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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
 Posted - 09/09/2003 : 18:36:18
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I'm working on my official, professional review. I will say that Nadine is by far the best track on the album, and one of his best songs ever. As a whole I really like the album, and I would not disagree at all with the 4/5 reviews it's been getting. Great stuff. He wasn't kidding about 13 big salty tears.
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FRANK BLACK SATAN WORKSHIP BLACK MASS |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2003 : 18:45:22
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Cover albums are crap if you ask me. Covers are for bands who don't have enough material, or cannot write their own songs. I'd like to hear another punkish album from Frank, but I'd be more than happy to hear another country / blues album along the same lines as SMYT if it was to the same high quality.
I love this album, the only thing I am potentially concerned about is that because I immediately took a liking to this album maybe I will become bored with it in the future. Thats what happens then I usually take an immediate liking to an album. Saying that, I never get bored of anything Frank does so I doubt that will happen.
Who's the man that won't cop out when there's danger all about? |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2003 : 18:50:18
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| Listened to it back to back today, so I have two listens under my belt. Hoping to get my roommate to allow me to subject him to it again in a few moments. I like it a lot so far, usually it takes about 3 weeks to fully form an opinion of a new Frank Black album. My roommate said Frank sounded like a drunken Irish folk singer, but he meant it somewhat affectionately. Maybe he'll come around more on a third listen. |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2003 : 19:12:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Itchload
My roommate said Frank sounded like a drunken Irish folk singer, but he meant it somewhat affectionately.
Aha! Ever since my first listen, I've been able to easily imagine Shane McGowan singing "When Will Happiness Find Me Again?" and "Manitoba." |
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glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2003 : 20:28:59
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quote:
Originally posted by CaptainMaximus
I'm a huge Frank fan and like pretty much all he's put out and have had this record for a while now and have been able to form a pretty solid opinion as a result. I find the reviews a little hyperbolic, to say the least, and this might go down as the singlemost over-rated FB release (Pistolero being the most under-rated, IMHO). I've been following since 1989 and have never grown tired of FB, but I must say I don't listen to this one that often, and my brother---himself a huge fan----feels the same way. Hey, it's only an opinion, and not tantamount to sacrilidge or anything. Why do I feel this way? I feel some of the songs are a little too "easy," twangy and countified for my liking, and some of it's poorly mixed (yes, I have a real copy). There are some fantastic tracks, yes, but I miss the rock and roll verve and would love to see FB mine a different vein in the future. How about a punk rock album, or a balls-to-the-wall cover album? After all, he considered both at one time or another in his career. Of course, maybe a little of this has to do with the fact that I'm going through a divorce and a lot of it hits close to home. Strangely, however, those songs I like the most---if only for the content. Kind of like misery loving company, I guess. In short, not his worst, but his best like a lot of people are saying? I don't think you'll be saying that after the "newness" wears off.
I repect your opinion, CaptainMaximus, but I feel the complete opposite. When I listened to Black Letter Days, and Devil's Workshop, I at first didn't like them much at all. (I had taken a break from Frank, and the last album I had before of his was FB&TC self-titled CD, with "Steak 'n Sabre" and the like on it. (What is the universal name for that one? FB&TC self-titled..?) It took me a while to get used to the lack of surreal imagery that I had gotten used to on TOTY and Frank's debut. I remembered him singing allegorically about how space was gonna do him good, and the scheming bohemoth, and getting smashed head on by a giant truck down Mexico Way and the like, and that to me was what appealed to me in the first place...it was very remeniscient of the Pixies' style of lyrics. I had to listen to BLD and DW a few times before I started to appreciate them for what they actually are. I respect Frank and the Catholics more because they are moving on to what they consider progression from what they were before. I doubt Frank would do anything to take a step which he would consider backwards, even to accomodate those who want him to. (That's not to say that you wanting him to do a harder punk album or cover album IS backwards, but that's apparently not what he wants to do right now.)
I just wonder if this is his permenant progression, or if it's just a musical "venture." I doubt he'll ever go back to debut-album style, but he is obviously heading into different (but good in my opinion) territory.
...i'm not black like barry white no i am white like frank black is... |
Edited by - glacial906 on 09/09/2003 21:30:42 |
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PearlJamaholic
- FB Fan -
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2003 : 20:45:47
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| listened to the whole album and it is great. now lets see what my favorites are. i like coastline alot. does anybody know what the cat is holding says? |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 01:02:33
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Did I post my reply in the wrong thread??? I am sure this is where Cpt Maximus posted an opinion of the album!?
Who's the man that won't cop out when there's danger all about? |
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DrBone
- FB Fan -
98 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 01:19:24
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OK now listen,
This is, without a doubt, an excellent Frank Black and the Catholics album. It blows the last two out of the water.
Anyone who sits around pining for the old days of Frank Black
punk-edness is beating a dead alien. If you have been resisting Frank's alt-country turn for this long, it might be time for you to stop buying his albums and go back to listening to the Circle Jerks.
Personally, I think this record is one of the most personal and heartfelt that Frank has released in some time... The songs seem to flow without regard for genre or style which, in my mind, really says something about the songwriting and the band that Frank is working with.
So for all you folks sitting around waiting for an album 100% full of "I Switched You"s (or that pending Latvian Pixies record.) better just relax because it's NEVER GONNA COME!!!
Frank Black and the Catholics succeed in being on of the most endearing and interesting independant rock acts out there and I think their new album KICKS ASS. I don't care how muck slide-guitar or 12-bar blues is on it, I plan on invoking an intense physical relationship between it and my car stereo until neither of them can take anymore.
When I see Nadine, I want that.
-Dr. Bone |
Edited by - DrBone on 09/10/2003 01:21:16 |
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noexx
= Cult of Ray =
361 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 01:53:55
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| i never liked switched you....... |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 01:58:21
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quote:
Originally posted by mereubu
quote:
Originally posted by Itchload
My roommate said Frank sounded like a drunken Irish folk singer, but he meant it somewhat affectionately.
Aha! Ever since my first listen, I've been able to easily imagine Shane McGowan singing "When Will Happiness Find Me Again?" and "Manitoba."
Ditto, I always thought that "When Will Happiness Find Me Again?" could have been on a Pogues album.
No man is an island, unless he is in the bath |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 02:00:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Stuart
I love this album, the only thing I am potentially concerned about is that because I immediately took a liking to this album maybe I will become bored with it in the future. Thats what happens then I usually take an immediate liking to an album.
I had similar feelings, but I still love it after over 100 listens. It is quality - This Old Heartache is a real grower.
No man is an island, unless he is in the bath |
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Speedy Franky
- FB Fan -
France
45 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 02:36:25
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| First listen to smyt. Quiet good but not a masterpiece like DITS. i think i'm a bit tired of the western country style of Mr Black and i'm VERY tired of Rich Gilbert style and all his "hard rock" solos. Please Frank, find another guitarist. |
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jediroller
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1718 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 06:11:11
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Thanks for that post DrBone! I fully agree.
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"Show some fucking adaptability!" |
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Bartholomew
= Cult of Ray =
USA
344 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 09:07:18
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| Alright. Fuck it! I'm not waiting for Amazon to send me my copy. Hell, they haven't even shipped it out, yet. I'm going to the record store tonight and buying another copy. Can always give the other to the Frank Black-uninitiated, right? Right? That's sane isn't it. Must have that album. Must must must. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 09:18:15
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i'm going to wait till i have more time to give my little review.. i will say, for those of you who just got the album, you need more time.
i managed to get a copy (a real copy) a few weeks ago, and it didn't really start sinking in for me until just recently. like, after about 15 listens or so..
give it time.. |
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kingflower
- FB Fan -
7 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 09:27:55
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I'll take the country, I'll take the rock, I'll take the punk, I'll take any of it. For people complaining that the recent albums have been sounding too country-ish, IMHO I think the new album mixes up the different flavors of Frank Black rather nicely.
I almost showed my tears on "Coastline"...."Massif Centrale" rocks pretty damn hard at a slower tempo. The trumpet and guitar duel at the end of "Manitoba" is just plain beautiful. "When Will Happiness Find Me Again"...that's a gut wrencher and an instant classic. Hell, what do I know?
Just keep it coming Frank.
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 09:30:22
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i thimk i liked it the first time i heard it.
that said i never expected to find it a month before its release, so it may have been the excitement... |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 09:59:49
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Yeah, I'm with 'ya. I like a lot of it the first time, though I had been to two live shows where he played several songs, so that might have helped. I distinctly remember Jaina Blues being in my head the next day after having only heard it once though.
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 10:55:21
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It's all good.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
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St. Francis
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
548 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 13:53:33
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quote:
Originally posted by DrBone
OK now listen,
This is, without a doubt, an excellent Frank Black and the Catholics album. It blows the last two out of the water.
The album has begun to grow on me and I am enjoying it more with each listen but I don't know if you can say it blows BLD out of the water.
Have you listened to BLD? It's kind of good. The fact that it is driven by petal steel a whole lot more makes BLD more musically interesting to me...
There is no question that I will keep enjoying SMYT, yet, I don't know if I can honestly say it is as good of some of the previous albums which begun his new direction and this would include the two previous albums... |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 14:53:27
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I think I can honestly say that I liked this album from the first listen...so many songs appealed to me more than they made me think "eh, this could be better after a few listens." It's amazing, I think this album might contain the best instrumentation of any FB album.
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FRANK BLACK SATAN WORKSHIP BLACK MASS |
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BrendanT
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
907 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 15:00:17
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These are definatley a collection of songs that have been in the works for years. At least the ideas and the structure. It is very fluid and strong in many parts. Not sure about the intro of Massif Centrale though!? He always has to have something that makes you think what the f*#k is he doing. Can't wait to hear this stuff live. Think he will have the horns and female backing vocals at some of the shows?
Strummer-man
I had me a vision!
What is your fascination with my secret closet of mystery? |
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gary13th
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
632 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 15:38:55
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i can honestly say there isnt a track on the album i dislike or think "i'm not too sure about that one..." - sometimes on a FB album theres a track or 2 i'm not sure of. My personal favourite songs are Massif Central, This Old Heartache and The Snake. Roll on the gigs !
~you will get used to me, welcome to your new joy
Heloise by FB&TC |
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St. Francis
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
548 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 15:39:47
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Interesting to hear these oppinions on the album as it didn't totally grip me in the first go through. Liked "Everything is New", "Goodbye Lorraine (Wicked Petal Steel)" and "Coastline" instantly and it took a couple listens to get to enjoy each song more and more.
I do think it substancially better than most things you get now a days but doesn't have the appeal of DITS for me. Then again BLD was slow to come on so I guess in the case of SMYT time will tell. Like the direction and they remain one of the tightest bands ever...
I found it was a lot easier to spot Frank's influences on this disc over the others and this is interesting as it was a little more difficult on previous albums... perhaps it is easier for me since SMYT is a little more stripped down (on some levels) than his previous records.
Side Note: Caught Neil Young last week in Toronto and it was a great show. Could see some of his influence in regards to the Pixies... he is just slower. |
Edited by - St. Francis on 09/10/2003 15:40:51 |
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Jayhawk
- FB Fan -
80 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 16:02:57
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SMYT has sounded better with each listen so far. "Massif Centrale", "Everything Is New", "Manitoba", "Coastline", and "This Old Heartache" are my current standouts. It's groovy to have new Frank Black and new Warren Zevon records out at the same time.
Saw Neil last month in KC and it was a fine show. |
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St. Francis
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
548 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 16:24:13
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Yeah... liked the gig better than the show I saw in 00. He rocks with Crazy Horse and his skills on the guitar is pretty unbelieveable... no petals that I saw... I would speculate Joey was a big fan...
Totally amazing to see him play like that in his hometown |
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 17:15:53
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| Jesus Christ, so much to say, but so little time. I'll be back with a full review as soon as I can really get to new some of the songs that I hadn't heard live before. This album is absolutely amazing. So far, the only song that I'm a bit dissapointed in is Horrible Day, which was one of my favorites live. I have to say that Nadine is the most rocking song of all time, PERIOD!! There are no words to describe how hard it rocks, except that it rocks hard. As does Jaina Blues which is one of the songs I hadn't heard live. This song rocks like a wild animal, and anyone that says Frank is getting too unoriginal is full of shit. The only song on the whole album that is unoriginal is Horrible Day and I'm sure it's just a matter of days before it becomes my favorite song. Like I said, I don't know all the songs yet, but a bunch of the ones at the end were really great too. The intro to manitoba kicks ass. I wish I could hear more of Mr. Feldman on the organ as I love organ and Eric Drew playing organ is like the greatest thing that can ever happen. Umm...The snake is a truly rocking song, but I was dissapointed in the vocals as I think they could have and should have been a lot more intense. I can't remember which song had the saxaphone solo in it (maybe the Snake?), but that was great. And of course, Massife Centrale is the best fucking song of all time!!! I will be back later in the week with a full song-by-song review. FRANK BLACK IS GOD!!! |
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deadlydoctor
- FB Fan -
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 18:15:39
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quote:
Originally posted by the swimmer"My Favorite kiss" has the most superb little guitar line strinking offfrom the end of the first chorus
YES! That is such an incredible little piece in that song. Makes the whole album for me  If only it had been repeated at the end of the second chorus. |
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glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 21:52:11
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Although I like the album so far, (I have pretty much played it non-stop since I bought it yesterday) it will take a while for it to sink in, as did BLD and DW, so I won't post (like El Barto says) "professional review" just yet. My favorite songs so far are:
Horrible Day
When Will Happiness Find Me Again
Manitoba
Massife Centrale
...i'm not black like barry white no i am white like frank black is... |
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glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2003 : 21:53:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Stuart
Did I post my reply in the wrong thread??? I am sure this is where Cpt Maximus posted an opinion of the album!?
Who's the man that won't cop out when there's danger all about?
Maybe CaptainMaximus deleted his message, and I just happened to catch it in quote shortly before he did that.
...i'm not black like barry white no i am white like frank black is... |
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Frog in the Sand
-+ Le premiere frog +-
France
2715 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2003 : 00:49:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Ten Percenter
quote:
Originally posted by mereubu
quote:
Originally posted by Itchload
My roommate said Frank sounded like a drunken Irish folk singer, but he meant it somewhat affectionately.
Aha! Ever since my first listen, I've been able to easily imagine Shane McGowan singing "When Will Happiness Find Me Again?" and "Manitoba."
Ditto, I always thought that "When Will Happiness Find Me Again?" could have been on a Pogues album.
You're certainly right, but in my opinion the most Pogues-like song of SMYT is "Goodbye Lorraine".
In fact I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Frank likes the Pogues music. The last time I saw him in concert (in late 2001), he played "Dirty Old Town" and believe me, that was a great, amazing moment.
By the way, I TOTALLY agree with Dr. Bone.
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2003 : 02:50:42
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| he played dirty old town solo in dublin in july. |
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Bartholomew
= Cult of Ray =
USA
344 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2003 : 08:18:44
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Just got the album last night and have listened to it 3 times now. Wow! It’s really something else. Too early to put it in perspective, but I think it ranks right up there with Teenager for best album. Early favorites:
Coastline
Goodbye Lorraine
Massif Centrale
Nadine
When Will Happiness Find Me Again
The Snake (sax solo makes the song)
They’re all incredible though. Only one that doesn’t immediately jump out at me is the Tom Waitsish: This Old Heartache. But I’m sure this will change over time.
Wow! |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2003 : 08:23:53
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I think that due to the complexity of Manitoba, it will not be the first to be liked, but will be the longest lasting. There's always something new to be found.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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Foucaults Dog
- FB Fan -
Ireland
124 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2003 : 09:16:45
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quote:
Originally posted by El Barto
He wasn't kidding about 13 big salty tears.
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FRANK BLACK SATAN WORKSHIP BLACK MASS
The "13 big salty tears" quote really sum this one up. More's the point, in context, the dark flavour of this album brings to mind the futility of suggesting that "this is the best so far" or "such and such is better"...There seems to be a perfect FB album for every state of mind. Be it Black Francis of Frank Black, Mr. T's entire catalogue so far makes a damn fine soundtrack to a life. |
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