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When Frank Smith moved to Austin this past summer, they brought with them an already solid catalogue of four full-length releases dating back to 2002 and a strong reputation on the East Coast. Most recently the band, which has re-built itself up from the original transplanted trio to a current five-piece, has joined Juliana Hatfield for their �Sittin’ in a Tree EP and toured with the Handsome Family. Not bad credentials to bring to town.
The music of their latest album, Heavy Handed Peace and Love, also fits well within Austin’s progressive alt. country flavor. Braced with solid Americana sound that sweeps into touches of psych-country, indie rock, and tight pop arrangements, Aaron Sinclair’s bitter lyrics and scratchy vocals wrack the ten songs with a skeptical, if altogether catchy, bent. The juxtaposition is best captured in the jaded and eerie lyrics that cross the soul lilt of “Lovesick Cynics”: “Oh god could you help me? Could you give me some wisdom? My mamma always tells me, All I have to do is ask. And if there’s no shoulder to cry on, I’m gonna empty this flask, The old fashioned way, ‘Till I can’t see straight.” The ballad of lost love, murder, and misdirected sin, roughened against Sinclair’s Tom Waits-esque howl, swings into a dreamy “oohs” behind punched guitars that recall Cracker’s more countrified moments, giving the entire song a surreal, hallucinatory feel.
Opening with a swelling distortion drone on “Liar and Thief,” followed by Sinclair’s low, quaking moan, is almost a feint to what lies beyond, especially the two tracks the follow, undoubtedly the album’s best. “Throwing Rocks,” which swoons behind an infectious banjo lick, is an easy and infectious steel-bolstered tune, even showcasing a bit of range in the vocals. “Put Some Curtains Up” likewise works the banjo and steel formula with a bouncing beat that accompanies what might as well be the band’s credo of continually plugging away: “If the window want open and the shade won’t shut, Open up the door and put some curtains up.” Driving into rock territory, “Home is Where You Leave It” drops a Pixies-riff into Nineties pop, which, coupled with “Lovesick Cynics,” break the alt. country vein the most.
The stomp holler of “Ten Cent Hands,” bleeds into the final three, more traditional songs. There is a bit of the Stones’ country balladry to “Ortiz Again” while “Planes and a Girl” falls as the album’s only disappointing spot, despite offering the best harmonies. It’s just difficult to recover from an opening line like, “You make me feel like a little girl, the way you bounce me up and down.” But closer “Out of Air and Turning Blue” is a brilliantly heartbroken tune, acoustic guitar and pedal steel strung atop an imminent, eerie bed of background effects. It’s hard to imagine Frank Smith finding a better home than Austin given their sound, and it will be interesting to see how the local scene influences their upcoming work.
- Doug Freeman
Mp3s from Heavy Handed Piece and Love:
Throwin’ Rocks
Put Some Curtains Up
Websites:
www.franksmithmusic.com
Myspace
