Glasgow’s The Fratellis broke out in a big way in the U.K. rock scene with 2006’s Costello Music, but it’s been over a decade since then, and British buzz is notoriously short-lived. Yet The Fratellis have kept on going (well, there was a hiatus, but that’s long since past), and still have as much energy as ever on In Your Own Sweet Time.
The Fratellis definitely lean towards the fun rock over the art-house gang, and that continues in this funky Time on songs like opener “Stand Up Tragedy”, standout “The Next Time We Wed”, and sexy tune about a sexy girl, “Indestructible”. But there is also honest emotion, which does honestly lean towards the wrought mainstream in the Killers-esque anthem “I’ve Been Blind”, but also in the more honed Gaslight Anthem direction on the following “Laughing Gas”. And there’s even some psych, in the out-of-left-field closer “I Am That”.
The Fratellis are never gonna be critical favorites, and their music isn’t genre-defining or reinventing. But they are a fun, accessible rock n’ roll band.
