Little C: Frank Turner is Saving My Soul

Hello readers,

My best friend Bailey and I have been stupid close for the past decade-ish. One of our biggest points of bonding was music. We have different families and backgrounds, but stunningly similar taste in music. I've always believed that musical taste in our society is like a DNA map, you can tell a lot about a persn by what they chose to listen to. Which puts me and Bailey as almost twins. So now whenever we find a new band or singer, we swap music. I gave her Taking Back Sunday, she gave me Motion City Soundtrack. I gave her Noah Gundersen, and now... She's given me Frank Turner.

You may recognize this guy from the opening ceremony of the London Olympics

I was driving back from Vegas a week ago and I called Bailey to catch up. We talked for a while before her voice hit that very specific pitch and she said "Dude, you have got to start listening to Frank Turner..." Which she's said before. But for whatever reason we both are a little too stubborn to trust each other the first time we give a recommendation. After all these years. Because what if this is the time that Bailey's wrong? But she was right again, of course. She always is.

I have many musical loves, but it all comes back to rock and roll. My parents are both hippies, so I listened to a lot of folk growing up. Mom is a huge Queen fan so I love all things Glam. My dad and my older sister Caroline made sure I was exposed to a healthy dose of classic rock. All of these sub genres are a great foundation, but truth be told, my heart belongs to punk.

And this handsome bastard. He's got my heart too. 

I'm going to get a little music-theory on you for a minute so skip to the next paragraph if that's gonna bore you. Music is a series of harmonic vibrations that we enjoy because it releases seratonin (the happy hormone) in our brains. The kind of music you enjoy relates to your culture, past experiences, as well as the lyrical content. Normal, well adjusted, happy people tend to like happy music. A study out of Ireland last year showed that people use music to reflect their emotions, which isn't earth shattering news. It also showed that angry and sad music actually helps regulate the moods of angry or sad people. What this all means for this post is that when Frank sings "Punk is for the kids who never fit in with the rest" he's right. Punk is damaged music for damaged people. 

It also means when I say that listening to Frank's music in the past couple weeks has really helped me deal with some pretty heavy issues, I'm being totally sincere. From time to time I'm guilty of leaning heavily on music to push me through times where I'm not otherwise able to deal. I'm not nearly as angry as I was when I got into punk, but it's still my go to outlet for the pain and struggle of life. I have never felt as tough, or as understood, or as loved by any other style of music. There's a freedom and community that exists almost nowhere else. And the music Frank makes really exemplifies that. I believe as Frank does, that music can be a lifeline. I believe that music can create and nurture our sense of self. And I have found that nothing makes me want to pump a fist in the air end-of-Breakfast-Club style more than a good punk refrain. 

I'm a little too ADD to stick with one album for very long. I've got a musical addiction that has almost financially crippled me at times, but it demands that I be constantly changing out my music. So I really enjoy getting into an artist who already has a sizable back catalogue. Frank is about to release his 6th studio album later this year which gives me just enough time to work my way through his other five. And sure as Sheena is (and always has been) a punk rocker, I'm going to do it. So now I leave you with a video of his most recent song. If you like it, he's offering a free download of the song at Frank-turner.com/getbetter

Happy listening,
Little C