The Days Run Away will go down as Frankie And The Heartstrings’ difficult second album – which is surprising, given the Sunderland lads have stuck to their established expertise. The Days Run Away is an extension of its predecessor, each track a slice of tidy, textbook pop-rock. Producer Bernard Butler (The Libertines, Duff y) aims for a more polished sheen overall, accounting for the most notable of tweaks upon the band’s sound. The main bone of contention here is whether or not the band’s second effort sustains quite as much interest.
The Days… is clearly weaker than the band’s impressive debut, Hunger. The immediacy, infectiousness and fun so characteristic of the band’s previous eff orts are often missed.
There are some highlights, from the bittersweet Nothing Our Way to the playful pop of Everybody Looks Better (In The Right Light). Tender duet Light That Breaks also ranks among the album’s best tracks, a choral-eruption and string-section combining to form a unique finale. It’s reaching the finale, however, that feels like a chore. The band fall back upon their indie-rock hallmarks, but that rarely ensures a thrilling result. Frustratingly, when they do experiment (eg. the arduous Losing A Friend) you find yourself wishing they hadn’t bothered. Track for track, it’s easier to shrug off The Days Run Away than adore it wholeheartedly. Where their debut felt essential, this one’s strictly for diehard fans.
BY NICK MASON
Best Track: Everybody Looks Better (In The Right Light)
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In A Word: Serviceable
