In this episode of Loud Lit, Matt dives into the career of workhorse English singer-songwriter Frank Turner. Following a high-energy performance in Cincinnati alongside punk legends the Descendents, Matt explores Turner’s second book, Try This At Home: Adventures in Songwriting.
This isn't just a memoir; it's a chronological look at Turner’s career through the lens of 36 specific songs. Whether you're a die-hard fan with lyric tattoos or a budding musician looking for a peek behind the curtain, this episode breaks down why Turner’s self-deprecating and honest approach to his craft makes this book a fun and informative read.
This book provides a detailed look at his songwriting process, offering insight to budding musicians, giving fans new perspectives on old favorites. Hey, it's Matt. On this episode of Loud Lit, I'm talking about one of the two books from one of my favorite rock acts, Frank Turner.
In fact, just this past week, I went to Cincinnati, Ohio with my wife and son to see him perform show number 3,113. Yes, he keeps track of every show. The headliners were punk legends The Descendants.
They put on a really fun show, and shout out to opening act No Bro. I enjoyed their set, too. But as far as my family and I were concerned, Turner easily had the best performance of the night.
He knew that since he was opening for The Descendants, it was gonna be a rowdy crowd looking for fast and furious numbers, so he kept his own set more in the energetic, punkish realm. Songs like Get Better, Four Simple Words, and the hardcore-leaning Non Servium. But the crowd let him slow the pace a couple of times, like on Be More Kind.
A highlight for me was Glory Hallelujah. It's one of my absolute favorite songs of his, and in the five or six previous times I've seen him live, I hadn't heard that one. So after he played it, I said to my wife, finally! Overall, it was another amazing performance.
If you're not familiar with Frank Turner, do yourself a favor and look him up. In fact, I'll put a playlist of recommendations, along with some concert clips, on the Loud Lit sub stack. Click the link in the show notes to check that out.
And when you're shopping online for books, make sure you start at the Loud Lit bookshop page. When you do, you'll be supporting this show, as well as independent booksellers. Now, let's talk about Try This At Home.
A large part of Frank Turner's appeal is his songwriting. A quick Google image search will show you just how many fans have his lyrics tattooed on their skin. I myself have Turner-inspired ink on my right arm.
itself. Turner's first book,:
That book spanned his first four solo albums, wrapping up in the England Keep My Bones era. His second book, Try This At Home Adventures in Songwriting, discusses his career arc through the lens of his lyrics. It's not a traditional autobiography, but the chapters are laid out chronologically and give snapshots of his life as a musician.
At the time of Try This At Home's release, he had put out an additional three studio albums since the last book, so the stories extend further into his discography, ending with songs from Be More Kind. The songs Turner covers in his book range in popularity from hit like Recovery and The Next Storm to deep cuts with interesting stories behind them. For example, he lists Broken Piano among his top five of his proudest songwriting achievements, even though its experimental nature confounded fans at first.
In the book, Turner explains his thinking behind the musical exploration, helping fans at least appreciate the song more fully, even if it's not one of their favorites. In a less serious chapter, he explains the backstory of The Ballad of Steve, a hilarious song that immortalizes the wild but true story about a flight attendant who deals with an uncooperative passenger in the most badass way possible. Aside from the peaks behind the curtain, it's Turner's writing style that makes Try This At Home an accessible and enjoyable read.
Writing a book about your own songs could easily come off as pretentious and self-absorbed. Try This At Home steers fully clear of that nonsense. Turner doesn't take himself too seriously, peppering his tales with self-deprecating humor.
For instance, he doesn't shy away from laughing at his own ignorance when he titled a song Sunshine State, even though the song was about California, not Florida. He admits that even when he writes about politics, he doesn't pretend to have all the answers. He just sings about the world from his viewpoint.
It's a good reminder for all of us. We can state our opinions and stand up for our beliefs, but let's not pretend we know it all. He even talks about his mistakes and regrets, from the B-side that he should have put on the proper album, to the feeling of knowing that the ex-girlfriend who inspired a harshly blunt breakup song heard it and was devastated.
If you're a songwriter, this book gives you plenty to consider and learn from. Of course, Frank Turner fans are going to love this book. It features 36 career-spanning songs and reveals their origin stories and even some hidden meanings.
But if you yourself are a you'll get a lot out of Try This at Home. It's not a how-to manual with step-by-step instructions for writing great songs. If such a thing exists, it's probably a load of crap anyway.
Instead, Try This at Home is the work of an accomplished songwriter sharing the strategies that have worked for him. You may find some things in this book that work for you, or maybe you'll at least gain a better understanding of how much effort is required to master this craft. Whatever you take from Try This at Home, Adventures in Songwriting, you're sure to enjoy reading it and giving Frank Turner's music fresh listen with new context.
Thanks a lot for listening. Please rate, review, and subscribe so you can keep getting music book recommendations. And again, if you're not familiar with Frank Turner's music, click the link in the show notes to the loudlit sub stack page.
I've made a playlist of songs that I think are a good starting point for newbies, plus I included a YouTube video with clips from the show I just saw. And if you want your own copy of Try This at Home, click the bookshop link in the show notes. Until next time, keep reading, keep rocking.
