Foot Shooter – Frightened Rabbit Foot Shooter – Frightened Rabbit

Swim Until You Can’t See Land – Frightened Rabbit Swim Until You Can’t See Land – Frightened Rabbit

I’m going to try my best to hold back my intense excitement for this next album. Actually, fuck it!  I had the chance to interview Frightened Rabbit a couple of weeks back, and was really impressed by their hilarious answers and personality.  I mean, who gives a detailed list of their favorite cheese?  Hell yeah!

Since the release of their last album, The Midnight Organ Fight, a lot of people have been talking about their immense potential.  While it would have been nearly impossible to top that effort, I believe that Frightened Rabbit has come pretty damn close.  The Winter of Mixed Drinks is a cocktail of relaxing symphonies and invigorating accented vocals.  Some people may not love lead singer, Scott Hutchinson’s heavy Scottish accent, but I find that it brings a unique quality to the indie scene that isn’t found in every group.

The album opens up with the song, “Things,” that serves as the perfect build to introduce a dazzling record.  It’s the sort of song that gets stuck in your head, yet will never sound as good from your own vocal chords as it does on the album.  Fantastic.  From there, Frightened Rabbit takes you on a journey to the realm of grandiose and beauty with “Swim Until You Can’t See Land,” “The Wrestle,” “Man/Bag of Sand,” “Foot Shooter,” and “Living in Colour” (spelled incorrectly, of course!).

There’s no shortage of “oohs” and “ahs” in The Winter of Mixed Drinks, yet I never get the feeling that it takes anything away from the quality of the record.  It was an intense lyrical endeavor, writing this album, as each song is incredibly revealing, pulling on the heartstrings of both writers and listeners alike.

I hate to try and classify this album as being of a certain genre, because, though it’s surely pop, it’s much deeper than that.  Closing my eyes while I listen to the album in its entirety, I can easily picture Frightened Rabbit as being an indie alternative stadium rock band.  It’s the sort of sound that would translate very well to even the largest of venues with it’s full-bodied harmonies and sharp percussion.

Do the right thing and buy the album (here), or just check out Frightened Rabbit’s MySpace page (click here) for more info on the band.  Listen to the tracks below, which happen to be my favorite from The Winter of Mixed Drinks.  I give it 3.5 bees, which is a pretty damn good rating (think 7 out of 10).  Now, sit down with a strong mixed drink and enjoy!