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Over the last 12 years, Bahrain-born, British singer/songwriter Frank Turner has built a rapport with his devoted audience. The bond between them is unbreakable and feels almost sacred. The double-length Songbook is an overview of the 2000s, and marks the anniversary of the arrival of his solo debut, Sleep Is for the Week. Far from his first compilation, one might wonder -- initially -- what separates this set from the various Three Years compilations or Ten for Ten. But this set offers a twist that makes it worthy of purchase for both longtime fans and newbies. With 29 tracks spread over two discs, it's almost too much of a good thing.
Disc one is, for the most part, a proper remastered overview of highlights from the 2000s. Evidence lies in the opener, and one of the most beloved songs in Turner's catalog: "Four Simple Words," one of the more poignant and incisive songs about millennials yet written. 17 of the next 18 cuts contain the "hits" and deep tracks that have helped establish Turner as one of the U.K.'s most masterful songwriters. There are the mandatory audience-participation jams such as "Get Better" alongside the wiseacre "I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous," the jaunty solo electric rocker "Long Live the Queen," and gentler options including "Mittens," "Photosynthesis," and "The Opening Act of Spring." There's also a new track to close the disc out in the polished yet searing love song "There She Is." Fans know that Turner's career has had its share of romantic ups and downs, but this number, with its relatively slick production and a vocal and arrangement that suggests prime-era Robert Smith and the Cure, is a keeper.
Disc two is the real gem, however, and it's the one for seasoned fans. It offers ten tracks -- some repeats from disc one, and some different selections -- that have been reworked, sometimes radically. That said, there isn't a duff choice in the bunch. Check both versions of "Photosynthesis" and the even more startling "Glorious You" for evidence. In essence, these tracks have been totally revisioned, and can be heard as "new." The ever-so-slightly funky drum shuffle on "Polaroid Picture" offers this utterly devastating tune as a bittersweet reflection of empathy and acceptance rather than just regret. The new versions of "minor" works such as "Love Forty Down" and "Broken Piano" are welcome entries that deserve critical reappraisal. While disc one offers newcomers a nice, wide gateway into Turner's sometimes astonishing talents as a songwriter, the second offers seasoned listeners a new appreciation of him as a singer as well as an arranger of canny depth and sophistication. Turner proved long ago that he was a major singer/songwriter for the new millennium. On Songbook, he also opens the gate for listeners to accept him as a truly gifted all-around musician, whose relationship with his songs is ever-evolving and often utterly revelatory.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Rich Costey, Producer, Mixer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schiffman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Kasych, Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Isip, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Nasir, Organ, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Samantha Keys, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Trovero, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Keys, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Deena Keys, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Hallett, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Butch Walker, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claudius Mittendorfer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Nasir, Accordion, Organ, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Stopera, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Rich Costey, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schiffman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Kasych, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Isip, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Nasir, Accordion, Organ, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Butch Walker, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claudius Mittendorfer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Nasir, Accordion, Organ, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Stopera, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Rich Costey, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schiffman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Kasych, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Isip, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Nasir, Organ, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Butch Walker, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claudius Mittendorfer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Nasir, Accordion, Organ, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Todd Stopera, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Rich Costey, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schiffman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Kasych, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Isip, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, Organ, Xylophone, Mellotron, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Butch Walker, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Snitzer, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - ROB MATHES, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claudius Mittendorfer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Davis, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Peel, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Alex Venguer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Kievit, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Nasir, Accordion, Organ, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Stopera, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
John Hill, Sound Effects, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Costey, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schiffman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Kasych, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Elle King, Banjo, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Isip, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, Mellotron, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Butch Walker, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Turner, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claudius Mittendorfer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Nasir, Accordion, Organ, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Stopera, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Lloyd, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Tedesco, Contracting With - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Mason, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Greene, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Churchville, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brendan Dekora , Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Hugall, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Niles City Sound, Producer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Veronica Gan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Buffi Jacobs, Cello, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Wilson, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Hugall, Producer - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Hugall, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Matt Lawrence, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Hugall, Producer - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Hugall, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Matt Lawrence, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Hugall, Producer - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Hugall, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Matt Lawrence, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Hugall, Producer - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Hugall, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Wilson, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Hugall, Producer - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lloyd, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tarrant Anderson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Frank Turner, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Hugall, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Nasir, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
Album review
Over the last 12 years, Bahrain-born, British singer/songwriter Frank Turner has built a rapport with his devoted audience. The bond between them is unbreakable and feels almost sacred. The double-length Songbook is an overview of the 2000s, and marks the anniversary of the arrival of his solo debut, Sleep Is for the Week. Far from his first compilation, one might wonder -- initially -- what separates this set from the various Three Years compilations or Ten for Ten. But this set offers a twist that makes it worthy of purchase for both longtime fans and newbies. With 29 tracks spread over two discs, it's almost too much of a good thing.
Disc one is, for the most part, a proper remastered overview of highlights from the 2000s. Evidence lies in the opener, and one of the most beloved songs in Turner's catalog: "Four Simple Words," one of the more poignant and incisive songs about millennials yet written. 17 of the next 18 cuts contain the "hits" and deep tracks that have helped establish Turner as one of the U.K.'s most masterful songwriters. There are the mandatory audience-participation jams such as "Get Better" alongside the wiseacre "I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous," the jaunty solo electric rocker "Long Live the Queen," and gentler options including "Mittens," "Photosynthesis," and "The Opening Act of Spring." There's also a new track to close the disc out in the polished yet searing love song "There She Is." Fans know that Turner's career has had its share of romantic ups and downs, but this number, with its relatively slick production and a vocal and arrangement that suggests prime-era Robert Smith and the Cure, is a keeper.
Disc two is the real gem, however, and it's the one for seasoned fans. It offers ten tracks -- some repeats from disc one, and some different selections -- that have been reworked, sometimes radically. That said, there isn't a duff choice in the bunch. Check both versions of "Photosynthesis" and the even more startling "Glorious You" for evidence. In essence, these tracks have been totally revisioned, and can be heard as "new." The ever-so-slightly funky drum shuffle on "Polaroid Picture" offers this utterly devastating tune as a bittersweet reflection of empathy and acceptance rather than just regret. The new versions of "minor" works such as "Love Forty Down" and "Broken Piano" are welcome entries that deserve critical reappraisal. While disc one offers newcomers a nice, wide gateway into Turner's sometimes astonishing talents as a songwriter, the second offers seasoned listeners a new appreciation of him as a singer as well as an arranger of canny depth and sophistication. Turner proved long ago that he was a major singer/songwriter for the new millennium. On Songbook, he also opens the gate for listeners to accept him as a truly gifted all-around musician, whose relationship with his songs is ever-evolving and often utterly revelatory.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 29 track(s)
- Total length: 01:50:59
- Main artists: Frank Turner
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited This Compilation ℗ 2017 Xtra Mile Recordings Limited
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