Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire

Of course people are going to compare that Sean Lennon guy to his famous father, that Beatle guy who was gunned down by that crazy guy, and well, it fits because Friendly Fire, Sean’s first album in eight years, is Beatles-esque, and Sean sounds a bit like John. However, I’m going to strike out and make a different comparison. You ready? When I hear Sean Lennon’s latest I think about Rufus Wainwright. Am I crazy in thinking that? I mean, not crazy like the guy who shot that Beatles guy, but does anyone agree with me? Maybe. Whatever. The point is, Sean’s got something good going but it also is a bit loosy-goosy. It’s just a collection of songs he haphazardly threw together, like it’s just a side job, this singing business, away from his real job (upholsterer?). Which, isn’t necessarily a bad thing really. Some songs are beautiful (“Parachute” and “Dead Meat” come to mind) but it’s sort of like Tony Curtis who does painting on the side, and Jewel doing poetry when she’s not putting conditioner in her hair. It’s nice that they have that side of them, and the work itself is nice, but it’s not their true passion, like the crazy guy who shot the elder Lennon having a passion for “The Catcher in the Rye.” [seanonolennon.com]