| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Helmut |
Posted - 11/14/2011 : 14:32:29
I used to follow FB career obsessively - the Pixies, the Catholics and the solo albums. The output was generally consistent up until Bluefinger (although the Bluefinger tour was half assed and the Nashville albums were a bit self indulgent). Since then output has been pretty miss - Grand Duchey is boring and everything else seems a bit, well, average. He has a crack team of musos with the Pixies and the Catholics, is it a big ask to put out some albums with these guys or does ego (i.e. having to compromise with others) get in the way?
p.s. the Pixies shows he has done over this fallow period have been nothing short of stellar - maybe being a rich rock star means you no longer need to put out good stuff anymore. I mean what musos past 40 really put out anything good anyway? |
| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| onyone |
Posted - 05/29/2012 : 19:53:26
quote:
Originally posted by Jason
I've got to say that I think the Nashville albums are aging really well. I've been going through the catalog (and writing about it like a dweeb on my stupid rateyourmusic page: http://rateyourmusic.com/~JasonHernandez) and re-evaluating stuff. When I listen to the progression of The Catholics records, I think Frank's vision was moving toward that kind of very adult "singer/songwriter" thing. When I hear HONEYCOMB, I hear a guy who's been touring his brains out, surrounded by loud noise in clubs night after night for years (The Catholics were friggin' touring machines), and now he wants to get mellow, even whisper sometimes, and write about his life.
And Tiven's production is beautiful. He acted like a silly goose on the forum here at the time, but his work holds up. It's so cozy and twinkly. I don't know whose idea it was (or whether it was a conscious idea at all), but I like how the "country" influence of so much of Frank's then-recent work sort of falls off and is replaced with jazz. FAST MAN RAIDER MAN is subtly jazzy.
Then there's BLUEFINGER, which is such a fascinatingly WEIRD album. What's weird about it is that the subject matter is so bleak, but the band sound like they're having fun. You can imagine them joking and laughing between takes. Every song on that album has a real life tragedy hanging over it (and Frank/Francis is 100% aware of that), but the mood is weirdly fun and silly. Which, to me, is very touching.
I'm now working my way up to giving "serious" listens to the later stuff, but I do find good things about all of it. I think each album has some great songs on it.
Frank's made some changes and that means he's gonna lose people, but I don't think he's "lost his way" at all.
I would like some day to smoke hashish with you. |
| danjersey |
Posted - 05/29/2012 : 17:38:49
I agree. Especially with your take on Bluefinger. With that album, Rock n' Roll in someways conquers death. "you'll be my suicide" that line to me seems to let the rest of us off the hook. |
| Jason |
Posted - 05/26/2012 : 06:52:12
I've got to say that I think the Nashville albums are aging really well. I've been going through the catalog (and writing about it like a dweeb on my stupid rateyourmusic page: http://rateyourmusic.com/~JasonHernandez) and re-evaluating stuff. When I listen to the progression of The Catholics records, I think Frank's vision was moving toward that kind of very adult "singer/songwriter" thing. When I hear HONEYCOMB, I hear a guy who's been touring his brains out, surrounded by loud noise in clubs night after night for years (The Catholics were friggin' touring machines), and now he wants to get mellow, even whisper sometimes, and write about his life.
And Tiven's production is beautiful. He acted like a silly goose on the forum here at the time, but his work holds up. It's so cozy and twinkly. I don't know whose idea it was (or whether it was a conscious idea at all), but I like how the "country" influence of so much of Frank's then-recent work sort of falls off and is replaced with jazz. FAST MAN RAIDER MAN is subtly jazzy.
Then there's BLUEFINGER, which is such a fascinatingly WEIRD album. What's weird about it is that the subject matter is so bleak, but the band sound like they're having fun. You can imagine them joking and laughing between takes. Every song on that album has a real life tragedy hanging over it (and Frank/Francis is 100% aware of that), but the mood is weirdly fun and silly. Which, to me, is very touching.
I'm now working my way up to giving "serious" listens to the later stuff, but I do find good things about all of it. I think each album has some great songs on it.
Frank's made some changes and that means he's gonna lose people, but I don't think he's "lost his way" at all. |
| gotmeamovie |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 00:10:04
took a six month break from frank
discoverd new bands anf songwriters, maybe have slightly questioned where he ranks
put in show me your tears. remember just why he is still my all time fav songwriter. no one can touch him
sometimes you might just need a break, he has so much stuff out, its easy to get lost in the wash
"I could take a walk and really wonder, really wonder" |
| coastline |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 09:59:01
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Knight
I've been listening to Bluefinger alot lately
Same here. And it sounds as fresh today as it did when it came out. I like the raw, rushed quality to that album. |
| Chris Knight |
Posted - 04/19/2012 : 20:57:52
I've been listening to Bluefinger alot lately...it's a pretty solid album. I do think they were channeling the Pixies a bit, with the high energy perfomance, prominent Violet vox (and Lovering-esque vocal on "Lolita"), and lots of love/lust lyrics. It's quite a youthful album for Frank to make 20 years into his career.
I remember seeing Frank play some of these songs in Eugene with the album's rhythm section and not being particularly impressed with the musicians, but I think I underrated them a bit. Overall they do an impressive job, especially the drummer. |
| vilainde |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 04:07:01
Denis
Obsidiana Bijoux |
| darwin |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 03:23:57
Good point. I have none of those last 4 albums listed (except I do have Golem). |
| vilainde |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 20:45:38
Do you have these records, darwin?
Denis
Obsidiana Bijoux |
| darwin |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 16:14:25
Cool, welcome back to fold. |
| Jason |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 07:01:36
I fell out a bit when the Pixies reunion kept going on and on and Frank wasn't touring with his new music much (or at all) anymore. I think I saw Frank at least once every year from 1998 to 2004 (and saw him perform new songs at each show) and I missed that.
I don't hold it against him. The guy's got a house full of kids to take care of now. I lost track and that was my problem.
But over the past few months, I've gotten the urge to catch up. One day I went to Amazon and I ordered everything I missed (2009 on up), with the exception of The Golem (gonna wait for the vinyl). And you know what? IT'S GOOD. I like all of it. I like Grand Duchy, Abbabubba, Nonstoperotik, and the Reid Paley album.
So, I'm back in. |
| MissMaceo |
Posted - 03/04/2012 : 22:38:03
I think he's just having some fun making music with his wife.
right? |
| johnnyribcage |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 17:18:30
quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
quote:
Originally posted by johnnyribcage
quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
Wait til you hear it on vinyl!
Denis
Obsidiana Bijoux
Wait - hear what on vinyl? The golem?
April 17th!
https://www.facebook.com/bureaurecords/posts/226013070820863
Denis
Obsidiana Bijoux
Oh my. Party time.
Ayerigvlagabriga-Raraaaargh!-Rumbahl-Jumbahl! |
| vilainde |
Posted - 02/28/2012 : 21:14:07
quote:
Originally posted by johnnyribcage
quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
Wait til you hear it on vinyl!
Denis
Obsidiana Bijoux
Wait - hear what on vinyl? The golem?
April 17th!
https://www.facebook.com/bureaurecords/posts/226013070820863
Denis
Obsidiana Bijoux |
| johnnyribcage |
Posted - 02/28/2012 : 19:22:04
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Knight
Went out and bought Honeycomb and Bluefinger...doin some "catching up".
You picked his two best post-catholics albums to check out. Both are top notch FB IMO, though I've recently had some odd arguments on these boards regarding Honeycomb. Not sure why.
So what do you think?
Ayerigvlagabriga-Raraaaargh!-Rumbahl-Jumbahl! |
| johnnyribcage |
Posted - 02/28/2012 : 19:19:08
quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
Wait til you hear it on vinyl!
Denis
Obsidiana Bijoux
Wait - hear what on vinyl? The golem?
Ayerigvlagabriga-Raraaaargh!-Rumbahl-Jumbahl! |
| MissMaceo |
Posted - 02/28/2012 : 14:39:11
Bluefinger is one of my favorite albums he's been involved in.
I still maintain it was the material for the album the Pixies were meant to release post reunion until it became clear that wasn't going to happen. |
| Chris Knight |
Posted - 02/27/2012 : 00:32:39
Went out and bought Honeycomb and Bluefinger...doin some "catching up". |
| MissMaceo |
Posted - 02/26/2012 : 00:15:36
what an interesting read this thread was
the tone of the posts here has changed since I was here last, maybe two years ago
I am still trying to find something I love in the new single I just heard yesterday |
| darwin |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 08:10:39
Looking forward to hearing the Pixies play it. |
| vilainde |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 05:35:21
Wait til you hear it on vinyl!
Denis
Obsidiana Bijoux |
| darwin |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 05:24:41
Listening to Golem. Any talk of him losing his way is misguided. |
| fbc |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 04:07:31
It's a bonus track, Kelly. I think it's available on itunes. I found it in my inbox :) |
| kfs |
Posted - 01/20/2012 : 12:17:21
quote:
Originally posted by fbc
Yesterday was the first time I've played it since I don't know when.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mLi2lwLzao = Rocket USA
Just listen to that riff bF plays around 40 seconds in. How rhythm sections keep up with him at times is beyond me. The adrenaline rush the song creates when played is awesome.
I LIKE this! I never really got into NONSTOPEROTIK but I'm ready to go give it another try. Is 'Rocket USA' a hidden track? Available on itunes? |
| Chris Knight |
Posted - 01/06/2012 : 21:48:07
Read the thread title as "has Frank Black lost weight?" (totally joking)
I haven't much kept up with Charles' work since "Show Me Your Tears". In fact, I've been to like two solo concerts since the Catholics parted ways, even accidentally missing a free show in Eugene. I think part of it is that Charles was sort of my "Beatles" for a long time, but being almost 33, I grew out of that kind of fanaticism. I suppose it's the same for a number of fans. I also hadn't gone to a concert in like 2 years, until Shellac came back to Oregon recently.
My guess is you could just as easily ask the fans if we've lost our way. We're gettin old, man. |
| pot |
Posted - 01/06/2012 : 16:31:04
lol |
| BLT |
Posted - 01/06/2012 : 11:34:17
Humor is such a waste of time. |
| darwin |
Posted - 01/06/2012 : 07:26:12
The forum needs all of the traffic it can get. |
| Mac E. Doobage |
Posted - 01/06/2012 : 07:18:55
An unnecessary one indeed.
|
| darwin |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 12:11:54
It was a joke. |
| Mac E. Doobage |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 10:12:07
I wasn't referring to that. He could also be considered the Francois Truffaut or Fassbinder of R & R...
quote:
Originally posted by darwin
quote:
Originally posted by Mac E. Doobage
He's the Orson Welles of Rock n Roll.
I think Frank's weight should be off limits on this board.
|
| darwin |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 07:41:45
quote:
Originally posted by Mac E. Doobage
He's the Orson Welles of Rock n Roll.
I think Frank's weight should be off limits on this board. |
| DruggedBunny |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 01:16:58
He certainly is. |
| DruggedBunny |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 01:16:28
He certainly is. |
| Mac E. Doobage |
Posted - 01/04/2012 : 17:11:15
He's the Orson Welles of Rock n Roll. |
