Reviewed by Kit Burns
Frankie Cleary/The Six Year Getaway
Singer/songwriter Frankie Cleary hails from the Pacific Northwest, but don’t expect any stereotypical grunge – or even post-grunge – on his four-track EP, The Six Year Getaway. While I wish there were more songs for me to properly evaluate his talents, the tunes on here are promising enough to make me believe that there’s still something in the water up there. The first cut, “On My Own,” sounded like the Verve Pipe’s “The Freshmen” at first until Cleary’s big, soaring vocals reaches for the skies. The booming chorus and sparkling guitars suggest a cross between Lifehouse and U2, which is a pretty amazing combination for a solo act.
“Outta My Mind” surprisingly reaches back into the ’80s, its intro riff reminiscent of the Cars’ “My Best Friend’s Girl.” The track is an enjoyably melodic blend of jangling guitars and upbeat pop/rock. “Different Side” produces the strangest comparison of them all with guitars that initially echo Marilyn Manson’s cover of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” albeit more mellow. Cleary’s voice is clean and brimming with warmth; on the last song, the unplugged “The Being of Me,” that’s all you need to focus on.
