For anyone expecting Millencolin guitarist Mathia Farm's side-project to be sub 3-minute pop punk gems will probably be in for a shock when they hear Franky Lee. A Foo Fighters/Samiam-esque rocker, this is a surprisingly good 13-track album that should appeal to more than just the obligatory interested Millencolin fans checking out what the band's axeman has been up to.
Opener 'Solitary' sets a highly impressive tone for the record, a rock and roll stomper which, on first listen, is a little too un-Millencolin like for those of us who remember the band for their 'Fox' days. But when you consider Nikola has already tried something different too, I guess it's inevitable that a band who have been around as long as Millencolin have that their members would like to try something different. The Afghan Wigs thumping 'Angles' shows the band's rock influence is worn firmly on sleeve, while 'Your Complexion' and 'Cold Eyes' are solid efforts too.
While I guess many people will check out Franky Lee for the inevitable reason, this record is good enough to warrant a listen in its own right. It's not an early contender for album of the year, but in a slow month for new releases, 'Cutting Edge' is well worth your time.
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» Listen on Myspace
