The Fratellis

Costello Music is a great example of catchy, get up and sing guitar music. Choruses are meant to be sung en mass; verses are brief and don't get in the way of the choruses. It's fast, it's effective, it gets the job done. Think of it as a musical pick-me-up. It fades as it goes, and I think the later songs could have done with turning down the guitar a few notches, but it's a good album. Not great, but good. The best moment, it should be noted, is "Whistle for the Choir," the album's one moment of rest.

I like several songs on this CD--some are a bit "wild" or "overdone" for my taste. It took over a year since I first heard "Whistle For the Choir" before I was able to find it.

Awesome album! Loud, fun and fast - makes you want to get up and go! No fillers - every song is a winner. Flavors of The Kinks, T-Rex, Elton John, The Clash and Stray Cats. John Lennon sounding lead vocals and Beatles-ish harmony. Buy it!!

I had never heard this CD before purchasing it, it was reccomended to me by Amazon because I had recently picked up a couple of Libertine CDs. I have to say that this is a GREAT CD and I am glad Amazon reccomended it to me. It is a lot of fun, they have their style but they are sure to keep it interesting throughout the whole CD. I will be picking up their other CDs soon!

This power pop trio nail dead-on the cheekiness of early Clash with the bounciness of The Kinks and rely on the party atmosphere of British Invasion bands. If you like it you may also enjoy the following selection.

The Interpreters - Back in the U.S.S.A.
Sadly, lack of proper marketing doomed this band from the beginning, and this group is now broken up, but they left behind one excellent album, availiable on Amazon for damn near free... get it before you can't find it anymore.

A lot of the reviewers here have given this 4 stars because they think this album doesn't have as much raw energy as the first. I would argue that it does, it's just more honed and targeted. Reminiscent of Harvey Danger; explosive first album, with a much more focused second effort. Both are awesome.

One minor note: the American release (on which this review appears) is missing one song that the UK version has: Jesus Stole My Baby. I believe it is the second best song on the album (behind Acid Jazz Singer) and went out of my way to get the UK version.

First album was an incredible collection of stomping bar-hall anthems to be sure. My favorite in YEARS. This album needs a few listen-thrus but is just as strong. It is less anthem and more straight-up rock. A great record by any standard. The people who say the first album was better, and this was also my first impression, just need to listen to it for another week. This sophmore effort just smokes!

My husband and I are huge fans of The Fratellis from their first record, 'Costello Music'. We had high expectations of romping fun Irish drinking music, and unfortunately on this record the Fratellis seem to be unable to find their real sound. They are kind of all over the place. There are some decent tracks and the album isn't horrible by any means, but I think if this was the first thing I had heard by them I wouldn't be to anxious to hear more.

Strong follow up to their previous album, "Here We Stand" is rollicking fun - a throwback to the Beatlesque 60s, with a dash of Herman's Hermits, but with some heavier guitar riffs, surprising tempo changes and good ol' fashioned drink-along, sing-along choruses.

Although I didn't love Here We Stand when I first heard it, it definitely grew on me, and I consider it just as good as their first album. "A Heady Tale", "Look Out Sunshine!", and "Tell Me A Lie" are especially good.

I have yet to hear a song that I don't like. The Fratellis must not know what filler is. Look Out Sunshine is a great song and the 2 non-album songs are just as good. The second track, B Movie Saga, is really catchy and I'm surprised it didn't make the album. The third track, Z Movie Saga, is just as good.

If you're a fan of the Fratellis, you'll want to pick this up. Two album-tracks, and two unreleased songs for a very low price. Great buy!

I am always looking for upbeat music to start my day or to just get me moving. I purchased the album based on a review I read in the NY Post about the song Flathead and as The Fratellis group being "the" band to watch. Neither disapppointed me! I actually prefer the other songs on the album (Henrietta, Stacie Anne and Cigarello) but all in all they are a refreshing sound and a group to watch in the US.

If there's any justice in the music world, then Glaswegian rockers the Fratellis will be a big rock'n'roll force.

But even if there isn't any justice, you still should listen to the Flathead EP during the wait for their forthcoming full-length album. It contains two songs from the album, two B-sides, and a whole lot of catchy wild-edged rock.

It starts off with the title track, a catchy banjoey little number, right before John Lawler starts singing about a mad night out, "Just because she feeds me well/And she made me talk dirty in a pink hotel." Then he lets rip with a scratchy roar: "... Doesn't mean she's got eyes for me/She might just want my bones you see!"

Then it's the raw guitar ditties and blasts of bass, romping through the catchy Beatlesesque "Henrietta," a delightful little song about a girl who is married, but the Fratellis urge her to "me live with us among the has beens and the addicts/These are crazy times down at Costello music."

That's followed up by two B-sides, which are both less polished than the first two, but are still quite fun. "Stacie Anne" starts with laughter and bursts into a roiling little rocker, and "Cigarello" is a frolicksome little bit of guitar pop that smacks its way through in a collision of guitar riffs.

Nothing gives you a good feeling like some really great rock'n'roll -- it's a visceral, elated feeling. Well, I got that feeling during this little EP, and it certainly bodes well for their forthcoming "Costello Music."

Unlike most bands, they don't get a riff and play it over and over. These guys know what guitar rock'n'roll is all about -- they wrench nimble riffs and blasts of bass from their instruments, and keep the melodies danceable and ever-changing, and spice it up with some banjo and chimes at times.

But they don't take themselves too seriously in here -- the songs about smoking, partying and all the stuff that comes with them ("I could wear your dress and your lipstick/Or we could go out and steal a car/Both get loaded and drive real far"). Lawler has a solid scratchy voice, and actually makes chicken noises in one song.

Basically, the Fratellis know how to make good rock. Occasionally, "Flathead EP" is better than good -- really brilliant, fun and carefree.

Nice creative work here. Amen to that..Trouble is, US radio's business model doesn't allow anyone in who won't make the dollars. Its all about money here. Beside who gives an expletive if this music doesn't get on US radio. You found it and why isn't that enough? Turn on your hip friends and be part of the underground. When I first discovered bands like the Doors, Cream, and Ten Years After in the 60s, they weren't on the radio either. Check Billboard. They got on with hits and because the suits smelled money. Art, schmart...so enjoy all thes bands and screw the mainstream. These guys are too good for it. K.T. Tunstull broke in the US and Flathead should but don't hold your breath. If Apple and Safeway know about them, they may be allowed in, but notice they get co-opted immediately by commerce even before they get discovered by the hipsters. Go listen to the Yardbirds.

It's a sad SAD shame that you don't get music like this in the United States. This album is a GEM that should not get passed up.
Costello Music (the CD) contains some of the most toe-tapping upbeat feel-good music you have ever heard. If you ever heard the Ipod commercial that features the track "Flathead" then you can be assured the ENTIRE CD contains tracks just as good as this one.
It's not often you pick up and purchase a CD that has good tracks from start to finish.
If you can find "Costello Music" *ANYWHERE* stop what you are doing and freaking BUY IT!!!

If you like bands such as "The Strokes, Jet, or even bands that date back to the Punk Rock era or the Beatles" then this is for you!

I'm extremely angry that I had to discover this band from an ITunes commercial and not from U.S. Radio. It only shows you just how commercialized music is in the United States where we are flooded with tracks by Justin Timberlake, Brittney Spears, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers...Don't get me wrong- they are *ALL* talented artists who make good music (I'm a big fan of just about any type of music) but it's SOOOO nice to have a breath of fresh air every once in a while.

The Fratellis provide that breath of fresh air with an exquisite compilation of great music.

I don't care what it takes- petition Amazon.com to get "Costello Music" added to their list of available CD's for purchase. Otherwise YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON GREAT MUSIC THAT YOU WON'T FIND HERE IN THE U.S.A.!!!

I hope this review was helpful!

Part punk, part whateverthehell genre young David Bowie fits into, add a bunch of soccer players for back-up and you've got one catchy single. Hear it once and it will stay with you for the day (or two or three).

After hearing a few songs by the Fratellis on the radio, I bought the album to see if the others were just as good....and they are. Makes you want sing along and dance, though probably not recommended while taking the subway. Foot tapping is an acceptable alternative. I dare you to listen to this album and not feel pumped.