Franco &
The Dreadnought – Franco & The Dreadnought (Glasstone Records)
CD/DL
3 August
2014
Mancunian
multi-instrumentalist releases his debut album.
Despite me
(stupidly) thinking that the Dreadnought part of this album might be a
reference to reggae or dub, I was more than pleasantly surprised to hear what
was on offer from the debut album by Franco.
John
Blaycock (aka Franco) and his trusty Martin DXME Dreadnought guitar have combined
to put together an album of twelve infectious, superbly written potential pop
anthems. As well as guitar, Franco also contributes piano, drums and bass to
compliment his obvious songwriting skills and a slight vocal inflection which
soon goes unnoticed amongst the quality of tunes on show.
Album
opener, Moving Mountains give firm indication of why he has collaborated with
writers for Corinne Bailey Rae and Christina Aguilera (Pam Sheyne) and former Shakespeare’s
Sister Marcella Detroit. A sweeping,
powerhouse of a track displaying Franco’s keen ear for a great melody. With a voice not unlike Billy Franks of The
Faith Brothers, his lyrics are biting and often scathing but always impressive.
His tribute,
and charity single Platt Fields for the Friends Of the Rusholme park in
Manchester is infectious in the highest order and worthy of any World
stage. Love Sweet Home is a skiffle induced
piece of Indie Pop-Rock which will have you toe-tapping and singing in no time,
and Last Man Standing will melt your heart should you possess one.
Monsters
& Ghosts, co-written with Sheyne, is again a tune of the highest quality
and deserves to be heard en masse.
Closing with The Catch Of The Pride, a lamentable heart-breaker, a quite
brilliant album ends. It’s an album
which should get huge recognition, not only because of the top notch tunes but
also because of the heart-felt sincerity which has obviously been poured into
it by the bucket full.
8.5/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 1/08/14 - here
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