Review of Friendly Fire Album by Sean Lennon
Sean Lennon
Friendly Fire
Album Review
There are some people that popular opinion's metaphorical rotten fruit are almost permanently aimed at. Children of celebrities; those naïve and spoilt individuals who haven't had to struggle and have earned fame on their name often have more than a few dodgy strawberries and tomatoes smeared over their faces and their attempts at personal success. Sean Lennon then, with enough potential in this respect to launch NASA's next rocket must be congratulated for our impartiality and lack of hatred towards him.
Despite keeping a low profile for much of his life, 'Friendly Fire' is not Sean's first album. He released a record 'Into the Sun' on the Beastie Boys' record label in 1998. It is though a competent record; in the constant shadow of his father, Sean does embrace the link but at the same time makes an effort to write a record only he could have conceived. On the last album where he attempted to play all the instruments and layer them, he's now using a band - not because he realised he can't play - but because music sounds a whole lot better this way. It also means he can concentrate on his unusual voice, which makes this album slightly memorable. 'Dead Meat', the lead single is given credibility with subtle twists and turns into minor keys and 'Parachute', which could just be given a good slap for being way too cuddly suddenly embraces a bit of depth with an unusual chorus.
It is though, far and away, without a doubtful hair on my head 'Would I Be The One' that gives 'Friendly Fire' a bit of bite. These type of vocal melodies just aren't heard anymore; ok so the hook can probably be found a few times on 'A Hard Days' Night' or 'Beatles For Sale'; if daddy John were here to give it a spin, he'd be enlightened enough by reminders of his heyday to start a comeback roof concert by the second
verse.
Jamie Curtis
