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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
 Posted - 10/06/2002 : 00:57:23
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A review ffrom the Guardian by John Aizlewood: Frank is such a minor traveller compared to Guns 'N' Roses:
Releasing two albums of all-new material invariably smacks of highfalutin conceit. Even Bruce Springsteen and Guns 'N' Roses wobbled when they embraced such hubris, so a minor traveller such as erstwhile Pixies leader Frank Black is obviously destined to struggle. Bragging that both albums were recorded live merely emphasises Black's slapdash unwillingness to edit. The cliche that two flabby albums would make one trim one is certainly the case here. But for all its embarrassingly lazy bar stomps, Devil's Workshop also includes the gorgeous His Kingly Cave. Black Letter Day is more enticing, with two sterling versions of Tom Waits's The Black Rider. Elsewhere, it recasts Black as an energetic alt.country roustabout with a travelogue. I Will Run After You is a creepy break-up song and the clattering 21 Reasons gives the impression that Black has actually spent some time refining it. Time to think about taking the Pixies for another spin around the block.
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Edited by - El Barto on 03/23/2003 22:41:49 |
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SSMT
- FB Fan -
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2002 : 08:01:20
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I just think some people can't let go of what happened over ten years ago. It'd be one thing if the reviewer was stuck on, say, Teenager of the Year, because at least that's relevant, but constantly whining to hear more Pixies discredits the review.
John
Satan Stole My Teddybear
http://www.chedsey.com
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2002 : 14:19:40
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| You can tell a bad review from the start if they focus songwise mainly on the two versions of "black rider" because on first listen, those songs stand out the most. however, if the reviewer was to listen 10 times, he'd be tired of the black riders and be more interested in talking about the songs inbetween. I'll bet the only Pixies album that guy has ever heard is Doolittle, and the only songs he could name off the top of his head are "where is my mind" and "monkey gone to heaven" |
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vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Niue
7441 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2002 : 01:53:41
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I already posted parts of this review on the Abstract Plain, but here it is in its entirety: the worst review you'll ever read about Frank Black. It comes from some student newspaper at the University of Illinois. Any article you'll ever read after this one will look amazingly well-written and documented. Here we go:
<<Two words perfectly describe the last two Frank Black efforts: too much. Both Black Letter Days and Devil's Workshop could have been perfectly mediocre albums on their own, but their simultaneous release only goes to show that Frank Black has trouble separating his own wheat from the chaff.
Frank Black showed Pixies fans everywhere that he was somewhat lost as a songwriter without Kim Deal when he left the Pixies in favor of his own project, Frank Black and the Catholics.
Although he released a string of very mediocre records, his appearances on various soundtracks shone a few glimpses of greatness. He seemed to get a little closer to that tunefulness in his 2000 release, "Dog In the Sand" by drawing more on southwestern influences.
In both "Black Letter Days" and "Devil's Workshop," Frank Black completely overshot the balance he struck on "Dog In the Sand" and created meandering and lost-sounding music. Although the live studio recording production on both records sounds refreshing at first, it quickly becomes lifeless.
Out of the two albums, "Devil's Workshop" contains more bits of what Frank Black should be doing. Overall, however, both albums come across as if Frank Black just couldn't pick out a few good songs and craft one good album.
- Cary Weisgram>>
Denis |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2002 : 02:13:32
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"Two words perfectly describe the last two Frank Black efforts: too much."
God, what a writer. What insight. This budding Nick Kent should write messages on greetings cards |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2002 : 03:48:05
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what did kim deal really do? i mean seriously. the breeders are incredibly shitty compared to anything franks ever done. why do they always say he needed her, ill play bass for him, dont worry Cary.
-miked |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2002 : 07:34:19
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| Not too sure if this is allowed but that J. Aislewood sounds like a right c*nt. And that Cary guy is a buffoon as well as DITS was released in 2001. People who write reviews know f*ck all, and I agree most of Kim Deals stuff outside of the Pixies is pretty crud, even though the Breeders have a handful of cracking tunes, but only a handful compared to FB's truckful. |
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edward897
- FB Fan -
80 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2002 : 20:00:28
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Please give more more meandering and lost-sounding music. Isn't that what it's all about?
Ed |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2002 : 02:29:36
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| I hate it when people say that Kim Deal was the driving force behind the Pixies, when all in all she wrote maybe 5% of the songs, and probably was one of the contributing factors why Frank decided to split them up...... Music critics don't know shit... |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2002 : 11:51:56
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| According to Frank did she not write one-half of two songs? 5% is probably a bit high! I agree, Frank was obviously the driving force. It is like saying that Ringo was the genius behind the Beatles |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2002 : 14:08:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Ten Percenter
A review from the Guardian by John Aizlewood: Frank is such a minor traveller compared to Guns 'N' Roses:
"...Bragging that both albums were recorded live merely emphasises Black's slapdash unwillingness to edit..."
you know what pisses me off? when critics rip the quality of the recordings and state that frank black is cheap and lazy because he doesn't want to edit/refine songs. Yet, the White Stripes (whom i like) are getting all this media attention and praise, and they record live, without a bass, and probably don't overdub anything. You can hear a tape hiss. They probably record on a tascam 4track portastudio. I bet if the blind critics/music reviewers were told Frank Black records with overdubs and edits, they wouldn't say anything about the "poor quality" in their lame reviews. I believe the fact that they know he records live, makes their reviews biased from the start.
Derek |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2002 : 14:50:10
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yah, a "stripped down rock sound" is awesome with hip young bands, yet for the man whose been doing it for 10 years, its a sin
oh well
-miked |
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remig
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1734 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2002 : 03:47:04
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quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
Frank Black showed Pixies fans everywhere that he was somewhat lost as a songwriter without Kim Deal when he left the Pixies in favor of his own project, Frank Black and the Catholics.
- Cary Weisgram>>
AhahaihHohohhooo ?
That sould be sent to the Rock Critic University as an example.
"Possession of anything new or expensive only reflected a person's lack of theology and geometry" |
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holzgrafe
- FB Fan -
USA
75 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2002 : 09:44:09
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quote:
Originally posted by remig
quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
Frank Black showed Pixies fans everywhere that he was somewhat lost as a songwriter without Kim Deal when he left the Pixies in favor of his own project, Frank Black and the Catholics.
- Cary Weisgram>>
AhahaihHohohhooo?
That sould be sent to the Rock Critic University as an example.
Or to the Rock Critic Elementary School. - Mel |
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johndietzel
= Cult of Ray =
Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
464 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2002 : 00:49:41
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"and the clattering 21 Reasons"
Damn. Good thing the guy wasn't reviewing PanAm Highway. Not like it was some 45 minute Doors keyboard solo or something. So a song like Masters of War illustrates how lazy Bob Dylan was in his infinite youthfulness, or the Ballad of Hollis Brown.
And what's so frigging hilarious is that "21 Reasons" is such the opposite of an example of an unpolished, haphazardly conceived song. They've been playing and road-testing that gem for at least two years (I think: I know it could've been recorded for DitS or SSMVGD, had they chosen to do so). I haven't been carefully documenting its evolution, but even the chorus harmony has changed significantly.
"Plain n' simp--the system's a pimp, but I refuse to be a ho."
Chuck D |
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BrendanT
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
907 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2002 : 13:46:12
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What does the man do for a living? He is a singer/songwriter. He has just proven to his fans that he is hard-working and an admirer of ours. I thank him very much for putting out two albums for my enjoyment. Just as this critic must thank Michael Bolton everytime he puts out his noise! Imagine the ecstasy for this particular music critic if Mr. Bolton put out a triple header of music!?
Strummer-man
I had me a vision!
I bid a good-day to you sir! |
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2002 : 15:21:31
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| God these reviewers make me angry! These new records will survive the test of time, though. I just checked the review archives for Q Magazine and they originally gave TOTY 2 stars!! but then in a later review they refer to it as the classic it is. I think the problem is that Frank Black reviews aren't viewed as important and often get assigned to the intern reviewers. Most of the reviews I've seen for FB are barely 10 lines long. Just remember that Teenage Fanclub's Bandwagonesque beat out Nirvana's Nevermind for Spin's album of the year. Ten years later, Nevermind tops Spin's "Best 90 albums of the 90's" while Bandwagonesque is not even on the list. Not that Spin is that great (they're review of Cult of Ray was criminal) but it's a good example of changing perspectives. |
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Solidgld
- FB Fan -
USA
104 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2002 : 18:03:48
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I don't waste time with review's because they really never refect my opion.
"You Ain't Me" |
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Czar
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
321 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2002 : 18:29:36
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>the breeders are incredibly shitty compared to anything franks ever done.
Hmmm... this is somewhat harsh, don't you think? FB and The Breeders certainly have embraced different styles but the latter do have something FB kinda lacks at times... that is spontaneity and chaos. I have seen the Title TK tour and boy, it rocked much more that the FBatC show I just saw.
It's different. I like both. I do no agree with the "shitty" adjective.
My two pesos.
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KingOfSiam
- FB LinkMaster -
USA
460 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2002 : 10:13:36
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| As Frank has said in the past Critics are by definition Critical. This one is no different except for the fact that she may be a little easier to hang from a tree! |
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Johnny Yen
= Cult of Ray =
USA
408 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2002 : 09:03:55
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| The only critical review of Mr. Black's work i've read that I agree with is Camden Joy's "Greatest Record Album Ever Told." Anyone else read it? |
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tobymatt
- FB Fan -
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2002 : 13:58:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Atheist4Catholics
Just remember that Teenage Fanclub's Bandwagonesque beat out Nirvana's Nevermind for Spin's album of the year. Ten years later, Nevermind tops Spin's "Best 90 albums of the 90's" while Bandwagonesque is not even on the list. Not that Spin is that great
I don't know if I will get slammed for this but sometimes it is best to go with your first answer. For my money, 10 years later, Bandwagonesque is eminently more enjoyable then any work by Nirvana.
But I have to agree with the comment about Spin; really how do you have a 50 greatest rock bands list (out last Spring) without the Pixies when a bunch of the bands they picked have the Pixies listed as a major influence? Plus they list "bands" that are really one person (i.e. Springsteen, Hendrix). And really, for all the credit Nirvana might deserve are they really the 5th best band of all time? It seems like today rock critics just talk about bands like the Pixies, Velvet Underground, Husker Du, ect. just so you know they know who they are but in the end they by into the same marketing that most pop music fans eat up.
said my piece
Tim |
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holzgrafe
- FB Fan -
USA
75 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2002 : 16:03:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Johnny Yen
The only critical review of Mr. Black's work i've read that I agree with is Camden Joy's "Greatest Record Album Ever Told." Anyone else read it?
Yes, read it a few years back, and should read it again. Now there's a guy who loves Frank. - Mel |
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langdonboom
= Cult of Ray =
USA
260 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 14:34:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Johnny Yen
The only critical review of Mr. Black's work i've read that I agree with is Camden Joy's "Greatest Record Album Ever Told." Anyone else read it?
Yes, this thing is awesome, and everyone on here ought to check it out by sending $4 post-paid to:
PO BOX 14806
Portland, Oregon 97214, checks payable to "TransGraphic"
All Camden Joy's tracts are pretty cool (of course I'm partial to THE GREATEST RECORD ALBUM EVER TOLD, since I happen to agree completely!)
Alienation confers freedom. Obscurity will keep you pure. Pray that you won’t be discovered young, so that you won’t be tempted to sell out early, or won’t be seduced by celebrity.
--THE PATH OF THE ARTIST
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