuse the Fratellis of being too repetitive, of copying all their songs, of being too light and blah blah blah, just as almost everyone who has a hint of success is accused, but setting aside these fake music enthusiasts with their noses up high, the record is truly enjoyable and flows through a tracklist of potential singles. And, most importantly, with listening comes the sensation of being in a Glasgow pub, dancing and getting drunk, just like in the previous album.

"My friend John" is the classic opening track, highlighted by bass drum beats and lots of noise, complete with a Beatles reference ("His rubber soul burns"); it continues with the entertaining "A heady tale" and "Shameless" before reaching the first released single, "Look out sunshine!", surprisingly the weak point (if it can be defined as such) of the album: the repetitive melody doesn't help, and the reference to brit-pop is too obvious and forced. The other single is "Mistress mabel", a piece seemingly made for the charts but still good.

"Tell me a lie" (soundtrack of the video game FIFA 09) brings the album back to the band's classic patterns, along with the splendid "Jesus stole my baby" (lyrics definitely worth reading: in love, have you ever had a slightly advantaged rival, like Jesus?). What strikes is the product's homogeneity, and how this band on its second album can put together so many valuable songs and captivating lyrics that always leave room for different interpretations.

Valuable songs are surely the brilliant "Stragglers moon" and "Acid jazz singer". Besides the fun and engaging melodies, there are certainly strokes of class: the rock ballads "Babydoll" and "Lupe brown" prelude the delightful "Milk and money", the closing track of a record truly to savor, an honest pop-rock album that can certainly hold its own, and perhaps even win, against that "Costello music" that brought so much fortune to the trio.