|
ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
 Posted - 09/03/2003 : 09:55:33
|
Did this already get posted? I looked and didn't see it. Sorry if it did - feel free to delete.
Frank Black and the Catholics
Show Me Your Tears
BEN FRENCH | CO-DIRECTOR
I’m no Frank Black expert, but I know what I like. I like the sound of a band properly aping classic rock song structures, the vibe of an album recorded live, in the moment, and the scream of a grown man gone wild. Conveniently, Monsieur Noir and his merry band of papists meet all of the above prerequisites and then some on Show Me Your Tears, Frank’s sixth album with the Catholics and his fifth release this century.
Those of you wise enough to purchase this record should make sure to turn it up loud for the first listen so as to fully appreciate the bad-bitch theme song of an opener. That “Nadine” is a real hooker, I tell you, a song where you get to see a bald grown man go truly insane. Frank takes an otherwise straight-up blues-based rock song and turns it on its head before he finishes. He screams like a fool and whacks away at his guitar like a madman for no other damn reason than just because that’s the way this song is supposed to be done.
As a point of reference, I request all readers pull out The Clash’s London Calling and turn on “Brand New Cadillac,” the mad finish of which is not unlike the closing of “Nadine." Listen to the energy in Joe Strummer’s voice when he screams, “Jesus Christ! Where’d yuh ged thah Cadillaaaah!” and you can get a sense of what Frank sounds like as he screams, “Ner go Nadine! Nadine! Neen! Neen! Ning!” No car or woman can drive a man to this point. Only the love of rock, my friends. And that’s why this shit rules.
Naturally many of the songs on Show Me Your Tears bring to life the glory days of other rock illuminati. At various points, Frank sounds like he’s covering vintage Tom Waits (“This Old Heartache”), Lou Reed (“The Snake”), and Exile-era Stones (“Jaina Blues”). “Horrible Day” and “Goodbye Lorraine” sound like sorely missed outtakes from Neil Young’s Zuma. “Everything Is New” reminds me why I liked Tom Petty before he went and spoiled my perception of him by starring alongside Kevin Costner in “The Postman.” And the glorious “Massif Centrale” takes me back to the Frank’s heyday as a Pixie, when I still felt comfortable using the word “alternative.”
Not unlike Wilco’s Being There, Show Me Your Tears gives classic rock lovers a new album to celebrate -- an album to drink by while mourning the fact that most aging rock icons rarely supply anything this raucous anymore (no offense, Lou! I am sure your interpretations of Poe’s “The Raven” are very raucous!). These Catholics are a hard-charging bunch and I tip my cap to their fearless, unrelenting leader for bringing the band together, writing so many damn good songs to play, and not stopping the rock.
|
|
Topic Locked
