Frank Turner - "Be Mord Kind"

English Folk Punker Frank Turner has been making waves in the genre since the early 2010's.  I was instantly hooked with his sound with the release of his 2010 album "Sleep Is For The Week".  Frank kept things breezy and folky instrumentally, with tracks like "Father's Day" is the perfect mixture of Folk Rock and witty lyrics.  I wouldn't say there's much here as far as a "Punk" sound goes, but Frank's attitude and excellent songwriting exemplified what it meant to be a "rebel" these days.  Not to mention there were some incredibly passionate performances here, like on the thunderous "Worse Things Happen At Sea".  And while there were a handful of tracks here that I thought was maybe a little too stripped down and folky, this album was a great intro to Frank's sound.  OK, so take everything I just said about "Sleep Is For The Week" and make it much bigger, bolder, and more thunderous.  THAT my friends are 2008's "Love Ire & Song".  While Frank's debut took a little to get used to, his follow up was genuinely gigantic.  Some of my favorite Frank Turner tracks landed here, like "Reasons Not To Be An Idiot" or the passionate title track.  Frank just seemed so focused, and his performances were incredibly passionate.  Frank returned in 2009 with his more aggressive "Poetry of The Deed" album.  Now, I do mean more aggressive, because this is easily his most Punk release up to date.  But I still wouldn't say this was anywhere near "heavy" per say.  And in a lot of ways, the more wild instrumentals actually made intense tracks like "Sons of Liberty" even more intense and tracks like "Live Fast Die Old" hit, even more, closer to home.  However, while I still really enjoy this album overall, tracks like "Isabel" seemed to be hurt a little more by Frank's newer approach to instrumentals.  To me, they took a little too much away from Frank's performances.  But still, a solid record.  But moving forward I have to admit I was a little weary about Frank's material getting further from what I wanted to hear from him.  But 2011's "England Keep My Bones" assured me that Frank was just fine, and better than ever.  This album was Frank's most daring, polished, and most elaborate yet.  But it was also seriously mindblowing.  Tracks like "If Ever I Stray" and "Peggy Sang The Blues" seemed to exemplify everything I ever really loved about Frank.  These tracks saluted the past, protested the present and prepared for the future.  And through it all, as elaborate and beautiful as these instrumentals got, Frank never strayed from being the star.  This album is elaborate, but also gorgeous, and just as packed with anger as you would expect..  Frank returned in 2013 with "Tape Deck Heart", which to be honest is Frank's most personal and downtrodden album.  And yes, that's one hell of a statement, because Frank's always been massively personal.  Frank didn't seem nearly as fiery though, and his lyrics focused on addiction and other things. Which on paper, sounds great.  And while I commend Frank for coming through with an intensely real album, I wasn't that into it.  I was just as on the rocks with 2015's "Positive Songs for Negative People".  Sure, tracks like "Out Of Breath" and "Get Better" were fine pieces of Folk Punk. But so many of the other tracks here were genuinely corny and didn't seem like Frank's songs at all.  So it's actually been quite some time since we've heard from Frank.  But the current Political Climate has seemed to really set a fire in Frank's work.

    This album starts off with “Don’t Worry”.  And not so shocking, we get a light, folky intro.  But as many times as I’ve listened to this tune now, I really feel like this one is a little underwritten, especially for such a sharp, cutting lyricist like Frank.  Not to mention, he just sort of doesn’t seem into this.  Like, I literally have nothing to say about this one.  I mean, it has some nice backing vocals and the hand claps make this pretty hypnotizing at times.  But it’s been so damn long since we’ve heard from Frank, I sort of just want to hear him in his usual groove.  Thankfully, “1933” is just that groove”.  This one has just the amount of energy that I’ve been looking for from Frank.  It has his signature edge to it, and I love just how snappy this one is.  But let’s talk about his performance.  This is literally the most passion I’ve heard from Frank since “England Keep My Bones”.  It’s an upbeat, a fairly raucous Folk Punk tune, with pissed off lyrics and fantastic energy.  Not to mention, it never seems like Frank is going for too much with this instrumental.  “1933” simply put, is exactly where Frank should be right about now.  Then we have “Little Changes”, and I’ll be brutally honest this isn’t exactly the instrumental I want to hear Frank on.  It’s a little goofy and a little too polished.  But outside of that, this track isn’t all bad.  It sticks with a lot of the same positive vibes.  And to be honest, it’s really nice and refreshing to hear.  It’s a more subdued performance all around, but Frank sounds totally subdued and passionate.  Then Frank strips down even further for his “Be More Kind” track.  This one is much folkier and much less Punk-oriented.  And to be honest, it’s actually one of the best tunes here.  It’s more than just the album’s title track, it’s Frank’s entire mission statement here.   And this night just is me, but in a time of elaborate protests and limitless anger, this track is just so refreshing and genuinely sweet.  It’s straightforward, and there’s nothing look into at all.  Even when this one picks up a little, it’s very pleasant to listen to.  Over the years, I’ve had some issues with Frank’s slower tunes, but this is wonderful.  Then we have “Make America Great Again” which has a surprising amount of swagger to it.  Like, there is some serious punch to this one>  Frank is just a sharp songwriter, and he handles his thoughts so well.  Now, yes, this instrumental may just be a little too flashy for my liking.  And yea, I wish this one was maybe a little more upbeat and peppy.  But this one is packaged so well and is very likable.  Plus, that piano break Frank, that’s a nice touch.

    On the other hand, Frank does break into a lot of bluesy and broke down numbers on here, like “Going Nowhere”.  But of all the tunes we’ve gotten here so far, this one has hit me the lightest.  Frank sounds so awkward on this instrumental, like he’s waiting desperately for a cue.  And then we have his performance, and the man sounds absolutely bored with it.  It’s a sweet sentiment and all, but if someone sang this to me in this exact tone, I would probably get the hell out of there.  “Brave Face” is up next, and THIS is the sort of passion I want to hear from Frank.  This isn’t some raucous rocker or anything close, and you can make the argument that Frank has calmed himself over the years.  But at this point, this is all the passion and energy I want to hear from the guy.  The positive vibes on this album are actually really addictive, and come off so much stronger than anything we got on his “Positive Songs for Negative People”.  It’s an all-around solid track.  And those choir vocals that pop in are a seriously nice touch Frank.  But for every track like that, we get a tune like “There She Is” that completely throws me off.  These slower tunes are just so awkward.  They’re far from ballads, they’re just seriously boring.  At least as far as the instrumentals go that is.  Because honestly, Frank does still sound great and he’s still sharp as a tack.  I have to say though, “There She Is” eventually does end up winning me over by the end of the track.  The synths are epic, and the pacing is really nice.  But for me, I would rather him stick with his more upbeat material.  On the other hand, “21st Century Survival Blues” is once again a slower tune.  But this time, Frank hits it out of the park entirely.  It’s bluesy and impassioned, and obviously very current.  In a way though, this comes off actually like sort of one of his early tunes.  I love just how angry this one sounds and just how intense Frank comes off.  And yes, I have to admit it’s a little corny at times, but I can overlook it.  Then we have “Blackout”, which is a pretty pleasant and upbeat Indie-flavored tune.  Frank actually holds his own really nicely though.  It’s a little sunny and even a little goofy at times.  But I would be lying if I said I hadn’t been humming this one all day.  But Frank, can we chat about this instrumental?  This is way too flashy, and borderline IndieTronica at times.  Thankfully Frank’s performance makes it work, but stay away from those synths buddy. 


    Tracks like “Common Ground” continue to be way too much for me.  You see, when these instrumentals get all quiet and less punchy, I feel like Frank’s flaws are just right there in your face glaring right at you.  Like, this track isn’t the worst on the list.  But compared to some of the best tunes here this is amateur hour.  Frank doesn’t even sound nearly as passionate in these instances.  It’s alright and all, but seriously, why the hell does this sound like something out of Belle & Sebastian's recent output?  Now for me, if Frank’s going to go for a more stripped down sound, he should really just go all out with tracks like “The Lifeboat”.  He sounds so young here, and I love the story he’s telling.  It’s just so mysterious and twisted, and the instrumental is just so brooding.  For a stripped-down, old-school Folk tune, this is really great.  It’s beautiful, but it has a dark underbelly.  Not to mention, this is easily one of Frank’s best performances here.  This album ends off with “Get It Right”, and I honestly thought that Frank was slowly getting better with his slow tunes.  But this one is just way too dreary for my liking.  I think Frank does pen one of his sharpest tunes here, and it’s great to hear him back in that mindset.  But to be honest, this is just way too soft to be impactful.  Like, if this was armed with one of the punchier instrumentals here, this would have been a grand slam.  But instead, this is just a little awkward and has Frank losing me. 

Rating: 7.6/10

Give A Listen To: “1933”, “Be More Kind”, “Brave Face”, “21st Century Survival Blues”

Genre: Folk Punk / Folk Rock / Indie Rock

Overall Thoughts:  Let’s be real, this isn’t the worst Frank Turner album.  As a whole, it’s better than his last two albums combined.  Frank’s been one of Folk’s sharpest songwriters for years, and he uses that and his wit to create a series of very positive and refreshing Folk tunes.  Now, yes, there are some softer tracks on here where I feel like Frank’s age catches up to him, and there are a few boring tracks.  But overall, for this point in his career, this isn’t terrible at all.  It’s witty, angry, but pummels into the future with a clear head, and that’s pretty commendable.