Acoustic Punk-rock
Admittedly and shamefully we're a bit late jumping on the Warren Franklin bandwagon but we think he still deserves a mention on the site hence this after the fact review which is something we don't like to do too often.
Franklin is another of those acoustic punk rock singer-songwriters and yes, there are plenty of them around at the moment but Franklin makes his voice heard by blasting us with emotion and heart, with a genuinely honest approach, with unpolished vocals (that nevertheless are warm and agreeable) and some really sing along tunes that you remember long afterwards even though its just him and his acoustic guitar serenading you.
Franklin's voice is obviously the selling point here as with these kind of records and while he sounds great doing soft and melodic (You Get Weary) its also great to hear that he doesn't shy away from opening up those vocal chords and giving us a full on assault when it fits and he does both just as well. Tracks like the brilliant opener Bro Downs Know No Bounds utilise brassy flourishes and see Franklin singing at full volume and making you want to do the same (you can hear why this one is a live favourite right from the start).
Your Heart Belongs To The Midwest is a collection of emotion filled songs that stick with you, engaging your audience in this potentially low-key format is not an easy thing to do, but like our very own acoustic punk-rock troubadour Frank Turner, Warren Franklin has the charisma and heart to make it work and the album is full of winners.