Psycho Jukebox

Jon Fratelli is the singer from a bunch of Scottish indie ne’er-do-wells called The Fratellis. His solo record sounds a lot like that band (and a bit less like his other, slightly better band – Codeine Velvet Club). In other words, he plays MOR alterno-shmindie with a laddish glam-rock swagger, a carnival stomp, nursery rhyme melodies (both sung and played on guitar), pleasant easy-on-the-brain one-liners and a likeable hint of grit in the production.

By grit, I mean sonic signifiers of authenticity: a buzz on the bass, a touch of over-compression on the guitars, lots of use of toms by the drummer, and, at the centre of it all, a man shredding his larynx in a jaded simulacrum of bluesy sincerity.
Still, there is the occasional surprise. His straightforward Tropicalia homage/pastiche/rip-off ‘Santa Domingo’ is quite nicely done, whilst his foray into Tom Petty/Bruce Springsteen territory on ‘Daddy Won’t Pay Your Bill’ is pleasant. Sad to say, though, there is much better music out there, if only you look for it