A few awards and some tremendous singles aside, The Fratellis was a band that was sorely overlooked during the rise of contemporary English indie.
Perhaps their choice of style was the issue; they were a group that rose above the standard three-chord thrash, preferring to revel in rolling blues and frantic horns.
Unlike some of their contemporaries, they also delivered a sophomore record that was every bit as good as their debut – a feat rarely achieved within the indie realm.
Given their hiatus for the past half-decade, you could forgive the trio for being half a stride behind. It appears, however, that the time spent on side projects has only reinstated the group’s focus (a theory also reinforced by the title of the LP).
The LP begins in vintage Fratellis fashion; ‘Halloween Blues’ and ‘She’s Not Gone Yet But She’s Leaving’ roll with typical rambunctiousness and irreverence. ‘Seven Nights Seven Days’ is a worthy launch single and worms its way into the subconscious without much effort.
There are hiccups, however, with most rearing toward the stretch. The ‘50s doo wop of ‘Jeannie Nitro’ is cringe and ‘This Is Not The End Of The World’ is similarly weighed down with its lazy chorus.
Thankfully, a duo of mid-temp rockers – a range not commonly occupied by the trio – in the title track and the introspective ‘Rock N Roll Will Break Your Heart’ pick up the downward slide.
While We Need Medicine doesn’t reach the giddy pleasures of The Fratellis’ first two efforts, it more than justifies the return of the Glasgow knockabouts.
Listen to ‘Seven Nights Seven Days’ here:
