Frank Turner returns with the heartfelt sing-a-long chasing ‘Be More Kind’. First cut ‘Don’t Worry’ is an ever forward, just keep going, clap clap, strum strum, campfire hand warmer. ‘1933’ pounds frustrated morality into closed wooden doors of power with a spat out historical warning .’Little Changes’ tiptoes in and out of Pop’s field before the light, pay it forward title track ‘Be More Kind’ stares out of a steamed up cafe window while the world goes about its head down, screen-addicted me, me, me, my life. ‘Make America Great Again’ offers a balanced, outsiders view on the USA before a simply stunning ‘Going Nowhere’ reinforces the help if you can message, as well as an artist to artist nod to Ginger. A Turner standard ‘Brave Face’ comes with a choir chorus and is followed by the lost, found then reclaimed love song ‘There She Goes’. An edgy ‘21st Century Blues’ swirls around stripped back Madness bones while ‘Blackout’ and ‘Common Ground’ reverberate with Turner’s now inimitable style. Final song ‘Get It Right’ gently opens the, go get some common sense door, getting the world’s leaders to walk through it is another matter entirely. ‘Be More Kind’ is another solid release and these tracks have the making of becoming (even) more crowd-pleasing Frank Turner live favourites.
FRANK TURNER
BE MORE KIND
Polydor
8/10