| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ten Percenter |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 06:19:39
The Guardian gives us the the first five out of five review! This is by Betty Clarke:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,,1528604,00.html
Just before the Pixies began their reunion tour in 2004, Frank Black holed up in Nashville, surrounded himself with legendary session musicians and recorded his first solo album for eight years. Guaranteed to confound those still wallowing in the glorious resurrection of the shrieking, screaming Black Francis, he's discovered a mellow maturity in Southern soul - and without losing his punk rock perversity or poetry.
Against a wash of guitars, simple harmonies and keyboards, his voice glides from bitter-sweet on Selkie Bride to shiver-inducing on Dark End of the Street, accompanied by songwriters Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham. Other covers, including the unlikely Song of the Shrimp from Elvis Presley's 1962 film Girls! Girls! Girls!, melt against Black's own songs without disturbing the warm, timeless mood. Strange Goodbye, for instance, a duet sung with Black's ex-wife, Jean, is a poignant snapshot of marital breakdown. But he sums up his stunning new direction best on Lone Child when he sings: "I'm not full of your hate, I'm full of my grace."
"Fried food, cigarettes, no exercise, chest pain..." (Excerpt from the Angina Monologues) |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Carl |
Posted - 07/23/2005 : 06:25:09
The Pixies legend will always overshadow him, however unfair that may seem. |
| VoVat |
Posted - 07/22/2005 : 17:17:17
Yeah, but reviewers are always comparing artists' current works with stuff they did years ago. Frank has done a lot more under his own name than he did with the Pixies, yet it's difficult to find a review that doesn't mention the Pixies.
I was all out of luck, like a duck that died. I was all out of juice, like a moose denied. |
| TRANSMARINE |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 08:15:19
It's funny how reviewers tend to mainly forget (only based upon the success of a reunion...not out of interest in one's evolving career) that in between his "shrieking, screaming Black Francis" phase there were nine albums that have shining hints every now and then that "he's discovered a mellow maturity in Southern soul" known as HONEYCOMB. I guess it takes a complete 180 degree turn to really prick up some ears. Anything in the middle of the road, the process of growing or seeking, really doesn't count.
I was alone...in my BIG BED
-bRIAN |
| Carl |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 07:38:58
Full marks, eh?! Nice!! :) |
| Llamadance |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 06:42:56
that's brilliant, hopefully some people will buy on the strength of the review alone.
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No power in the 'verse can stop me
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| kathryn |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 06:22:12
Holy moly, that is great news!
Sometimes, no matter how shitty things get, you have to just do a little dance. - Frank
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