More than a decade removed from their 2006 debut,
Costello Music (their only record to make waves on both sides of the Atlantic),
the Fratellis no longer bother with the manic energy that fueled such early hits as "Chelsea Dagger." Listening to
In Your Own Sweet Time -- the band's fifth full-length album, released almost 12 years after their first -- it's hard not to miss that kind of verve, since the trio are settling into a comfortable groove where they emphasize nuanced craft over kinetic kicks.
The Fratellis still favor melody, which is their saving grace. Perhaps
In Your Own Sweet Time feels excessively massaged -- it's slick and sweet, the work of a group eager to settle into middle age -- but
the Fratellis still kick out hooks that worm their way into the subconscious, even if they don't grab attention. Because
the Fratellis are no longer rushing toward the finish line,
In Your Own Sweet Time can seem a little stiff and fussy, but the group's instincts remain sound, and that helps turn this album into something handsome instead of something stuffy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
