GREG SODEN
Arts Writer

Frank Turner is an unlikely punk rock troubadour. He grew up in southern England and was educated at Eton College alongside Prince William.

However, while at Eton, Turner was far more concerned with his band and rejected the future political, medical or judicial life that most Eton graduates go on to attain.

When his band Million Dead broke up in 2005, Turner set out on his own, armed with his weapons of choice: his acoustic guitar and his positive lyrics of hope and appreciation of life. Turner’s offerings to date had been fully acoustic until his recent Epitaph Records debut Poetry of the Deed was released with Turner accompanied by a full band for the first time.

Fans of Billy Bragg, Chuck Ragan and Ryan Adams should first check out Turner’s fabulous 2007 full-acoustic release Love, Ire, & Song before moving onto Poetry of the Deed, simply because it is a more intimate introduction to Turner’s individual approach with guitar and voice.

Poetry of the Deed is a mostly spot-on release full of positive sing-alongs sung in a thick British accent, which leads to the record’s charming appeal. Songs such as “Live Fast, Die Old,” “Try This at Home,” and U.K. single “The Road” will have any listener singing along in no time with a big, goofy smile on their face, as I was the other night while listening to this on a midnight bike ride in freezing temperatures.

The record hits a few snags along the way with a few tracks that feel out of place, but I will leave that verdict up to individual listeners. I have had the pleasure of seeing Frank Turner live in front of an English crowd this past spring while on a U.K. tour with the Gaslight Anthem. It was a real treat to see a man on stage whose sheer joy for his profession spread good feelings to even the most jaded listeners in the crowd.

Check out Frank Turner. He is infectious. And with winter coming, his feel-good acoustic-punk jams will have you smiling your way through even the most dire winter temperatures.