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 PIANO................ on the pixies? (Surfer Rosa)

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T O P I C    R E V I E W
Kirk Posted - 05/13/2005 : 20:22:22
Okay...so I'm just noticing some acoustic piano on Surfer Rosa. The eighth notes on "Gigantic" and a possible key slide on "Broken Face," specifically.

My question: Who plays the piano on the records? Is Frank Black multi-talented, playing the piano also? Is he the one playing that cool ending on "Motorway to Roswell?"





..-. .-. .- -. -.- -... .-.. .- -.-. -.-

rock over london, rock on chicago
Why the Hell would you use the color 'beige' for your text?
35   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
onehappyprick Posted - 06/11/2005 : 11:20:31
I think I keep making out the work "Ray", every so often in this. Could this be Ray Bradbury?

I said "I wanna be a singer like Lou Reed"
"I like Lou Reed" she said sticking her tongue in my ear
Kirk Posted - 05/23/2005 : 18:31:00
welcome, fluoxetine!
fluoxetine Posted - 05/23/2005 : 07:41:15
quote:
Originally posted by Kirk

Finding satan in pixies... Okay, I wasn't really, but I've been listening to backward versions of the pixies. (take the mp3, process it backwards)

Here's a few seconds of Where is my mind?
http://www.bagleytree.com/mp3/seixip%20eht%20-%20WIMM.mp3

Sounds like the modern rip-offs of the pixies. All you really have to do is take the Pixies guitar tabs, reverse the whole song, and sing some lame melody about how great life is. Weezer, the Toadies, Nirvana, and Green day all seem to do this.


..-. .-. .- -. -.- -... .-.. .- -.-. -.-

rock over london, rock on chicago
Why the Hell would you use the color 'beige' for your text?



Long time reader, first time poster :) Did anyone notice that, about halfway through that clip, Charles seems to sing "Spark up a pipe"?

On the subject of piano, I've never heard any on Broken Face... might have to give it a closer listen. However, I can say pretty confidently that there is no piano on Gigantic- that high G is Joey playing octaves that turn into a sort of simple counter-melody in the last minute.

All that time spent listening to 'Death to the Pixies' when I should have been doing my Standard Grade English work has finally hit paydirt!

--------------------

Special favours come in 31 flavours
We're out of mints, pass the life-savers
charlesthompson Posted - 05/22/2005 : 12:16:54
talking about piano...(although im a bit in the past) "the thing" on complete b-sides in piano chords the whole way through..excedingly simple but i think it sounds great...
Carl Posted - 05/20/2005 : 19:26:58
Oh yeah, someone posted that pic before.

On the subject of composing on diffent instruments....

"I started to write here, before I went on the road. On ukelele, actually. I've been graduating to writing on four-string instruments the last few years. And I didn't do it in private, or say, "OK, guys, I'm going up to my music room now to do my thing." I just hung around the house while everyone was running around me -- you know, chaos, with me just kind of sitting there with my ukelele."
Kirk Posted - 05/20/2005 : 12:12:39
Frank playing a fretless acoustic bass.. now my favorite picture
fbc Posted - 05/20/2005 : 08:14:20
they're real: http://gapd.com/MusicPhotosAC/FrankBlack.html
Carl Posted - 05/20/2005 : 07:30:39
Great pics!! Are those for real, or mock-ups? Either way, pretty cool!! :)
fbc Posted - 05/20/2005 : 06:44:56

"they tried to give me advice, down at the record shop"
fbc Posted - 05/20/2005 : 06:18:38
Well i know this is how Freedom Rock was composed



wha' the fuck! who's nicked me pics?!
Carl Posted - 05/20/2005 : 05:22:39
quote:
Originally posted by fbc

quote:
Originally posted by Carl

He said on MTV once that he also composes with harmonica!



bullshit!



I would'nt be surprized if he does mess around with a harmonica and other instruments at home, though!!
hWolsky Posted - 05/20/2005 : 00:59:47
à la wanna be your dog...

Don't forget to bring a towel.
Kirk Posted - 05/19/2005 : 20:15:07
quote:
Originally posted by ElevatorLady

Oh my, that really does sound like a piano there. Isn't life just full of surprises.



You were always the funny-one in the family...

..-. .-. .- -. -.- -... .-.. .- -.-. -.-
ElevatorLady Posted - 05/18/2005 : 15:27:36
Oh my, that really does sound like a piano there. Isn't life just full of surprises.
fbc Posted - 05/18/2005 : 02:44:48
quote:
Originally posted by Carl

He said on MTV once that he also composes with harmonica!



bullshit!
Carl Posted - 05/17/2005 : 17:44:10
He said on MTV once that he also composes with harmonica!
fbc Posted - 05/17/2005 : 16:01:48
I remember reading something years back about FB writing songs on the ol' ivories, but I don't know if it was regarding TOTY.
The piano/synth version of calistan has me thinking it's probably true in some cases.
floop Posted - 05/17/2005 : 13:12:17
quote:
Originally posted by TRANSMARINE

I read somewhere...can't recall...(maybe last year's SPIN?) that Frank writes his songs first on piano and then transfers to guitar at which he is more adept.



i've never heard that.. not saying you're wrong, but i always pictured him sitting down with his guitar and writing songs.

or, writing in his head, then picking up the guitar...




I guess floop WAS right!
TRANSMARINE Posted - 05/17/2005 : 10:35:35
I read somewhere...can't recall...(maybe last year's SPIN?) that Frank writes his songs first on piano and then transfers to guitar at which he is more adept.

Also, I've too noticed what sounds almost definately like a piano in Gigantic. If it is, which could be as Albini went nuts with the percussion angle on that album (piano is percussion), I'm guessing it is probably Kim. She has been known to tinker with the keys.

Why I'm guessing this I have no idea.

Catchin' blue in his eyes that were brown

-bRIAN
floop Posted - 05/16/2005 : 19:40:49
if that is piano (i need some headphones) i'm guessing it wouldn't be EDF. i don't think they even knew each other then..




I guess floop WAS right!
Carl Posted - 05/16/2005 : 18:46:31
Looks like he picked the right instrument!
number 13 Posted - 05/16/2005 : 04:00:52
Frank Black started with the drums before learning guitar. He chooses this one because it is the perfect rock symbol.
brock_disaster Posted - 05/16/2005 : 00:35:56
quote:
Originally posted by Kirk

Finding satan in pixies... Okay, I wasn't really, but I've been listening to backward versions of the pixies. (take the mp3, process it backwards)

Here's a few seconds of Where is my mind?
http://www.bagleytree.com/mp3/seixip%20eht%20-%20WIMM.mp3

Sounds like the modern rip-offs of the pixies. All you really have to do is take the Pixies guitar tabs, reverse the whole song, and sing some lame melody about how great life is. Weezer, the Toadies, Nirvana, and Green day all seem to do this.


..-. .-. .- -. -.- -... .-.. .- -.-. -.-

rock over london, rock on chicago
Why the Hell would you use the color 'beige' for your text?



the song 'jenny' by stellastar* sounds a lot like that
Carl Posted - 05/15/2005 : 20:21:42
When he first started learning guitar, I believe he also practiced bass, drums and piano too.
Ziggy Posted - 05/15/2005 : 10:13:10
So, the Man knows how to play piano, eh?
Carl Posted - 05/14/2005 : 14:39:12
There's a whole new song right there!
Kirk Posted - 05/14/2005 : 13:37:14
Finding satan in pixies... Okay, I wasn't really, but I've been listening to backward versions of the pixies. (take the mp3, process it backwards)

Here's a few seconds of Where is my mind?
http://www.bagleytree.com/mp3/seixip%20eht%20-%20WIMM.mp3

Sounds like the modern rip-offs of the pixies. All you really have to do is take the Pixies guitar tabs, reverse the whole song, and sing some lame melody about how great life is. Weezer, the Toadies, Nirvana, and Green day all seem to do this.


..-. .-. .- -. -.- -... .-.. .- -.-. -.-

rock over london, rock on chicago
Why the Hell would you use the color 'beige' for your text?
fbc Posted - 05/14/2005 : 13:16:36
Is anybody credited on Surfer Rosa for playing piano?
(wouldn't ask usually, but my records are miles away)
Carl Posted - 05/14/2005 : 13:08:15
I think I know what your talking about, but I imagine that's octave-style string slashes on the high strings. I hav'nt checked, I'll have to take another listen.
PixieSteve Posted - 05/14/2005 : 08:19:40
yeah, i can just about hear something too!


Oh let it linger
Kirk Posted - 05/14/2005 : 07:51:26
speaking of gigantic,

also at the 3:10 mark, I'm hearing a melodic guitar line in the left ear. It's so quiet, i'm just hearing it for the first time with head phones. You know how Gigantic "jams" for the last minute without anything newly introduced. I'm thinking there was actually a guitar melody in it's place.

I'm thinking there are additional layers to this music recorded during the session, but much of it is actually either turned down really, realy low or that specific track was turned off completely (but you can still hear it leaking through the drum mics)

It's not a conspiracy theory, but I believe what makes Surfer Rosa so great is the simplification. But in the studio, they recorded layers and layers, but decided to keep it simple by keeping volumes low on some parts.
Kirk Posted - 05/14/2005 : 07:40:42
Gigantic:

To me, it sounds like they fade-in a piano playing staccato notes at 2:43 until 3:43.
The notes: two high G's, separated by octaves.

But anything sounds like anything when behind a wall of distortion.
PixieSteve Posted - 05/14/2005 : 07:21:42
the supposed piano on gigantic, is this the bit during end chorus that's the same note over and over again? could be guitar...


Oh let it linger
fbc Posted - 05/14/2005 : 06:57:22
I read a few years back FB knows how to play the piano, but his ability I do not know. I wouldn't have thought it's to the same degree of brilliance as EDF, keyboard virtuoso.

And i've never heard any piano of sort on these Surfer songs, but
I need to listen hard.
Then listen again.
Will soon find out
number 13 Posted - 05/14/2005 : 06:32:06
Never heard a piano on these tracks. And it is Eric Drew Feldman playing keyboards on Motorway, as well as the other tracks. ;)

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