Fink – Hard Believer

From Small Beginnings Come Big Endings

Fin Greenall and his bandmates Tim Thornton and Guy Whittaker are no strangers to releasing albums. They’ve been doing it since 2006, and even after taking a short break from each other to do their own stuff (Fin recorded an album with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and has helped write songs for big names like John Legend, and Tim wrote a few books), the English trio easily came together again to record their latest full-length, Hard Believer.

You’ve probably heard some of Fink’s songs before and haven’t realized it; they’ve been featured on Mastercard commercials and several television shows, including Friday Night Lights and The Walking Dead, two shows that have reputations for choosing awesome music. And despite hailing from Bristol, Hard Believer contains a bluesy, American Southern sound with lots of acoustic guitar.

Each of the ten tracks on the album are long and sensual, the longest being “Pilgrim” at seven minutes. For some, this could become repetitive, but others may appreciate its emotion. For the most part, heavy reverb stays out of it, but it still shows up in a few spots, including “Shakespeare,” a cheesy, guilty pleasure that asks the question, “Oh, why do they teach us Shakespeare when you’re only 16?” Overlook the funky grammar.

“Hard Believer” is the opening track, title track and the single released for the album. “I can see the light come in,” Fin recites over a low, scarce guitar. “Green and the Blue” follows, equally calming and with just as much acoustic guitar, but maybe a little lighter.

While Hard Believer is smooth, melancholy and light, it’s not too poppy, it’s not dad music and it’s not soft rock. It’s folk music for people who don’t like to go full folk.