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Worrywarts who were stressed about Frightened Rabbit making the major-label jump after three well-received indie full-lengths and a pair of EPs can quit fretting. The Scottish outfit have delivered again with jangly pop full of skittering guitars, self-flagellating lyricism, and whimsy under a pall of darkness that no amount of the big spotlight can dispel. For proof, just check out some of the song titles: "Dead Now," "Backyard Skulls," "Late March, Death March." Yeah, there are no puppies here (unless they're dead), or rainbows, just plenty of dark clouds. Downtrodden in subject matter, these songs are foot-stomping anthems nonetheless. Over some Andy Monaghan fretwork cribbed straight from Joy Division, Scott Hutchison sings about being trapped in collapsing and abandoned buildings, cursing in church, sleeping off the bad vibes, and confessing, "I don't mind being lonely/So leave me alone." It's less a pity party and more a declaration about being cast into shade. And being just fine with that.» MICHAELCHRISTOPHER22@HOTMAIL.COM
FRIGHTENED RABBIT + WINTERSLEEP:: House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston :: April 2 :: 7 pm :: All-Ages :: $22.50 adv./$25 doors :: 888.693.2583 or hob.com/boston