Review of Cranky George's debut album ‘Fat Lot of Good’

Cranky George released their debut album Fat Lot of Good on Oct. 14. Their combination of traditional folk and indie rock may gain a cult following.

Cranky George released their debut album Fat Lot of Good on Oct. 14. This indie-folk-rock band is comprised of five members. Actor Dermont Mulroney and his brother, Kieran Mulroney, are among them. However, all five members are experienced performers with an array of credits. Having joined together over a love of unpopular instruments – accordions, mandolins and ukuleles included – Cranky George represents an interesting combination of influences and styles.

Fat Lot of Good opens with “Tunnel of Love.” Listeners immediately confront an unapologetic use of accordion. Cranky George embraces an older folk sensibility, reminiscent of Flap!, from the start. Quick changes in mood and tempo mark this song, consistent with a European folk arrangement. Many listeners will wind up with this tune stuck in their mind despite themselves.

Following next on Fat Lot of Good is “Perfect Skin.” With a slow tempo, there is a heavier sense about this track. A slightly modernized song, deep and echoy ‘80s rock vibes weave under it. Listeners who are unfamiliar with Cranky George will likely still feel a bit jarred. These gentlemen are on a wavelength not typical to American music this century. However, they demonstrate clear skill and audiences are left with the sense that “Perfect Skin” would be excellent live.

Audiences catch the band's stride on “Katyusha." Cranky George comes into focus in this unique melding of march-like undercurrents, folk-rock vocals and modern sounding strings/percussion. This toe-tapping track may find an unexpected audience among goth inclined crowds – who are often open to widely varied and traditional instrumentation and structure.

A mixed bag from Cranky George

Fat Lot of Good continues onward with a variety of artistic inclinations. “Greenland’s Ice” is a well-executed and high-energy song that rings of a traditional drinking tune. “Misery Road” takes a solemn southern turn, while “Waltz in Blue” dips into an entirely somber mood.

“Yes!” presents peppy and guitar-heavy instrumentation. This particular track is a bit lyrically awkward – something that occurs a small handful of times throughout the album. However, “The Man With the Burning Eyes” follows immediately after. A clear highlight on Fat Lot of Good, this song follows a distinct story line. With a nice balance of folk and modern edge, it would be at home next to Voltaire circa Almost Human. Along the same lines, “Ne Me Quitte Pas” is another standout. With heavier baselines, a tale one expects in an English bar song unfolds.

Cranky George is clearly comprised of skilled musicians, despite the occasional lyrical awkwardness. It is challenging though, to pin down a genre that accurately describes them. Unfortunately, this may lead to difficulty in capturing a large audience – at least in America. U.S. audiences do not generally tend toward this array of instrumentation. However, listeners have the sense that these gentlemen are comfortable doing their own thing. Additionally, it seems that – whatever it is they are doing – Cranky George is pretty good at it. Hopefully these artists will stick with it long enough to further develop their following.