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seanunyon
- FB Fan -
Canada
64 Posts |
 Posted - 10/12/2004 : 07:53:34
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Pixies still magical on Frank Black Francis
By Mary Dickie
FRANK BLACK
Frank Black Francis
(Sonic Unyon)
**** (out of five)
WITH EACH passing year, the Pixies legend grows -- from a cult college band to an essential part of alt-rock history.
Last year, the band reunited after 12 years for some live dates that have since turned into a massive, sold-out tour. And while there's no new Pixies material, leader Frank Black has released this double CD for his starving fans.
Frank Black Francis is two CDs of Pixies songs recorded very differently. The Demo disc was made as a producer's guide for the EP Come On Pilgrim, and features Black strumming furiously on acoustic versions of early faves like Caribou as well as Subbacultcha, from Trompe le Monde.
Included to compensate for its poor sound is the Treated disc, a reworking of 11 Pixies songs by Two Pale Boys. The Boys are best known for their work with Pere Ubu's David Thomas, including the junk opera Shockheaded Peter, and they bring a similar esthetic to this disc. The songs are pulled apart and inventively, beautifully reassembled, with Black's voice complemented by horns, keyboards and guitars. The underwater synth sounds on Velouria make it seem as though Black is singing with whales, while strings give Into The White its ominous edge, and Subbacultcha bangs and rattles along like Tom Waits.
Best of all is the stripped-down Where Is My Mind, which adds suitably spacy keyboard and horn sounds to the familiar bass line and voice.
It's like a Pixies album without the glorious noise, and all the strange sweetness intact. Plus, you may find some mysterious lyrics suddenly made clear.
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Toronto Sun on Frank Black Francis
"Join the Cult of Frank 2.0 / And you'll be enlightened (free for 1.x members)"