With their new live album, Set List, Irish rockers The Frames are trying to make a splash in the U.S. after achieving pop star status in their homeland. Even though the band has scattered four studio albums over its 14 years of existence, Set List was my introduction. It’s usually unfair to judge a band based on a live album, because they’re almost always an afterthought, something to fill contractual obligations or squeeze a few extra bucks out of rabid fans. This is not the case with Set List, which sounds superb and showcases some vigorous performances from the band. Most of all, the recording is dominated by the roar of the Dublin crowd, which sings along with every lyric like it was biblical.
The songs themselves are ripped straight from the guts of ‘80s college rock; lead singer Glen Hansard’s emotive wails are an inspired combination of Bono’s bravado and Michael Stipe’s sensitivity. The results are energetic, with the band and its fans joining forces to create some genuinely spine-tingling moments. But Set List is far from brilliant, and definitely nothing new. The Frames will appeal to listeners who want to revisit the glory days of REM and the welcoming shock of the grunge invasion, no matter how boring and contrived the band. As far as alt-rock retreads go, The Frames are one of the best. They’re a bit like the Tragically Hip of Ireland – they can hold your attention for a little while, but you’ll just end up yearning for the bands that they’re ripping off.
Appeared in the March 4, 2004, issue of Artvoice.