The Fratellis // We Need Medicine

Similar to a fine wine, 2006 was a good year for music. Whilst Gnarls Barkley dominated the charts with ‘Crazy’ and Nizlopi annoyed most of the public with their JCB Song, The Fratellis released Chelsea Dagger, a song easier to sing when spangled on a Saturday night, then when actually sober. After their debut, ‘Costello Music’, spent three weeks at number two, the excitement surrounding the band quickly dwindled, Chelsea Dagger was reserved for the Indie Disco and football terraces, and their second album, ‘Here We Stand’, didn’t receive as great a response as its predecessor. Now, they’re back, with new album ‘We Need Medicine’. After an indefinite hiatus ended last year, the trio return to try and pick up where they left off in 2009. However, they’re acting like the last four years didn’t happen and their sound has become stagnant. Despite what the lyrics may be depicting, all the songs leave a sickliness, like eating too much candyfloss at the fair then taking that ill-fated go on the Waltzers. It’s hideously littered with clichés too, such as “we need medicine and we need it now, to get us to the end of time” and other confusing moments. Despite having brief moments that can only be described as ‘nice’, these prove little treatment for the majority of ‘We Need Medicine’. Whilst 2006 may have been a fine year for music, that wine has since corked and we have all moved on to a different beverage. 3/10 Will Nixon