Album Review
Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack
3 StarsThis album may declare itself a painting, but there’s a much bigger picture to see here.
It’d be easy to scan the tracklisting of Frightened Rabbit’s latest record and assume things are about to become all doom and gloom. For the most part, that’s not too far from the mark. After all, with an opening offering as dark as ‘Death Dream’ – with its ominous piano opening and lyrical subject matter - it’d be all too simple to see ‘Painting of a Panic Attack’ as a morose fifth chapter in the band’s career.
This is, however, a much more multi-facted record. ‘Get Out’ introduces itself with a brighter assertiveness, ‘I Wish I Was Sober’ is more a warm confessional than a defeatist statement. ‘Woke Up Hurting’, with its choral choruses, bears an uplifting heart. For every darker corner that the music seems to inhabit, the band manage to shine a light of positivity.
Throughout the record, the presence of The National’s Aaron Dessner can be felt through its bold instrumentation, while frontman Scott Hutchison once again steers his band in the sombre yet reflective direction that they’ve managed to navigate so well before. This album may declare itself a painting – and an intense one, at that - but there’s a much bigger picture to see here.
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‘Living in Colour’, a book of artwork by Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison, announced
It will bring together illustrations and artwork from across his life.
2nd June 2023, 1:53pm
Hear Biffy Clyro cover Frightened Rabbit’s ‘The Modern Leper’, from upcoming covers album
'Tiny Changes' sees a host of artists re-imagining Frightened Rabbit's 'The Midnight Organ Fight'
19th June 2019, 12:00am
Frightened Rabbit announce ‘Tiny Changes’, a reworking of ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’
The album has been re-interpreted by the band's friends and peers to celebrate its tenth anniversary.
17th June 2019, 12:00am
Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil covers Frightened Rabbit’s ‘The Modern Leper’ and Bruce Springsteen at Scott Hutchison benefit gig
He was also joined by series of special guests on vocals, including The Twilight Sad‘s James Graham.
10th December 2018, 12:00am
With Bob Vylan, St Vincent, girl in red, Lizzy McAlpine and more.