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Spin mag's Honeycomb review

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[quote][i]Originally posted by kathryn[/i]
[br]http://www.spinmag.com/reviews/magazine/2005/07/050828_frank_black/

July 28, 2005
[b]Marriage. Babies. Botanical metaphors. Pixies frontman grows up.[/b]

No man should have to scream forever. Except maybe Charles "Frank Black" Thompson, who could make a comfortable living doing nothing but spazzing out with his reconstituted Pixies on the nostalgia circuit. Admirably, though, he keeps trying to redefine his solo work. The tinkering began with last year's Frank Black Francis -- a tolerable if somewhat pointless reimagining of Pixies classics -- and takes a wide left turn with Honeycomb.

Like Bob Dylan before him, Thompson traveled to Nashville to reinvent himself. He gives his throat a break on this subdued little disc, possibly a measure of deference to the heavyweight studio cats -- Stax's Steve Cropper, Muscle Shoals' Spooner Oldham and David Hood -- who flat-out nail every one of his brooding melodies. Or maybe he's coming to grips with passing the big four-oh and becoming a dad. Either way, the unlikely collaboration produces a languid indie-rock/Southern-soul hybrid that's not completely jarring, though it does flirt with the blahs at times.

More intriguing is Thompson's newfound emotional availability. Yeah, he sings about mermaids and hammers out some of the perverted religious imagery he could write in his sleep, but "My Life Is in Storage" is a touching account of moving into a new place after his first marriage disintegrates, unpacking "leashes for my hounds" and "speakers for my sounds." "Strange Goodbye" is just that, a slightly creepy duet with ex-wife Jean that contrasts nicely with a later portrait of new wife Violet, in an eponymous song that salutes her as a "flower of fertility." (Thanks, honey.)

There's some irony in the fact that by abandoning music that prizes honesty and emotion for square adult-contemporary rock that rewards showmanship and polish, indie forefather Thompson has finally hit on something that gives his solo career a pulse. Alternately goofy, sweet, and weird, Honeycomb's a fine welcome to Charles Thompson, adult. Nice to see you, big man.

[hr][i]Sometimes, no matter how shitty things get, you have to just do a little dance. - Frank[/i] [hr]
[/quote]

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T O P I C R E V I E W
kathryn	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 07:27:48 http://www.spinmag.com/reviews/magazine/2005/07/050828_frank_black/ July 28, 2005 Marriage. Babies. Botanical metaphors. Pixies frontman grows up. No man should have to scream forever. Except maybe Charles "Frank Black" Thompson, who could make a comfortable living doing nothing but spazzing out with his reconstituted Pixies on the nostalgia circuit. Admirably, though, he keeps trying to redefine his solo work. The tinkering began with last year's Frank Black Francis -- a tolerable if somewhat pointless reimagining of Pixies classics -- and takes a wide left turn with Honeycomb. Like Bob Dylan before him, Thompson traveled to Nashville to reinvent himself. He gives his throat a break on this subdued little disc, possibly a measure of deference to the heavyweight studio cats -- Stax's Steve Cropper, Muscle Shoals' Spooner Oldham and David Hood -- who flat-out nail every one of his brooding melodies. Or maybe he's coming to grips with passing the big four-oh and becoming a dad. Either way, the unlikely collaboration produces a languid indie-rock/Southern-soul hybrid that's not completely jarring, though it does flirt with the blahs at times. More intriguing is Thompson's newfound emotional availability. Yeah, he sings about mermaids and hammers out some of the perverted religious imagery he could write in his sleep, but "My Life Is in Storage" is a touching account of moving into a new place after his first marriage disintegrates, unpacking "leashes for my hounds" and "speakers for my sounds." "Strange Goodbye" is just that, a slightly creepy duet with ex-wife Jean that contrasts nicely with a later portrait of new wife Violet, in an eponymous song that salutes her as a "flower of fertility." (Thanks, honey.) There's some irony in the fact that by abandoning music that prizes honesty and emotion for square adult-contemporary rock that rewards showmanship and polish, indie forefather Thompson has finally hit on something that gives his solo career a pulse. Alternately goofy, sweet, and weird, Honeycomb's a fine welcome to Charles Thompson, adult. Nice to see you, big man. Sometimes, no matter how shitty things get, you have to just do a little dance. - Frank
8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
fbc	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 16:59:37 Yeah, i did get the impression they liked honeycomb. If this is the start of Charles Thompson adult, i can't wait for the future. Ooh, just think of the songs that have yet to be written..............W'oh! headache. easier said than done.
Daisy Girl	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 16:48:06 I think the sentiment of the review was good... and i am guessing the writer wanted it to be favorable. I just got this weird mental pix while reading the first paragraph though. it was of fb you know that one pic of him in a flannel shirt... head and arms thrown back in a scream. (sunglasses too, I think) oh well we heart honeycomb!! "I ain't goin to be what I ain't"
fbc	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 14:03:51 He/she must be talking about FB self titled. Czar and Ten percenter are really songs of unrequited love. There's nothing more honest and emotional than calling your ex a Jerk!
Jason	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 13:59:23 quote: There's some irony in the fact that by abandoning music that prizes honesty and emotion for square adult-contemporary rock that rewards showmanship and polish... Also, what could that possibly mean? What was the music (now abandoned by Frank) that "prizes honesty and emotion"?
fbc	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 13:58:26 Do you really thing Frank went to Nashville to "reinvent" himself, or just to record a record? FBF was worth every penny for Disc 1. BF's acoustic brilliance. Disc 2 was just a bonus, if you like that kinda thing "There's some irony in the fact that by abandoning music that prizes honesty and emotion for square adult-contemporary rock that rewards showmanship and polish, indie forefather Thompson has finally hit on something that gives his solo career a pulse" did i read this wrong? I think HC has tonnes of honesty and emotion. yeah fool, I read it wrong
The Marsist	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 13:13:46 lol "To be known as an underdog - that can only be a good thing. It's better than sucking." - Frank Black
Chip Away Boy	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 13:00:30 I think that last paragraph is........stupid. Welcome to adulthood charles!!!
Carl	Posted - 08/08/2005 : 07:54:52 That's an interesting review.

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