Some people gonna hate you no matter what you do. Don’t waste your time trying to change their minds, just be a better you”.
That’s the opening line on “Do One”, the opening track on “Undefeated” and as an example of the way Turner has matured, there’s none better.
“Never Mind The Back Problems” is in many ways the same thing. It namechecks Counting Crows, but it doesn’t see why it should grow up.
As I’m Peter Pan, essentially, and “Mr Jones” is my favourite song, it’s perhaps unsurprising that I love Frank so much.
And that’s before the outright reflection of “Ceasefire”. A letter to his 15-year-old self, but also wondering as a man in his 40s whether that 15-year-old would be proud. It is the sort of thing that consumes me. It’s no wonder I feel a kinship with Turner.
His music has become more sophisticated over the years too. This one is an arena-filling beauty, while “Girl From The Record Shop” is punk rock by contrast. The type of love song that early Billy Bragg was so good at (albeit musically it isn’t).
I’ve never met Frank Turner, but rather like Beans On Toast I feel I know him through his lyrics. The riff-heavy “Pandemic PTSD” acknowledges that nothing will ever be the same again after what they did to us in 2020.
The bass rumble which anchors “Letters” down is impressive, and it wouldn’t be out of place on a Hold Steady record (praise comes no higher from me).
Indeed there’s a bit of Craig Finn’s mob about all of this. The way Turner crafts his stories is similar, even on the more ballad like “East Finchley”.
Although “Undefeated” is very much rooted in 2024 and reflects where Turner is right now, the anger still burns fiercely, witness “No Thank You For The Music”.
There’s a bit of The Jam on “The Leaders” which reasons that we only have each other, and if you want to leave Tory Britain in 2024, then “International Hide And Seek Champions” offers you an escape.
“Show People” relaxes a bit, but it is absolutely typical of the way that Turner always finds a way to celebrate the underdog. The people in the chorus, not the spotlight, if you will. “You’re more John Otway than The Beatles” he offers, “but Otway’s still touring……”.
He’s just a glorious songwriter, capable of real tenderness as on “On My Way”, as he explores the downside of being on the road, and real emotional reflection on “Somewhere Inbetween”, which has a totally different dance-infused sound. The beats, for sure are new.
The title track is piano-led, and Matt Nasir (who like all the others plays in his live band) excels, but the words “independent, undefeated” seem tattooed like on the cover.
Indeed, “I don’t want to be in your gang” he chants as a mantra on “…..Music” and Frank Turner (and in fairness his band and audience) are always in it together. Album 10. Almost two decades solo, and he’s still never satisfied, always evolving, and always “Undefeated”.
Rating 9/10
