Frightened Rabbit : The Winter of Mixed Drinks :: Review
Somewhere the veil must have been lifted causing the gloom and misery to dissipate on Frightened Rabbit’s third album “The Winter of Mixed Drinks” offers a buoyantly triumphant return for the Scottish troupe. “The Winter of Mixed Drinks” was recorded in a small seaside town of Crail and watery imagery is evoked throughout. Album opener, “Things” kicks the proceedings off with a chugging wall of guitar-generated sound punctured by lead Scott Hutchison’s voice breaking through while conjuring images of religion and a love affair.
“Swim Until You Can’t See Land” is the focal point of the album with its resonating guitar chords and hopeful sentiments. “Swim Until You Can’t See Land” calls to mind U2’s “Drowning Man” and Catholic message from “War” at times but mostly with its earnestness and driving melody. The handclaps and guitar interplay on “The Loneliness and the Scream” continue the uplifting mood. . It’s hard not to smile as you listen to these tunes because the joy they create is imminent “Man / Bag of Sand” offers a reprise of “Swim Until You Can’t See Land,” this time altered into a mournful drone as it separates side 1 and 2. Frightened Rabbit is a band firing on all cylinders, full of purpose and unabashedly on “Living In Colour,” a rollicking piano ballad that might be used to carry the band into the sunset.
Rating: 
