Sean Lennon - 'Friendly Fire' (EMI) Released 02/10/06

The man with arguably one of the most famous surnames in music should be given a break. Why Lennon decided to become a musician is his own business or call it genetics. He admittedly sometimes sound eerily like John but Sean is far from being a man who simply shares his father’s name and birthday.

‘Friendly Fire’ follows his first solo album ‘Into The Sun’ which was released on Beastie Boys record label Grand Royal Records in 1998. Sean has been quietly working in the background for a number of years, he has collaborated with a number of artists including Cibo Matto and Handsome Boys Modelling Club. The album is accessible and melodic and deserves to be listened to on that merit alone.

Said to be inspired by Lennon’s split with singer/actress Bijou Phillips, whatever the muse, the songs are a slow burning catalogue of heartbreak and introspection. ‘Would I Be The One’ is almost ethereal in its sound and the simple harmonies are beautifully effective with the bubbling organ resulting in a mantra of loss, which then blossoms into a string section and raw guitar that could make a glass eye cry. “Would I be the one to bring back the tears in your eyes?” On first listen it could be dismissed as a coffee table break up album but on closer inspection it’s extremely well produced with a pervading gentleness and full of musical intricacies perfect for those pensive moments in life. ‘Wait For Me’ will make most people shudder with its Beatle tinged melody and handclaps and the lyric “life is only slowly dying”.

The name Lennon seems to be a double edged sword – it gives talent but makes the benchmark so much higher. Sean’s use of the phrase ‘my dear’ in ‘Wait For Me’ could make a person break out in gooseflesh. His vocals lack his father’s trademark Northern bite and may grate to those who buy this on the strength of his heritage but those who are willing to spend just over half an hour with Sean Ono Lennon will find themselves strangely moved that the beautiful boy grew up to be his own man.