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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
 Posted - 06/13/2026 : 13:09:35
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Oh, it's been years since I listened to them, or even Frank's solo work and the Pixies, so much of a good thing, a great thing I needed to take a break.
Returning to Fb & the C's have me loving their music even more than before, which, considering of how high the esteem I hold these recoreds in, is quite frankly, incredible.
Six albums, five years, great sound quality, performances that both show off individual's skills and yet are mixed in like perfect seasoning.
How You Went So Far feels like walking into some late night basement bar where the greatest unknown band is there playing away their heartbreak, and trying to cure yours too, and if they can't well, they can sympathize.
Who knew the Pixies would have a second life and the Catholics would remain the great secret waiting to be told? |
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Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1161 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2026 : 13:30:54
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Oh wow, I could not agree more.
A few weeks ago I had a really long, tiring, bad day at work. I got in the car for the 45 minute drive home. I put on all of Catholics on shuffle.
Holy shit. It just blasted my face off. Bad Harmony played, I remember. I was just screaming along. There's just nothing like those albums. It inspired me to make a Spotify playlist (very Catholics-heavy) called "Fucking Off After A Long Day At Work."
Other great songs after a shit day at work: So Hard To Make Things Out, So. Bay, I Switched You...OK I guess a lot of Pistolero!? |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2026 : 08:54:25
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Nice name for your list, I get it! Glad the tunes helped.
Pistolero is a great album, with three big epic songs, I Switched You which is hard-rocking borderline metallic with a burst of chaos, So Hard To Make...where the song makes you feel like you really are on a plain watching something beyond human kin and of course So. Bay which transitions from a heavy groove to something majestic. It kinda sums up the whole record in one song. |
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Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1161 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2026 : 13:24:56
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Yeah, it's a really underrated album.
I often think about how I would try to convince a Pixies-only fan to appreciate Pistolero. I can hear how it's different from the Pixies in many ways, but it also feels more ferocious to me.
I will always remember playing I Switched You at work, to a coworker who had never heard it, though he knew Pixies and who Frank was, and during the insane part of the song he said "Damn Frank Black, stop rocking so hard!" |
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two reelers
* Dog in the Sand *
Austria
1092 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2026 : 00:33:52
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Billy Radcliff(e?).
The most epic of his epic ones. Fantastic tune, out-of-this-world lyrical imagery (note the duality theme).
For your playlist, I hope you have included Suffering from FB&TC self-titled!
And after venting out, Black Letter Day and Southbound Bevy would also fit here.
I joined the cult of Souled American / 'cause they are a damn' fine band |
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Stevio10
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1149 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2026 : 11:30:18
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| Yeah Pistolero is a near perfect slice of Frank signing off the 90s rocking out. There's no 'bad' tracks on the album, just the best are up there with his very best. In addition to the ones already mentioned, I'd have to point to Western Star as being a stand out song. |
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Skatealex1
* Dog in the Sand *
1731 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2026 : 16:47:41
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This thread encouraged me to listen to some Frank stuff again too.
Oddballs- on the road. A fun album of 'oddball' tracks. I think how prolific he was in these times made it fun to follow. Random b-sides and off the cuff sounding albums and releases.
Today- rocking with Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day. Another fun b-sides album, from the Catholics this time. A few of these tracks did end up getting released. Always dug Humboldt County Massacre too. |
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Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1124 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2026 : 08:39:19
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Yeah, I revisited the Catholics last year and was pretty blown away (hence that Best of the Catholics thread I made).
I'll stir the pot a bit: I think the alt-country albums have aged like fine wine (Black Letter Days gets better with each passing year), but the 90s rock albums are still hit and miss for me. Even though the band started as a rock outfit, I think they're a better Americana/alt-country band - they are so much more expressive and subtle in the latter mode, whereas I still find them a bit too pedestrian/meat-and-potatoes in the former, Lyle Workman flourishes on self-titled withstanding. The "blistering" numbers often leave me more tired out than excited. Some of their best playing from the 90s rock albums are the ones that foreshadow the alt-country turn (Dog Gone, Billy Radcliffe, 85 Weeks, Western Star, etc.). |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2026 : 15:22:20
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quote:
Originally posted by two reelers
Billy Radcliff(e?).
The most epic of his epic ones. Fantastic tune, out-of-this-world lyrical imagery (note the duality theme).
I joined the cult of Souled American / 'cause they are a damn' fine band
When he sings "and I feel very bad for William Radcliffe..." I get chills. I try to space out when I listen to the tune so as not to wear it out, aside from this re-discovery of their oeuvre.
It's an epic in, what, less than three minutes, a perfect metaphysical sci-fi/horror/fantasy western song.
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2026 : 15:24:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Stevio10
Yeah Pistolero is a near perfect slice of Frank signing off the 90s rocking out. There's no 'bad' tracks on the album, just the best are up there with his very best. In addition to the ones already mentioned, I'd have to point to Western Star as being a stand out song.
Yes! What's interesting to me is some of his music sounds flat and uninteresting at first before blossoming in one's ears. Western Star just builds in power till by the end it's as anthemic as Pearl Jam's Alive. |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2026 : 15:25:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Skatealex1
This thread encouraged me to listen to some Frank stuff again too.
Oddballs- on the road. A fun album of 'oddball' tracks. I think how prolific he was in these times made it fun to follow. Random b-sides and off the cuff sounding albums and releases.
Today- rocking with Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day. Another fun b-sides album, from the Catholics this time. A few of these tracks did end up getting released. Always dug Humboldt County Massacre too.
That's a great song.
Perhaps a rare misstep for my taste is Velvety, it's all right but I prefer the Pixies's instrumental. |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2026 : 15:29:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Brank_Flack
Yeah, I revisited the Catholics last year and was pretty blown away (hence that Best of the Catholics thread I made).
I'll stir the pot a bit: I think the alt-country albums have aged like fine wine (Black Letter Days gets better with each passing year), but the 90s rock albums are still hit and miss for me.
I'll have to go back and look for it.
That is definitely some serious pot-stirring.
I enjoy all of the stages of their arc, it's why I think DITS is the most archetypal record of theirs for its looking back to their rock beginnings (three years earlier ha ha) while pointing ahead to what they'd become, but I understand your perspective.
What I find incredible, is how the band traverses well-worn rock-country roads yet always stray from these into more interesting routes.
Cheers
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Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1124 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2026 : 18:03:39
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quote:
What I find incredible, is how the band traverses well-worn rock-country roads yet always stray from these into more interesting routes.
This is a good way of putting it!
I would also like to second your admiration for Billy Radcliffe. Quintessential FB lyrics. |
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Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1161 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2026 : 19:13:31
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| My favorite is still probably the first FB&C album, so I fully disagree. |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2026 : 09:13:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Brank_Flack
quote:
What I find incredible, is how the band traverses well-worn rock-country roads yet always stray from these into more interesting routes.
This is a good way of putting it!
I would also like to second your admiration for Billy Radcliffe. Quintessential FB lyrics.
Thanks. |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2026 : 09:16:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
My favorite is still probably the first FB&C album, so I fully disagree.
For me, it was a huge shift to go from Cult of Ray (and TOTY and the self-titled) to FB& the C's first record. It wasn't as immediately accessible, and like I said earlier, felt musically flat.
But overtime I came to appreciate and then love songs like "All My Ghosts", "Steak n Sabre" "Back To Rome," and "Dog Gone." Now I find them phenomenal with interesting parts and dynamic shifts as well as a really smooth flow.
The Catholics entire run has a warm inviting feel.
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2026 : 15:04:35
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While I'm expounding on the band, while I understand Frank's mindset, when it comes to songs relatives to albums, and set lists, and I think the alphabetical boxset is an interesting approach, I definitely prefer the albums.
Each its own unique artistic statement.
Self-titled has a great flow to it, the weakest song on there being the Larry Norman cover, I generally prefer Frank's originals. The song order works. But I'm glad he didn't use that approach on the rest of the Catholics.
There's this majestic feel to the songs on the first album, maybe All My Ghosts sets the pace with le bridge fantastique, some of the tracks deeply resonate, like Do You Feel Bad About It, like the best songs, feels both personal and universal-but then that's art.
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Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1161 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2026 : 16:50:17
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| I hate that he put the songs in alphabetical order on the box set. It's so the opposite of what I love about albums. |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6366 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2026 : 06:54:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
I hate that he put the songs in alphabetical order on the box set. It's so the opposite of what I love about albums.
Yeah, that was a mistake FBF made in my opinion
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
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Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
3338 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2026 : 05:36:10
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quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
I hate that he put the songs in alphabetical order on the box set. It's so the opposite of what I love about albums.
Yeah, that was a mistake FBF made in my opinion
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
I personally like it. I think Frank's reasoning makes sense. |
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Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1124 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2026 : 11:22:29
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| I'm in the anti-alphabetical order camp. It happens to work for self-titled (thank God "All My Ghosts" starts with an "A"), but not the catalogue. I'm more of a tracklist mystic than Charles. |
Edited by - Brank_Flack on 06/20/2026 11:23:50 |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2026 : 11:17:18
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It just occurred to me, by making the box set alphabetical, it's a nice bookend to the Catholics, their first album being alphabetical and their last release being the same.
Still, I definitely prefer albums on their own, unique artistic statements of time and place, perhaps it's why I'm generally not interested when albums (or books, movies etc.) are re-released in some altered form. Sure, sometimes it's an improvement but usually it doesn't feel right in some way.
So. Bay isn't just genius, particularly the way Frank's singing rises up in pitch during the outro, but is the perfect ending to the record, it leaves the listener with good feelings, its a summation to Pistolero that is no longer in place on the box set.
But then, in a way, best of both worlds, to those who just enjoy the mammoth chunk of music in a to zed they've got the box set, for others, like on this board and beyond, each album tells its own tale.
Each of the Catholics's records have only grown more resonant over time and especially, as I stated at the beginning of this thread, with a good amount of distance. My ears catch more texture in the songs and that 99% is live to two-track is just incredible.
BLD is a phenomenal recording, so many different moods and song styles, a double album with even more on DW.
And SMYT feels like the epilogue to the Catholics's tale, a wrapping up and closing of the curtain.
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Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
3338 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2026 : 12:03:23
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Another reason why I like the alphabetical box set is I just absolutely never listen to albums any more.
Just shuffle songs.
Someone says, "check out this album" and I'll just shuffle it with other tracks, don't know why I can't do albums any more, maybe a Gen Alpha thing or whatever. I can still remember the track order for 1.0 stuff but could never tell you track order of FB&C's albums or anything after those any more |
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Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1161 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2026 : 15:15:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
Another reason why I like the alphabetical box set is I just absolutely never listen to albums any more.
Just shuffle songs.
Someone says, "check out this album" and I'll just shuffle it with other tracks, don't know why I can't do albums any more, maybe a Gen Alpha thing or whatever. I can still remember the track order for 1.0 stuff but could never tell you track order of FB&C's albums or anything after those any more
This was physically painful for me to read. |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6366 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2026 : 01:55:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
Another reason why I like the alphabetical box set is I just absolutely never listen to albums any more.
Just shuffle songs.
Someone says, "check out this album" and I'll just shuffle it with other tracks, don't know why I can't do albums any more, maybe a Gen Alpha thing or whatever. I can still remember the track order for 1.0 stuff but could never tell you track order of FB&C's albums or anything after those any more
This was physically painful for me to read.
Couldn't agree more, Jordan!
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
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Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1124 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2026 : 08:06:58
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| It's worth noting that there was indeed a second box set - the complete studio albums on vinyl. Very nice set, especially since they were recorded via analogue. Also picked up the vinyl (re)issues of Snake Oil, One More Road for the Hit (one of my favourite Catholics albums), and True Blue (I also really enjoy this one). So I'm just missing a few of the rarities from the alphabetical boxset. |
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Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
3338 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2026 : 09:44:13
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quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
Another reason why I like the alphabetical box set is I just absolutely never listen to albums any more.
Just shuffle songs.
Someone says, "check out this album" and I'll just shuffle it with other tracks, don't know why I can't do albums any more, maybe a Gen Alpha thing or whatever. I can still remember the track order for 1.0 stuff but could never tell you track order of FB&C's albums or anything after those any more
This was physically painful for me to read.
Couldn't agree more, Jordan!
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
Sorry guys |
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Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1124 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2026 : 17:08:44
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Can't help myself, here's my current album ranking:
Dog in the Sand
Black Letter Days
Show Me Your Tears
(One More Road for the Hit)
Frank Black & The Catholics
Pistolero
Devil's Workshop
(Snake Oil) |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6366 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2026 : 02:27:59
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I guess that's almost my ranking too
But I would put Pistolero in the top 3.
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2026 : 03:41:33
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I consider DITS their best record but I've probably listened to it too much over the years. Pistolero has gone up over the years. I can't rank 'em, aside from SMYT being last. It's still really good, a powerful and melancholic record but my least favorite of the bunch.
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1055 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2026 : 03:53:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
Another reason why I like the alphabetical box set is I just absolutely never listen to albums any more.
Just shuffle songs.
Someone says, "check out this album" and I'll just shuffle it with other tracks, don't know why I can't do albums any more, maybe a Gen Alpha thing or whatever. I can still remember the track order for 1.0 stuff but could never tell you track order of FB&C's albums or anything after those any more
This was physically painful for me to read.
Couldn't agree more, Jordan!
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
Sorry guys
I get it. Not how I want to listen to music generally, aside from maybe a party mix with an eclectic grouping of tracks, but I understand. I also get the other gentlemen's distaste, it feels like taking apart a perfectly cooked cheeseburger and eating each part separately and mixed in with other random food.
The other day I listened to Fields of Marigold and think that and San Antonio, TX are two of the best things Frank ever wrote and the band performed, just incredible songwriting!
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Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1161 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2026 : 07:54:05
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My ranking:
Devil's Workshop
Frank Black & The Catholics
Pistolero
Dog in the Sand
Black Letter Days
Show Me Your Tears
edit: ahh I don't know. Maybe Dog ahead of Pistolero but lately Pistolero just really hits hard for me. For a while Dog was my number 1. And maybe the self-titled is my number 1. But I love the songwriting on DW, I think it's some of his best melodies. |
Edited by - Troubles A Foot on 06/23/2026 08:46:09 |
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two reelers
* Dog in the Sand *
Austria
1092 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2026 : 13:24:17
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Albums ranked:
(1) Brown album (self-titled) / Black Letter Days
(2) Show me your tears / Dog in the sand
(3) Pistolero
(4) Devil's workshop
I joined the cult of Souled American / 'cause they are a damn' fine band |
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Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
3338 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2026 : 14:14:31
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Do you think that Honeycomb and Fast Man Raiderman could have been Catholics albums in some form or another?
To me they sort of felt like the natural continuation of the direction he was going with SMYT. |
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Skatealex1
* Dog in the Sand *
1731 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2026 : 15:38:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
Do you think that Honeycomb and Fast Man Raiderman could have been Catholics albums in some form or another?
To me they sort of felt like the natural continuation of the direction he was going with SMYT.
I could see Honeycomb is a Catholics albums with some revisions. IE- maybe a little more rocking out, given how laid back it is now. Even Show Me Your Tears, while it can be chill it does have some more edge in some tracks.
Maybe similar with Fastman Raiderman though some songs I can see fitting the Catholics sound as is like Johnny Barleycorn and Highway to Lowdown. |
Edited by - Skatealex1 on 06/23/2026 16:44:09 |
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Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1161 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2026 : 16:32:10
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Correct me if I'm wrong but we get a sense of that with the Catholics (right?) version of Selkie Bride. It's similar but a little more aggressive in sound. Like even softer songs like Stupid Me or Southbound Bevy have an energy to them that is too hot to handle for the Honeycomb album which is crazy gentle.
I love Honeycomb and Fastman but I'd be down for Catholics versions of those songs for that little bit more oomph. |
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Fb & The C's have aged like a fine wine
