Falcon

Personnel: Liam Fray (vocals, guitar); Daniel Moores (guitar); Adam Payne (piano); Mark Cuppello (bass guitar); Michael Campbell (drums).
Audio Mixer: Micahel Brauer.
It would have been hard to guess that the Courteeners had a sensitive side based on St. Jude, but they show little else on Falcon. Where their debut was rough and raw courtesy of quintessential Brit-pop producer Stephen Street, for this set of songs the Courteeners headed to Belgium to work with Ed Buller, who helped them slow things down and take them more seriously. Perhaps the big attitude change on Falcon comes from a need for the band to prove that there's more to its sound than breathless rock and sneering lyrics. "The Opener" doesn't just open up the album, it opens up the group's sound into polished, epic rock complete with brass and strings. It also lets singer Liam Fray open up with some confessional lyrics about the strength of his love for his girl and his city, facing up to infidelities ("I've been having an affair with London and New York") and seeking reassurance. Fray's voice is appealing and the song's anthemic swell is hard to deny, but the Courteeners still fare better when they're a little cocky, as on the Franz Ferdinand-like groove of "You Overdid It Doll" and "Scratch Your Name Upon My Lips," or when they keep the energy up, like they do on "Good Times Are Calling." ~ Heather Phares