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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
 Posted - 09/09/2003 : 07:15:50
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A review by Adrian Denning (8 out of 10), Adrian's website is well worth a visit - he has reviewed all of Frank's "solo" albums, and he also likes Beefheart and the Fall:
http://www.adriandenning.co.uk/
Show Me Your Tears 8 ( 2003 )
Please don't confuse this record as a follow-up to 'Devil's Workshop' because it's very much a follow-up to 'Black Letter Days' instead. Perhaps this confirms my suspicion that 'Devil's Workshop' was a quickly put together after-thought, with Frank unsure of his fans reaction to his new direction(s). So? Well, for 'Show Me Your Tears' Frank moves ever further into the world of country music, continues with his current mellow roots trip and works in a few Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash things as well. May as well start with the best songs first, because both 'Nadine' and 'New House Of The Pope' are real winners in our house. 'Nadine' is the loud noise trip, the only such moment on the entire album, actually. Still, it builds and builds, the guitar goes supernova - stupendous song. 'New House Of The Pope' proves that Frank has been listening to 'Ballad Of A Thin Man' by Bob Dylan, but we'll allow him that. He takes that opening riff elsewhere and this is powerful, ominous stuff. Frank sounds suitably weary and whiskey filled, although I doubt he actually was. At a certain point, when a jazzy piano arrives, the song turns round a little, changes - whilst still sounding exactly the same as it did before. That doesn't make sense, I realise, but I do love this little jazzy piano section in the middle of the song. Ah, 'Show Me Your Tears' initially sounds like a very inauspicious set of recordings, but eventually, the care that's obviously gone behind the songs arrangements shines through. Seemingly simple throwaway material such as 'Horrible Day' gets under your skin, and the supporting cast do a fine job with the musical backing. This supporting cast includes, as well as yer regular Catholics crew, the inevitable Joey Santiago cameo, Eric Drew Feldman, Van Dyke Parks, saxophone, trumpet and additional guitar.
'Massif Centrale' sees Frank twist his vocals most enjoyably as a strong bass sound rumbles around him, 'Goodbye Lorraine' is very country, as are a couple of other songs here. Not sure if a move towards almost pure country is such a good move, although Frank and The Catholics perform the material suitably well. 'The Snake' is a very typical Catholics number, 'Coastline' a brief sub two minute acoustic song with very lovely harmonica. It's a great, simple song. A song with beauty to match the highlights of 'Black Letter Days' easily. 'Show Me Your Tears' wins slightly over 'Black Letter Days', the other Frank Black album to which it most compares, because it's an easier, more consistent listen. Ah, switching back to what I said at the start, about 'Nadine' and 'New House Of The Pope'? Add the closing four and a half minute long 'Manitoba' to that 'best song' list. It's another slightly weary sounding tune, but gorgeous with it. The detail in the songs arrangement, added to the occasional guitar rising through, added to the chorus. The chorus is pure gold, repeated and repeated, "I have seen the face of god / And I have dearly paid" sings Frank, the harmonica and melodica, trumpet and lord knows what else all play a part. We needed a good closing number here actually. We needed one. A strong opener with 'Nadine', a strong closing song with 'Manitoba'. It turns this more into 'an album' rather than a bunch of songs. Sometimes with Frank, it seems he's just putting out a bunch of songs, rather than albums. 'Show Me Your Tears' is cohesive, it's a damn fine album, but give it a little time, please? Thank you.
No man is an island, unless he is in the bath |
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