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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
 Posted - 10/02/2003 : 02:11:28
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Has this review appeared yet? A perfect five out of five - thanks gringo!:
FRANK BLACK AND THE CATHOLICS, "SHOW ME YOUR TEARS"
Release Date: 09/07/03
Producer: Stan Ridgway, Nick Vincent, Ben Mumphrey
Manstyle Points: 5.0 / 5
Reviewed by: gringo
Website: www.frankblack.net
Frank Black has never been one to rest on his laurels. Beginning with his eponymous solo debut, he has been constantly pushing forward and trying to run out of the shadow of his old band, the Pixies. From inverting his stage name from Black Francis to Frank Black, refusing to play Pixies songs on his first few solo tours, or assembling his killer backing band, the Catholics, Mr. Black has never wanted to recreate his former glory days.
Starting with 1998's Frank Black and the Catholics, all of Black's albums have been cut live to 2-track tape. Simultaneously, his albums have become more intricate and his songwriting, especially lyrically, more refined.
Show Me Your Tears achieves both intricacy and refinement while still sounding fresh and spontaneous, no doubt helped by the live recording. The album opens with the raw, bluesy "Nadine," which segues to "Everything is New," which has a tone similar to 2002's "Black Letter Days," especially "California Bound." This track shows off Black's lyricism, with references to Johnny Horton, Hank Williams, and their mutual love, Billie Jean.
Producer Stan Ridgway adds beautiful harmonica to some of the more tender tracks, including the travelogue "My Favorite Kiss," the country tinged "Goodbye Lorraine" and the gorgeous, yet achingly brief “Coastline." "Massif Centrale" is one of the most straight ahead rock songs Black has written in years, and shows off his vocal depth with his deep baritone transitioning into the falsetto second verse. More surprises are scattered throughout the album – a guest spot from former Pixie Joey Santiago, the calypso beat in "This Old Heartache," and the Exile on Main Street-ish "Jaina Blues," which featuring some excellent work from frequent-Catholic keys man Eric Drew Feldman (formerly of Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band, Pere Ubu, and PJ Harvey) and Catholics bassist David McCaffrey. Lead guitarist Rich Gilbert shines throughout the whole disc, but especially on the Hawaiian-sounding lead in “Coastline.”
The album goes out on a high note, with the epic and lush "Manitoba." Frequent Brian Wilson collaborator Van Dyke Parks is present on this track, and it certainly bears a striking similarity, sonically, to some Beach Boys' tracks from their Parks era. This track wraps up a sad, blue record, which reflects Black’s recent divorce. But instead of choosing to sit around and sulk, Black has made a near-perfect record that will stand as one of the best break-up albums of all time. And for those of us without broken hearts, there are more than enough reasons to pick this album up.
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