New Music Reviews - Home of DJ Willis

“Although the Fratellis saw major chart success in the United Kingdom with 2006’s “Costello Music,” the Glasgow, Scotland, band is best-known in the United States for its song “Flathead” being featured in an iTunes commercial. Back for round two, sophomore album “Here We Stand” doesn’t quite bring anything new to the table, but does carry on in the same fun, brash rock tradition of the debut. There’s no denying the high-energy infection of songs like “My Friend John,” “Shameless” and “Mistress Mabel” or the big, hooky choruses of “Lupe Brown” and jaunty piano rocker “A Heady Tale.” There’s a glam-rock swagger to “Acid Jazz Singer,” and the twangy “Baby Doll” offers a nice change in pace. Formerly, the Fratellis’ music was always good for a few drunken whoops and hollers, and with “Here We Stand,” it remains little more. —Jill Menze”