The Winter of Mixed Drinks

The Winter of Mixed Drinks is the third studio album by Scottish indie rock band Frightened Rabbit, released on 1 March 2010 through independent label FatCat Records.[1] As with its predecessor, the critically acclaimed The Midnight Organ Fight (2008), the album was recorded and produced by Peter Katis. Vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Scott Hutchison states that The Winter of Mixed Drinks is "more of a storytelling record" than the band's previous two albums,[2] and notes that the album is "about an escape and maybe even a slight breakdown. I have to say, it's semi-fictional. There's a protagonist who is possibly male but it doesn't really describe my life because if I did that it wouldn't make for an interesting album this time around as I’ve been quite solid and content, thankfully."[3]

The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Studio album by
Frightened Rabbit
Released1 March 2010
Recorded2009 at Castle Sound Studios, Pencaitland, Scotland; Tarquin Studios, Bridgeport, Connecticut
GenreIndie rock, indie folk
Length45:55
LabelFatCat
ProducerPeter Katis
Frightened Rabbit chronology
The Midnight Organ Fight
(2008)		 The Winter of Mixed Drinks
(2010)		 A Frightened Rabbit EP
(2011)
Singles from The Winter of Mixed Drinks
  1. "Swim Until You Can't See Land"
    Released: November 2009
  2. "Nothing Like You"
    Released: February 2010
  3. "Living in Colour"
    Released: June 2010
  4. "The Loneliness and the Scream"
    Released: November 2010

The album was preceded by the singles "Swim Until You Can't See Land" and "Nothing Like You", released during November 2009 and February 2010, respectively. The album's third single "Living in Colour" was released on 14 June.[4] The album's title comes from a line in the song "Living in Colour", with Hutchison stating, "I think we've all had odd, lonely, fallow periods in life, where you find yourself detached from everything, drifting and lost. That's what [the title] means to me, but most importantly, it's the moments of joy afterwards, during recovery, that defines the dark period."[5] The album's fourth and final single "The Loneliness and the Scream" was released in November 2010.[6]

Background and recording

The Winter of Mixed Drinks was written over seven weeks, in the coastal town of Crail, Fife, following heavy touring in support of the band's second album, The Midnight Organ Fight.[7] Drummer Grant Hutchison states that "the location had a big impact on the songs. There's definitely a nautical theme to a lot of the tracks and a feeling of testing yourself to the limit which the sea plays a big part in. Scott [Hutchison] had a daily routine of walking along the beach until an idea came into his head and he would then turn round and develop it on the way home."[8] Demo versions of the songs were subsequently recorded by Scott during his stay in Crail.

The album was primarily recorded at Castle Sound Studios, in Pencaitland, Scotland, with additional recording taking place at Tarquin Studios, in Connecticut, with producer Peter Katis. Recording was complete by mid-2009, with Hutchison stating that he doesn't want "huge [gaps] in between records."[9] The album also marks guitarist and keyboard player Andy Monaghan's recording debut with the band.

Hutchison has stated that the album is "a lot more detailed and complete" than The Midnight Organ Fight, and that the band recorded their parts separately:[3]

it's not a "live" album at all, it's a real studio effort. Everything has been separately recorded and that's the way I like to make records. There was just something I regretted about the way the last one was recorded, sonically, that I didn't want to happen again. I didn't make the album I wanted to last time - I had to exorcise that feeling.

Hutchison cites closing track "Yes, I Would" as indicative of the album's overall tone, stating that "there was a conscious effort to eschew the song structure we have employed so often on the last two records – the build and build and build – and that method extends to the album as a whole."[10]

Release and promotion

In October 2009, "Swim Until You Can't See Land" and its b-side "Fun Stuff" were made available for streaming on the FactCat website.[11] A video for "Swim Until You Can't See Land", which featured flickering flashlights, was made available on 16 October,[12] and the single was made available for digital download on 16 November and on seven-inch vinyl on 7 December.[13] Alongside the announcement of the album's title on Scottish music blog, The Pop Cop, the band unveiled a fifth member, Gordon Skene, formerly of Make Model.[3] Later, NME confirmed the band would be playing a special intimate show in London to celebrate Skene's arrival.[14] Similar to Andy Monaghan's entry into the band in early 2008, Skene was not involved in recording the album. Upon his arrival, Hutchison noted that "it must be difficult for him coming into something that four other people were involved in studio-wise. He's not seen any of that process yet. He's coming in playing these songs that perhaps he likes, but doesn't have that same level of connection with, so I think one of the aims [...] is to try and help build that for him."[9]

Frightened Rabbit unveiled the track listing and artwork for The Winter of Mixed Drinks in December 2009, with a UK release date of 1 March 2010. It was preceded by a second single, "Nothing Like You", which was released on 22 February 2010.[13] The band embarked upon a UK tour in support of the album, beginning at The Duchess in York on 4 March 2010 and ending at Norwich Arts Centre ten days later.[15] The album's third single "Living in Colour" was released on 14 June.[4] Summer festival appearances included Glastonbury, Oxegen, T in the Park, Latitude,[16] Lollapalooza and V Festival[17] before the band undertook a 20 date North American tour beginning in Seattle on 7 October and concluding on 3 November in Detroit.[17] A 14 date tour of the UK and Ireland followed, beginning in Bristol on 20 November and ending at Dublin Academy on 9 December.[18]

The album's fourth and final single "The Loneliness and the Scream" was released on 22 November 2010 in the UK and 8 December 2010 in North America. The b-side of "The Loneliness and the Scream" featured Scott Hutchinson duetting with The Hold Steady's Craig Finn on a cover version of Elton John and Kiki Dee's 1976 hit "Don't Go Breaking My Heart".[19] All four singles from the album were collected as a seven-inch vinyl box set, limited to 500 copies, that was released in November 2010 to coincide with the band's UK winter tour.[19]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(78/100)[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]
The A.V. ClubA[22]
BBC Music(favorable)[23]
Drowned in Sound8/10[24]
The Fly[25]
The Guardian[26]
NME8/10[27]
Rock Sound8/10[28]
This Is Fake DIY9/10[29]
ShockHound[30]
The Skinny[31]
Pitchfork Media6.6/10[32]

As with predecessor, The Midnight Organ Fight (2008), the album was greeted with widespread praise from critics. Allmusic awarded the album four stars out of five. Heather Phares wrote, "On Winter of Mixed Drinks, they focus and polish Organ Fight’s epics — and add a healthy dose of optimism. Though they’ve always been concerned with heavy issues like life, death, freedom, devotion, and spirituality, this time the bandmembers don’t seem beaten down by their struggles with them. Even when Scott Hutchison sings “Find God just to lose it again” on “The Loneliness and the Scream,” there’s a warmth in the music that makes him sound liberated instead of isolated."[21] Josh Modell of The A.V. Club awarded an "A" rating in his review and stated that the album is an "early contender for 2010 best-of lists," and described the album as The Midnight Organ Fight's "slightly more subdued older brother."[22] Laura Barton, writing for the BBC, was also favourable in her review and described the album as, "more polished, more polite than the band’s earlier offerings, but it’s reassuring to note that the band’s scruffy-hearted charm still lies just below the surface."[23]

Robert Cooke of Drowned in Sound was also impressed and awarded a score of eight out of ten, despite stating it "falls short of the dizzying intensity of its masterpiece of a predecessor." He praised frontman Scott Hutchison in particular, describing his performance as still having the "same tremble in the voice, the same elegance in the guitar tone, the same march of the Military Tattoo in the rhythm – but a renewed purpose".[24] Free music magazine, The Fly, awarded the album four ½ out of five stars. Iain Moffat claimed that Scott Hutchison has one of the "most underrated voices in rock" as well as praising the "lyrical sharpness" of the album. He summarised his review by adding, "what more could you possibly want from Frightened Rabbit’s third album? They’re hurling themselves fearlessly at the bright lights, and coming back all the stronger for it."[25] Dave Simpson of The Guardian praised the album's "sharp" songwriting, stating, "most of their songs – with themes of escape, freedom and reinvention – have huge impassioned choruses that are made to be shouted from the nearest available mountain". Awarding four stars, he also added, "The Rabbit are a band overdue a breakthrough, and fans of everyone from Arcade Fire to the similarly revamped Maccabees will find much to love here."[26]

NME magazine called the album "stunning". Praising the band's progression from previous releases, they wrote; "For every song of heartache (‘Yes, I Would’) and self-loathing (‘The Loneliness & The Scream’), there’s one of redemption (‘Foot Shooter’) or hope ('Swim Until You Can’t See Land’). The album deviates from their previous alt-folkish sensibilities: the fuzzed-up shoegazing of ‘Things’ and the anthemic chorus of ‘Living In Colour’ herald an exciting new bullshit-free dawn."[27] Rock Sound awarded the album eight out of ten. Ben Patashnik said, "Hopefully by now people will have stopped writing FR off as twee indie miserablists; their name gives no indication of the heart-swelling delights contained within". He also added, "rather than wallowing in self-indulgent sorrow, FR are now masters of the intimate emotional portrait writ large."[28] Gareth O’Malley of This Is Fake DIY opined the album was a "step up" from The Midnight Organ Fight. Awarding a score of nine out of ten, he wrote, "As its predecessor was a unified whole (an unflinchingly honest breakup record), so too is Mixed Drinks, though this time around its themes are regret, rebirth, and change."[29] Scottish publication, The Skinny awarded the album four stars out of five. Darren Carle stated, "For those who have journeyed with Frightened Rabbit to this point The Winter of Mixed Drinks is as good an album as could be hoped, as the newly-expanded quintet teeter on the edge of mainstream success. It’s no sell-out and no ‘just add strings’ indie crossover either. They are simply too self-aware for that to be an issue."[31]

Accolades
Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
NME UK Top 75 Albums of 2010 2010 50[33]
Drowned in Sound UK Albums of the Year 2010 64[34]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Scott Hutchison; music by Frightened Rabbit.[35]

No.TitleLength
1."Things"4:26
2."Swim Until You Can't See Land"4:19
3."The Loneliness and the Scream"4:09
4."The Wrestle"4:00
5."Skip the Youth"6:18
6."Nothing Like You"3:03
7."Man/Bag of Sand"2:26
8."Foot Shooter"4:13
9."Not Miserable"4:12
10."Living In Colour"3:46
11."Yes, I Would"4:37
Total length:45:29

Bonus tracks
Australia & New Zealand Release
No.TitleLength
12."Fun Stuff"3:30
13."Learned Your Name"2:40
Japanese Release
No.TitleLength
12."Fun Stuff"3:27
13."Learned Your Name"2:41
14."Swim (Alternate Version)"3:44

Personnel

The following personnel contributed to The Winter of Mixed Drinks:[35]

Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalogue # Ref.
United Kingdom 1 March 2010 FatCat Records CD, LP, Digital FATCD84 [36]
United States 9 March 2010 [37]

Chart performance
Chart Peak
position
US Billboard 200[38] 84
US Independent Albums[38] 7
UK Albums Chart[39] 61
UK Independent Albums[40] 5
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References
  1. "Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks". FatCat Records. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  2. "2010: Year of the Rabbit? An Interview with Frightened Rabbit". The Skinny.
  3. "I didn't make the album I wanted to last time - I had to exorcise that feeling". The Pop Cop. 7 October 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  4. Blanche, Cate. "Frightened Rabbit's Postcard From A Travelodge". Drowned In Sound. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  5. Broad, Craig. "Frightened Rabbit Interview". God Is In The TV. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  6. FatCat Records: Releases - Frightened Rabbit - The Loneliness and the Scream
  7. Rogers, Jude (2010-03-11). "Frightened Rabbit in the headlights". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  8. Mitchell, Nick. "Interview: Frightened Rabbit - Mixed Drinks, bacon rashers and Songs of Praise". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  9. Gourlay, Dom. "2010 Preview: DiS meets Frightened Rabbit". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  10. "'The Winter of Mixed Drinks' Track by Track. Frightened Rabbit explain new album". Clash. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  11. Breihan, Tom (6 October 2009). "Hear the New Frightened Rabbit Single". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  12. Singh, Amrit (16 October 2009). "New Frightened Rabbit Video – "Swim Until You Can't See Land"". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  13. Bychawski, Adam (4 December 2009). "Frightened Rabbit announce new album release date and tracklisting". NME. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  14. "Frightened Rabbit set to play intimate gig on London landmark". NME. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  15. Bychawski, Adam (27 November 2009). "Frightened Rabbit announce national tour and ticket details". NME. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  16. Bychawski, Adam (21 June 2010). "Frightened Rabbit announce UK winter tour and ticket details". NME. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  17. Bychawski, Adam (26 July 2010). "Frightened Rabbit announce North American tour details". NME. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  18. Bychawski, Adam (9 August 2010). "Frightened Rabbit expand winter UK and Ireland tour". NME. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  19. Bychawski, Adam (14 October 2010). "Frightened Rabbit announce 'The Winter Of Mixed Drinks' singles boxset". NME. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  20. "Critic reviews for The Winter of Mixed Drinks". Metacritic. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  21. Phares, Heather. "The Winter of Mixed Drinks: The Winter of Mixed Drinks—Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  22. Modell, Josh. "Frightened Rabbit: The Winter of Mixed Drinks". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  23. Barton, Laura. "Review of Frightened Rabbit - The band's scruffy-hearted charm still lies just below the surface". BBC. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  24. Cooke, Robert. "Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  25. Moffat, Iain. "Frightened Rabbit 'The Winter Of Mixed Drinks' (Fatcat)". The Fly. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
  26. Simpson, Dave (2010-02-25). "Frightened Rabbit: The Winter of Mixed Drinks (Fatcat)". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  27. "Album Review: Frightened Rabbit -'The Winter Of Mixed Drinks' (FatCat)". NME. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
  28. Patashnik, Ben. "Frightened Rabbit: The Winter Of Mixed Drinks - FR are now masters of the intimate emotional portrait writ large". Rock Sound. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
  29. O’Malley, Gareth. "Frightened Rabbit - The Winter Of Mixed Drinks". This Is Fake DIY. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
  30. Bayer, Jonah. "Frightened Rabbit > The Winter Of Mixed Drinks > Featured Editorial Review". ShockHound. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  31. Carle, Darren. "Frightened Rabbit - The Winter Of Mixed Drinks". The Skinny. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  32. Raber, Rebecca. "Album Reviews: Frightened Rabbit - The Winter Of Mixed Drinks". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  33. "NME Top 75 Albums Of 2010". Stereogum. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
  34. Adams, Sean (2010-11-30). "Drowned in Sound Albums of the Year 2010: 75-51 / In Depth // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
  35. The Winter of Mixed Drinks (CD). Frightened Rabbit. FatCat Records. 2010. FATCD84.CS1 maint: others (link)
  36. "Music: The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010)". HMV. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  37. "Winter Of Mixed Drinks CD by Frightened Rabbit". CD Universe. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  38. "Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
  39. "The Official Charts Company - Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
  40. "UK Top 40 Indie Album Chart". Official Charts Company. BBC Radio One. 2010-03-07. Archived from the original on 2010-03-13.
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