Music Review // Andy Frasco & The U.N. "Growing Pains"

https://open.spotify.com/album/2DG1IiuztPQV10RKn7fidx?si=g7T47g2yRAKo71_Bk8ewMg

"Growing Pains" is the perfect name for this new album by Andy Frasco & The U.N.  While I grew up watching and being entertained by the Seaver Family, the way that Kirk Cameron has turned out as an adult kind of sums up a lot of what's wrong with this country right now, and much of that comes through in these songs.  Big acoustics and pop rock takes us through the songs, though we can also get electric and more upbeat.  "Try Not to Die" is the third song on here and if you've been paying attention it should be the first single you're hearing.

One of my two favorite songs on here that wasn't a single released prior to the full album is up next and it's called "What We Used to Be is Not Who We Are".  This, in its title alone, is a very strong message that people need to realize.  People are not only allowed to grow and change, they're going to do it whether you like it or not.  I also relate a little too closely with the line: "Got an arm full of wrist bands to cover the scars" , so I think if nothing else this song can serve as a nice reminder for ourselves that we're not that person any more.

"Life Is Easy" is up next and that was also a single.   Strong acoustics and vocals come out on "Tears in My Cocaine" and then organ keys bring us into "How to Cure a Heartbreak", which gives us the lines: "I convince myself I'm dying / But the blood work came out fine".   "Swinging for the Fences" is another single and I do enjoy how they're paced out across the album.  We get into a little rap and a lot of fun on "They Call Me Hollywood (but I'm from LA)" and then we hit that titular track.   This definitely feels like the type of song you should hear on the radio, but it also feels like an anthem.

Among the lyrics of embracing change and getting out there to seize the day perhaps the most important lyric on my favorite song on this album says: "These thoughts are nothing without action".   With big pianos on "Flowers" we can listen as "Easier" kicks in like The Wallflowers, but overall this album is just a lot of fun to listen to, while you'll find yourself singing along even on the first learn.  This also carries an overall positive message that I feel we'd all be better off hearing and taking to heart and as such this isn't just about listening but paying attention.