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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
 Posted - 10/30/2003 : 02:32:14
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Two recent reviews on the SoundsXP website: a review of Nadine single by Matt H and a review of the reissue of Frank Black and the Catholics:
By Matt H
Oct 5, 2003
Good old Frank. Just when you think the oft-mooted Pixies revival might be the only way to recapture the heights he once reached, he comes out with this slinking piece of latino tinged rock that is the best thing that he's done in years. It's light on the college boy whimsy that has overwhelmed other solo efforts and stronger on the demented undercurrent that marks hi best stuff. B-sides, the rock n roll screeching of Snake Oil and the flat-toned, driving dream of Ludwudshaven are, well, b-sides. But that don't stop this being a top single.
Frank Black and the Catholics s/t (reissue)
Cooking Vinyl
By Matt H
Oct 18, 2003
Let's be honest, five years on, this isn't an album that would immediately spring to mind as being ripe for a re-issue. Even with the warm reception for his latest records, Charles Thompson still doesn't make anything like the splash as Frank Black as when hinting at a Pixies revival. Indeed, even as a reasonably dedicated Pixies-phile, this was the first time that I'd ventured to listen to this. It originally came out after a couple of slicker non-Catholic efforts which, while having some decent moments, had cooled the interest of many in Big Frank's solo career. And clearly, by bringing a rougher feel to his bizarrely worded college rock, it marked an attempt to re-establish some kudos by cementing the hardworkin' guitar-slingin', "write, record, move on" songwriting feel he's been projecting since. None of which explains quite why this is being granted a reissue, though. The record itself is pretty fine - set it up against many of today's shaggy haired pseudo 70s punk popsters earning a crust on the back of the Balck Francis own inspiration, it sounds effortless and uncontrived. It recaptures in parts some of that Pixies magic, especially circa Trompe le Monde, but it also has a few goodies that are simply Frank. Probably the problem, if it can be called such, with his solo career is that the sheer volume of tunes means that there are quite a few that are good but not great. But in the days of CD and i-pod it's hardly too much of a task to winnow them out. New fans will already be reconstituting thier back catalogues - if you'd drifted away you could do worse than go back to this.
No man is an island, unless he is in the bath |
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