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eldorado
- FB Fan -

30 Posts

Posted - 06/03/2003 :  08:06:05  Show Profile
Anybody want to discuss how this is one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time?

Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-

USA
5155 Posts

Posted - 06/03/2003 :  08:25:49  Show Profile  Visit Broken Face's Homepage
agreed - i've been on a big brown kick and its been consuming my stereo. even my girlfriend likes it!

-brian
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PsychicTwin
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1772 Posts

Posted - 06/03/2003 :  12:38:39  Show Profile  Visit PsychicTwin's Homepage
It rules. Rules rules rules rules.
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1602 Posts

Posted - 06/03/2003 :  12:57:53  Show Profile  Visit the swimmer's Homepage
quote:
Originally posted by PsychicTwin

It rules. Rules rules rules rules.



I concur. I agree as well.

Dog Gone - The Song that made me see the light of the "new" FB.

SOLID GOLD - AWESOME SONG, AWESOME

"Winter blows through my coat"

the what four http://www.mp3.com/phelan

Edited by - the swimmer on 06/03/2003 12:58:36
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frank_black_francis
= Cult of Ray =

Canada
895 Posts

Posted - 06/03/2003 :  17:29:06  Show Profile  Visit frank_black_francis's Homepage
funny how it was bashed by critics.....every dang song on that mofo kicks ass....holy shit....i'm gonna go listen to it now!
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =

USA
891 Posts

Posted - 06/03/2003 :  18:12:39  Show Profile
Hey, I don't recal it being bashed by critics, every review I read of it claimed it was one of his best solo albums.
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =

USA
2677 Posts

Posted - 06/03/2003 :  19:29:04  Show Profile  Visit mereubu's Homepage
Oh man, that's one fine album. Definitely my "most listened to" one besides TOTY. I think I mentioned this in the "when did you first discover Pixies" thread, but that album yanked me out of a prolonged (18 months!) postpartum/slump/depression thingy on the very first listen. It just sounded so good, it was like yanking up a set of blinds. Ping! All better! Saved by rock n roll!
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -

USA
2953 Posts

Posted - 06/03/2003 :  20:12:28  Show Profile
This album is a 5 star album. I know there are people on this forum who don't think of it as highly though. I want to know their reasons, because... man this album rocks.

-Derek

Edited by - ProverbialCereal on 06/03/2003 20:13:18
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vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Niue
7441 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  01:21:12  Show Profile  Visit vilainde's Homepage
It's my fave FB album too.


Denis
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PsychicTwin
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1772 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  09:50:33  Show Profile  Visit PsychicTwin's Homepage
its just so fucking raw and just straight up. That's what I love about it...every song is a winner. Its the kind of album I just love to throw on and listen to all the way through, at ear-bleeding volume, in my car...

King and Queen of Siam is one of the most brilliant, rocking songs ever written.
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Jerk on Perks
- FB Fan -

Canada
28 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  10:21:15  Show Profile
Ya, I don't know. Sorry to disagree and maybe I should just keep out of this, but it was definitely my least favorite album. I do remember hearing the same thing that I have heard critics say about every FB & the C's album, that it was the closest thing to the Pixies that Frank has done. I don't necessarily agree with that. That album and Pistolero almost got me to stop listening to Frank Black. I think though, that it was just the fact that that sound came out of nowhere. You can see how TOTY came out of FB*FB, and although it was quite different, COR did flow pretty naturally out of those two albums. But then the self titled Frank Black and the Catholics came out, and there was nothing there to say to me, 'this is Frank Black.' Pistolero offered more of the same. I think that his albums got a little out of order because I see Devil's workshop as the album that should have come after COR, and then go backward until you get to the self titled FB & the C's. It would have made more sense to me, and I think that if it had happened that way I would be a bigger fan of the album we are talking about here. Just my two cents. Don't mean to start anything.
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Perhaps
- FB Fan -

133 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  11:39:48  Show Profile
I knew the first time I put it in the player that is was going to be stellar. I thought maybe I bumped the volume by accident, then realized the music was just beaming from two channels straight at me. A nod for King and Queen of Siam.
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Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =

USA
899 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  11:56:50  Show Profile  Visit Chris Knight's Homepage
On a scale of one to ten, probably an 8.9. It's a visceral album, to be sure. AllMusic rates it as low as Cult Of Ray, which is utterly ridiculous. Also, Pistolero is tied with TotY as my fav FB record.
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PsychicTwin
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1772 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  14:24:03  Show Profile  Visit PsychicTwin's Homepage
quote:
Originally posted by Jerk on Perks

Don't mean to start anything.



Its a LITTLE TOO LATE for that, buddy!
Nah, just kidding...to each his own

I think that both Pistolero and FB&C self-titled are stellar records...then again, I like my rock nice and hard.
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PsychicTwin
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1772 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  14:53:39  Show Profile  Visit PsychicTwin's Homepage
Umm..ok, I just went to the AllMusic site and put "Frank Black" in the search thing. this was one of the results that came up....

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS70305160117&sql=Bazdkylo3xpzb

ummm...wow. never knew that Frank was actually born in the 19th century!
What the hell is the meaning of this? and why is Dog in the Sand cross-referenced???
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =

USA
653 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  15:44:30  Show Profile
quote:
Originally posted by eldorado

Anybody want to discuss how this is one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time?



As a diehard Pixies and Frank Black acolyte, I had followed with great interest the story of this album being stuck in record company limbo. The more I wondered what it would sound like, the more worried I became that I would build it up in my mind so much that the eventual reality could never meet my expectations.

When I saw a small listing in Goldmine magazine for the pre-release 7-inch of "All My Ghosts" b/w "Solid Gold", I rushed off my money order to England.

The moment I put the single on my turntable and heard the opening wallop of "All My Ghosts," I was speechless. That had to be one of the most exhilarating rushes I've gotten from a record in my entire life. The power and the authority with which that particular lineup imbues that particular track (and the nice analog warmth of the 45 RPM black vinyl) blew my mind much as my first brush with the Pixies debut had a decade earlier.

Then, to flip it over and get "Solid Gold?" Well, that was an even bigger surprise. A B-side that was every bit the equal of the A.

That's one of the most underrated songs in Frank's canon. The skewed lyrical perspective and the bit about being glad the foe couldn't hear his nervous laughter is wonderful rock poetry.

A few weeks later I got the limited-edition import which included the bonus CD-5 (with "Humboldt County Massacre" - the solo Frank equivalent of "Weird At My School" - and Dylan's "Changing of The Guards"), and was able to digest the whole thing in one sitting.

It left me giddy with delight.

A while earlier, a band that I had put a great deal of hard work (and several years of my life) into had disintegrated amidst record company bullshit, legal woes, contractual disputes and general ugliness. I was so burned out that I had essentially given up on writing and playing original music and was merely going through the motions in a mediocre cover band to keep my chops up and help with the rent.

That Catholics record did more to excite and inspire me to return to my art than anything else. The power and the vitality of those songs (every one of them), and the empowering notion of the conditions they were recorded and subsequently released under, motivated me to get off my ass and start taking rock music seriously again - regardless of where it might or might not lead me.

I find myself coming back to that album time and time again (as well as Pistolero, which seems unduly dismissed as well). It's one of his best - if only because it's the sound of a handful of international badasses playing their hearts out in a wodden room, with little care in the world besides making as good a representation as possible of what they do onstage on a great night.

The guitar tone, the vocal presence, the toms... they're all great.

Sorry to get all gushy, but god fucking damn that's a beautiful record. I'm so glad it's around.

~ Peter Radiator

"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder
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PsychicTwin
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1772 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  16:17:37  Show Profile  Visit PsychicTwin's Homepage
peter-

damn, man. fucking poetry. never thought someone else's words could echo my sentiments so vividly.

Edited by - PsychicTwin on 06/04/2003 16:18:27
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =

USA
4020 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  18:00:48  Show Profile  Visit El Barto's Homepage
FB&TC was my first Frank Black solo album...seeing as I missed the entire transition from Trompe Le Monde all the way to that album, I was a little shocked. It was very different from what I was used to...still different from any band I was interested in at the time, much like the Pixies were. After two listens I started picking up the groove of several of the most groovin songs, like Six-Sixty-Six, Back to Rome, King and Queen of Siam, and I soon began to enjoy the album. The Man Who Was Too Loud reminded me a lot of Sonic Youth, the way the guitar strumming goes. It's not my favorite album, but I don't hate it. My enjoyment of it is just overshadowed by my love for the other albums.
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frank_black_francis
= Cult of Ray =

Canada
895 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  18:52:36  Show Profile  Visit frank_black_francis's Homepage
coincidently, 'the man who was too loud' is on tour right now....i will be seeing that badboy next week.....sweet.
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Bohemoth
- FB Fan -

USA
246 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  21:12:09  Show Profile
yes I remember the first time I hear the album And that intro to all my ghost along with the green acres thing. having a freind jokingliy play green acres for years. then that Intro It was one of those truly exzillerating moments in hearing music Eargasmic
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =

Canada
11687 Posts

Posted - 06/04/2003 :  21:40:37  Show Profile  Visit Cult_Of_Frank's Homepage
Well, someone's got to weigh in on the negative side, but it's not going to be me. I love the album as I love all Frank's albums, which is to say they're all amazing. Compared to many other albums, they are ALL 5-star in my books.

However, relative to FB's own works, I'd have to say that the brown album is my least favourite. I am a big fan of diversity and mixing up the sound, and I think this is the most one-dimensional (in terms of variety) of his albums - all the songs have a very similar feel and tone. Contrast this with Teenager, and I think you'll see what I'm saying. I still love the songs, and The Man Who Was Too Loud was one of the first FB songs I attached to (aside from Freedom Rock, Los Angeles, and a bevy of other TOTY tracks). And, as has been pointed out, there's nothing wrong with starting playing the riff from Green Acres - and ending with "nah, better not".

As far as underrated songs go, I'd say that Solid Gold or Steak 'n' Sabre. Overrated? Definitely Six-sixty-six. I don't mind the album version, but God help me if I don't jump all over the skip button every time that droning chord / drum combo hits. Cool the first time and very VERY swiftly downhill. To the point of boredom, even live. And of course, of all the songs I've heard the 5 times I've seen him, the ONLY song I've heard each time.

It's hard to say things like that about FB and his work, but I figure I'm entitled to my favourites and opinions, even if I could never do/play anything remotely close to the worst of his songs.
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Jason
* Dog in the Sand *

1446 Posts

Posted - 06/05/2003 :  18:33:55  Show Profile
I like it the least, too.

I remember in 1997 when I read that Amerian wasn't releasing the album because it was (supposedly) too rough-sounding and demo-y, I got real excited thinking that it might be some sloppy, nasty garage-rock record. (I think the piece I read also mentioned that Frank had a "new band" called the Catholics so I didn't know it was the same band from Cult of Ray).

When it was released in Europe several months later I called every record store in my area who might carry an import copy. After about a month I finally found one (the first weekend of summer break from college, I remember), bought it, and felt let down. It was all mid-tempo "classic rock", which wasn't what I was into at the time. I didn't hear anything difficult or "rough" about it.

But it was Frank so I stuck with it, put it on a tape for car listening, and came to like it just fine. I even bought a second copy (vinyl) when Spinart put it out. I can sing along with every song. But I think each album since then has been better.

Edited by - Jason on 06/05/2003 18:41:05
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Jason
* Dog in the Sand *

1446 Posts

Posted - 06/05/2003 :  18:46:22  Show Profile
quote:
Originally posted by Itchload

Hey, I don't recal it being bashed by critics, every review I read of it claimed it was one of his best solo albums.



The reviews were a little mixed. I think the British press were hard on it. And I remember a nasty review in Puncture.

Also I side with the Pistolero fans. To these ears, it's the Catholics album that just ROCKS the hardest. I love everything about that record.
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =

USA
891 Posts

Posted - 06/05/2003 :  20:17:35  Show Profile
I remember when I first bought it, it was on import. I had all the Frank/Pixies albums up until then, but FB and the C's was the first "anticipated" release. Cost 30 bucks. I went over my friends house and put it on. I agree with Jason, if this thing was too raw to be released, I was expecting something akin to Surfer Rosa. But instead I got midtempo garage rock. It just sounded way too normal. I thought the backing vocals were lame. The lyrics weren't like his usual lyrics. I was embarassed to have put it on. Very odd. Now I regard it as a specific era of Frank and I think it's a solid, enjoyable rock record, but not his best. 4 stars out of 5 though..and I listen to it regularly.
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Dallas
= Cult of Ray =

USA
725 Posts

Posted - 06/06/2003 :  11:57:41  Show Profile
I love this CD and go back to it constantly.

Love the alpha listing of the tracks. The turn the album makes at Solid Gold, Steak N Sabre, and Suffering is rock music at its best. It just rocks. The drum parts on those songs blow me away. Did I mention that they rock? When I hear those 3 songs in order, I cannot be convinced that there is a better rock band in the world. period.
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1602 Posts

Posted - 06/06/2003 :  13:36:19  Show Profile  Visit the swimmer's Homepage
quote:
Originally posted by Dallas

I love this CD and go back to it constantly.

Love the alpha listing of the tracks. The turn the album makes at Solid Gold, Steak N Sabre, and Suffering is rock music at its best. It just rocks. The drum parts on those songs blow me away. Did I mention that they rock? When I hear those 3 songs in order, I cannot be convinced that there is a better rock band in the world. period.



I've Been Suffering....the greatest ending of a rock song ever.

Not really but damn it's good.
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1938 Posts

Posted - 06/06/2003 :  19:52:42  Show Profile
I LOVE this album. It's hard to say if it's his best ever, compared to DITS and BLD, but it definitely ranks at the top. Every song on this album is amazing. My favorite song on the album is definitely Solid Gold. That song is absolutely beautiful, but so is every song on the album
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bazza
* Dog in the Sand *

Ireland
1439 Posts

Posted - 06/07/2003 :  04:32:33  Show Profile
what i love most about this album is that it shows what a truly excellent guitarist lyle workman is. fantastic stuff.
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stymie
= Cult of Ray =

385 Posts

Posted - 06/10/2003 :  23:32:31  Show Profile  Visit stymie's Homepage
It's been in rotation in my car cd for weeks! Best album!
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6182 Posts

Posted - 06/11/2003 :  04:23:55  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address
wait a minute, a Frank solo weird at my school?

tell me more about that
no really
tell me more about that

with or without the catholics?


''it's not a box, it's a submarine''
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gracie
= Cult of Ray =

United Kingdom
573 Posts

Posted - 06/11/2003 :  10:38:28  Show Profile
it one of my favourite fb albums, after frank black,dog in the sand and teenager. solid gold is one of best songs fb has ever written. stake n sabre is really good too.
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =

USA
653 Posts

Posted - 06/11/2003 :  11:40:12  Show Profile
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman

wait a minute, a Frank solo weird at my school?

tell me more about that
no really
tell me more about that

with or without the catholics?


''it's not a box, it's a submarine''



I think you misunderstood my post. I was only likening "Humbolt County Massacre" to the Pixies b-side "Weird At My School."

To me, they're very similar songs, in terms of approach, execution and demeanor. That's all.

Sorry to get you so stoked...

~ Peter Radiator

"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6182 Posts

Posted - 06/12/2003 :  02:15:16  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address
They do sound like eachother

After reading your post again
I do have that bonus disc with that tracks on it

Stupid me I must have been really tired when I read your post



''it's not a box, it's a submarine''
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paintmeister
= Cult of Ray =

USA
347 Posts

Posted - 06/12/2003 :  19:49:09  Show Profile
This is the album I am listening to the most these days. It is the most recent one I have bought though, too. I'm trying not to wear it out. At first, I didn't think it was that great but as usual, after a few listens, it sounds fantastic. It now ranks up there with BLD, TOTY, and DITS, and.... I still need to get Oddball and it will probably rank as well.
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
2002 Posts

Posted - 06/12/2003 :  21:55:59  Show Profile
FB&TC's FB&TC is about as raw and powerful as the big bald guy has ever gotten. Big guitars, big drums, big bass...all live and no special effects...I love it. From ALL MY GHOSTS to I NEED PEACE to SOLID GOLD to SUFFERING to DOG GONE, this album I think may be my favorite...and I HATE declaring favorites! Just the same, I never claim to have a favorite PIXIES album, but I have a weakness for the treasure that is TROMPE LE MONDE. Best line on FB&TC?

'fourthly youre suspect-thirdly you dont get-secondly you've got no respect-finally you're not the first'

What a ballsy guy the C. Thompson is!
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =

USA
4020 Posts

Posted - 06/14/2003 :  21:54:56  Show Profile  Visit El Barto's Homepage
I listened to FB&TC self titled twice in two days to rediscover it, and it's excellent! There's so many good songs on it. Definitely not an album to forget.
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