Sean Lennon
Friendly Fire
(Capitol)
First Appeared in The Music Box, November 2006, Volume 13, #11
Written by John Metzger
Where Sean Lennon’s debut Into the Sun was a decidedly eclectic affair
that skipped giddily among country melodies, Beatle-esque psychedelia, bossa
nova beats, jazz fusion grooves, and alt-rock rage, his sophomore outing Friendly Fire is a carefully embroidered conceptual work that conveys the
battle scars of his love life. In a surreal, David Lynch-ian fashion, the film
that accompanies the album — and stars Lennon along with Lindsay Lohan, Bijou
Phillips, Carrie Fisher, and Jordana Brewster — sheds light upon its underlying
story, which, not coincidentally, bears more than a few striking similarities to
his own experiences. Shortly after Lennon leapt into the spotlight, Phillips,
his then-girlfriend, slept with his best pal, who subsequently was killed in a
motorcycle accident before closure could be achieved. It’s immediately apparent
from the bits of guilt, anger, and sorrow that seep through Lennon’s lyrics as
well as his screenplay that he remains haunted by the ordeal. Friendly Fire,
then, is meant to be a therapeutic release of his emotions, and for the most
part, it succeeds. Aside from a few underwhelming turns-of-phrase, Lennon makes
his feelings of betrayal, grief, and heartache palpable, and in the process, he
transforms his deeply personal tale of loss and regret into a universally
appealing song cycle. For all the anger that he displays in tunes like Dead
Meat and the title track, his music gravitates toward quiet introspection.
As he bends lush, Brian Wilson-esque ornamentations around the requisite
Beatle-isms, he evokes an air of sad resignation that allows Friendly Fire
to become a manifestation of the delicate nature of life as well as the
fragility of the heart. 
½
Of Further Interest...
Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire: A Second Opinion
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk / self-titled
Paul McCartney - The McCartney Years (DVD)
Friendly Fire is available from
Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2006 The Music Box