In summary:
Frantic is a slight misstep from Gun, failing to build upon the momentum generated by their previous album. There are plenty of catchy tunes to be enjoyed here, but a silly decision to ditch their trademark loud guitars in favour of a more accessible pop direction hamstrings much of the album’s best material.
Frantic receives 5/11.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Frantic is the sixth studio album from Scottish rockers Gun, and the second since their 2009 reunion.
Topping their very solid 2012 return would be challenging, but a decision to take the band in a much more polished, dare I say “pop” sound made the task utterly impossible. Gone are the loud guitars and pounding drums which made Gun one of Scotland’s most successful rock bands over the last thirty years, and in their place is jangly guitar work, horn sections, and backing singers.
Was this done in a bid to chart higher than the previous album? Possibly.
This is a similar mistake to that which led to the downfall of Gun in the late 1990s, when they followed up the heavy-as-fuck (and hugely successful) Swagger with the way toned down pop of 1997’s 0141, leading to a 12-year hiatus.
However, if there’s a saving grace for Frantic it’s the fact that it actually has plenty of catchy songs.
Openers Let It Shine and Labour Of Life set the tone of the whole album, wasting no time informing the listener that this won’t sound like the Gun they were expecting, as the boys immediately begin experimenting with backing singers, horns, and clap-along drums.
Standout moments include the electric chorus of the aforementioned Labour Of Life, Dante Gizzi’s vulnerable lyrics on One Wrong Turn (“I’ve built up my resistance / To things a man shouldn’t feel”), the catchy title track Frantic, and the fabulous Big City, which is an homage to their hometown of Glasgow.
The extended cut (aptly titled More Frantic) includes a decent take on Hot Chocolate’s Every1’s A Winner which went on to become a minor hit for the band after featuring in the Margot Robbie ice skating movie I, Tonya, and it’s surprising that this was only used as a bonus song.
The best track of the album, however, is the new version of Seraphina. This song originally appeared on an EP which the band released shortly after reforming with Toby Jepson on vocals, and Gun have re-worked it into a highly effective rocker over the years, the melody perfectly suited to Dante Gizzi’s bendy Axl Rose-esque vocal style.
It’s this track, in fact, which sums up most of our frustrations with Frantic. You see, it’s not that this collection of songs is bad, by any means, but the second that Gun decide to turn up the volume on their amplifiers on Seraphina and get back to doing what they do best, the rest of the album cannot compare.
Russ’ re-worked playlist:
Maybe it’s the autism in me, but I’ve always been good at re-working album playlists to create a superior listening experience. What can I say? Superman got laser eyes, and I got this! Here’s how you should listen to Gun: Frantic (2015) for maximum effectiveness:
- Labour Of Life (4:03)
- Big City (4:10)
- Seraphina (4:21)
- Every1’s A Winner (3:47)
- Hold Your Head Up (3:50)
- Never Knew What I Had (5:16)
- Frantic (3:45)
- One Wrong Turn (3:26)
- Our Time (3:52)
- Beautiful Smile (3:28)
- Let It Shine (3:16)
In summary:
Frantic is a slight misstep from Gun, failing to build upon the momentum generated by their previous album. There are plenty of catchy tunes to be enjoyed here, but a silly decision to ditch their trademark loud guitars in favour of a more accessible pop direction hamstrings much of the album’s best material.
Frantic receives 5/11.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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