magpie
n 1: long-tailed black-and-white bird that utters a chattering call 2: someone who collects things that have been discarded by others [syn: scavenger, pack rat] 3: an obnoxious and foolish and loquacious talker [syn: chatterer, babbler, prater, chatterbox, spouter]
Magpie, is an endearing mellow, acoustic, folk diary from Manchester-based, Stephen Fretwell. Each track possesses a pure lyrical and melodic strength, showing maturity beyond Fretwell's 23 years. Magpie seems to contain the life experience of someone twice his age.
Fretwell effortlessly imparts genuine longing, introspection, and hope through mellow vocals and simple arrangements that will unwittingly send you on an introspective emotional journey. The power in this album is that each song offers the listener an opportunity to be emotionally invested in some way, shape, or form. Fretwell’s laid-back, folk-acoustic musical style is reminiscent of musicians like Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Grant Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo), and Neil Young, but is undeniably fresh and unique. While many of the tunes on this disk are fraught with a good dose of melancholy, they are balanced with an equal shot of attitude.
“Bad Bad You, Bad Bad Me” is a narrative that peels back the layers of a complicated relationship to reveal its innate simplicity:
So come on over darlin'
and bring those magazines
and show me which one’s your favourite floor
and bad bad you, bad bad me
is all we'll be left with, anyway
“Emily”, is a scornful ode in which Fretwell pulls no punches:
You never were going to change your mind, were you, Emily?
You just sat back, took it all for you, there was nothing for me;
I didn't mean to prove that all I can do is loseNext time that you need me, don't call me up, Emily;
I'm tired of your lies and your cheating ways with me;
And every time you go, please don't let me know
Other favorites include: “What’s That You Say Little Girl”, “New York” (gotta love tasteful use of the word ‘fuck’ in the chorus – a radio edit would ruin this song), “Lost Without You”, a shook down, Coldplay-esque song that’s pretty self-explanatory.
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