Easy As 1-2-3: Frank Turner ‘The Third Of Three Years’

Frank Turner album

New York – To follow-up his first two compilations The First Three Years and The Second Three Years, English folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner released the aptly titled The Third Of Three Years. The record comprises live, acoustic and demo versions of songs from Turner’s past releases, including “Hits & Mrs” off 2013’s Losing Days EP, “Sweet Albion Blues” off 2014’s Polaroid Picture EP, a live full band version of “Dan’s Song” from 2009’s Poetry of the Deed and a demo version “Something of Freedom” off 2013’s Tape Deck Heart.

Out of the sampling of b-sides and rarities, “Plain Sailing Weather” is perhaps one of the most memorable. Matt Nasir, who plays piano for Turner’s band, The Sleeping Souls, is featured in this version, which was pulled from Turner’s Cutting Room Sessions. Nasir is also featured on “Tell Tale Signs” and “The Way I Tend To Be,” which were taken from Turner’s iTunes sessions. For “Plain Sailing Weather” Nasir and Turner team up to produce a less polished, but equally passionate version of the track. The song exemplifies Turner’s tendency towards slightly tortured slow burners, in which he begs forgiveness for his “fuck up and [his] faults.” Like Turner’s radio hit, “Recovery,” the song plays with the themes of failure and redemption all the while hinting at a darker past. The line “a sinner amongst saved men on the banks of the muddy Thames” from the haunting track “Broken Piano” provides a fitting self-image of Turner during this era and sums up this trend in his music.

“Broken Piano” is another strong point on the album and showcases Turner’s ability to sing almost unaccompanied. The quick and simple song “The Ballad Of Me And My Friends” off 2007’s Sleep Is For the Week is similarly light on instruments. It’s another track from early in Turner career that unlike some of the others gives listeners a more positive look back on his life. His mentions of London’s Nambucca in the song seem quaint in this live version from Twin Cities, Minnesota.

The Third Of Three Years also includes songs Turner recorded with other artists on London-based record label Xtra Mile Recordings. “Fields of June” by label mates Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo features Turner on vocals and Turner’s “Happy New Year” includes Jon Snodgrass of Colorado’s Drag the River, who are also on Xtra Mile. The latter is a comical folky tune about the holidays that the two musicians originally gave away as a free download. A lot of the record ties back to Xtra Mile, which Turner joined back in 2006. “Riot Song” off the Fuck The Fire EP was part of a series of “small-scale pressings of old releases” done by Xtra Mile Records following the 2011 riots in London. The PIAS Distribution warehouse, where the majority of the UK’s independent record labels kept their stock including Xtra Mile, was damaged during the riots. Millions of records and the warehouse’s entire back catalogue were lost. In response, Xtra Mile, Pledge Music and Turner along with his label mates released songs to recuperate the loss. In a blog post, Turner announced this “Fuck the Fire” project that helped pay for the manufacturing of these rarities. Those who bought the songs were also sent a “digital download of a bunch of Xtra Mile rarities.” A portion of the profits was also donated to UK Disaster Relief.

Frank Turner album

Turner also recorded a number of covers for The Third Of Three Years, including songs by artists ranging from Noel Coward to Tom Petty to Paul McCartney to Queen. The recordings came from Turner’s Spotify, iTunes and The Cutting Room Sessions as well as his home demos and various albums/splits. Still, Turner’s strongest work is perhaps the original songs that he has been brought back to light with this compilation.

Turner has sporadic live dates listed on his Facebook page into June.  For a look back at our review of a Frank Turner performance, click HERE.
Zoe Marquedant

Zoe Marquedant

Zoe Marquedant is a Marylander now living in Brooklyn. She recently graduated from Sarah Lawrence College where she majored in Journalism and English literature. She is a freelance journalist, who primarily writes on music and culture. Her work can be seen in Boston Magazine, Highlight Magazine as well as on rsvlts.com, mxdwn.com and Baeblemusic.com. When not writing, Zoe is probably working her way through a new series on Netflix, researching new pie recipes and collecting dumb jokes (e.g. Two fish are in a tank. One turns to the other and says, "You man the guns. I’ll drive.") Follow her vain attempts at mastering social media at @zoenoumlaut
Zoe Marquedant

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