Frank Turner — Poetry Of The Deed

Poetry Of The Deed

Epitaph

Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

09/18/2009 1:55pm

I first became interested in Turner via 2006's Campfire Punkrock EP, became a fan of last year's Love Ire & Song and became a follower after seeing him perform twice at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas in March.

I picked up his The First Three Years rarities collection on vinyl after seeing him perform again and having some pints with him in Toronto this summer, and this has been one of the albums I've been looking most forward to hearing this year.

None of the songs on Poetry Of The Deed are as tremendous as the best of Love Ire & Song ("Long Live The Queen," "Reasons Not To Be An Idiot"), but I find it an overall more consistent effort.

Turner got his start in British hardcore band Million Dead, and he's kept that punk attitude and do-it-yourself ethos in his work as an acoustic guitar-playing firebrand. Nowhere is that more evident than on "Try This At Home," with its rapid-fire strumming and vocals. "The Road," which has a video and a singalong chorus, is a perfect song for an itinerant musician.

Turner is a fan of The Levellers, whose influence can be heard on "Sons Of Liberty," an anti-authoritarian song based on traditional British folk music that includes both a fiddle and some history lessons. Piano is included on the anti-suicide number "Richard Divine," organ is added to weekend tribute cut "Sunday Nights" and the gentler than normal "Journey Of The Magi" ends things on an inspirational note.

Turner is one of the most literate, intelligent and entertaining singer/songwriters to come along in years, and Poetry Of The Deed should be added to your collection whether you're already on board or just discovering what he has to offer.

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