Frank Turner: England Keep My Bones

English punk turned singer/songwriter Frank Turner continues his streak of top-notch solo albums (following up 2008’s Love Ire & Song and 2009’s Poetry of the Deed) with another dose of agit-folk that combines activism with intensely personal songs. 

I Still Believe is a foot stomping paean to the power of music while Peggy Sang the Blues is a heartfelt remembrance of his grandmother.  Much of the album deals with ideas of Englishness (the title is from Shakespeare); fourteenth century rebel Wat Tyler is name-checked along with the more likely Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen.  Songs like Rivers and English Curse demonstrate a strong sense of place and explore the burdens and blessings of belonging to that sceptred isle. The closing track Glory Hallelujah is a stirring defense of atheism set to a jaunty organ tune.  Fans of Billy Bragg and other old punks will enjoy Turner’s take on growing up without growing old.

About the author: Dan Forrest is an Assistant Professor , Access Services Coordinator for WKU Libraries as well as a published author and culinary expert.