Such was the case with 'The Midnight Organ Fight' by Scotland's Frightened Rabbit. I'm in no desperate need for sentimental, pseudo-epic, singer/songwriter type of stuff... yet I've been completely won over by this album since first play.

I think it's probably the attitude the band seem to posses. As Martin Cassidy mentioned in his review of second single from this album, 'Fast Blood', there's something incredibly sweet and nice yet a little bit fucking nasty about these guys. Like a top shelf porn magazine, exquisitely and inappropriately wrapped with a ribbon. Perfect example being the ending chorus for 'Backwards Walk' being "You're the shit and I'm knee-deep in it" sung so sweetly. The lyrics by Scott John Hutchinson are incredibly open, dirty and poignant - to the sense where he's refreshingly not painting himself out to be some perfect guy who has all these feelings and whose heart has been broken for no good reason by some total bitch of a girl. No, it's way more realistic. He admits to his flaws, revealing his typical red-blooded male attitude to love, sex, and the other stuff.

It's hard not to enjoy this earnestness, and occasional humour, especially since he comes out with some pretty great lyrics ("I am armed with the past, and the will, and a brick") and sings them so passionately with one of those Scottish accents that makes every Englishman envious. Much praised opener, 'The Modern Leper', is one of the best examples of Hutchinson's lyrical sincerity and prowess.

Another thing I really enjoy about this record is the sense of tempestuous energy throughout. It makes the emotional roots of the record stand-out when appropriate and adds more to this admittedly pretty traditional type of music. The character that the band has means that, although a lot of this folk-pop is easy radio fodder, Frightened Rabbit respectfully curse over most of the tracks (how Scottish!). An easy contender for album of the year.