-= Frank Black Forum =-
-= Frank Black Forum =-
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Members | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Frank Black Chat
 Frank Black Making Noise
 Honeycomb review - babysue?!
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -

United Kingdom
1733 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2005 :  05:19:19  Show Profile  Reply with Quote


A rather unimpressive review from the world-renowned Babysue site, rated three out of five:

http://www.lmnop.com/LMNOP-Reviews-July-05.html#anchor301378

Has Frank Black transformed into a middle-of-the-road artist...? Pixies fans will likely be horrified by Honeycomb. The album bears little if any resemblance to Black's early groundbreaking twisted hard pop. As such...if you liked Frank Black before...you probably won't care for this album. But on the other hand, if you've never heard him before...chance are that you will find Honeycomb a pleasant and smooth spin. Recorded in Nashville, this album features eleven original tunes and three covers. After giving this disc a few spins, we found that we rather liked a few of the tunes. But we just couldn't help but compare this to Black's earlier work. For a man whose music was once so original and unique...nowadays he's sounding pretty much like everyone else. Kinda sad really...but after all these years Frank may just be burned out on music. Not a bad album...but not a great album either. Just pretty much...middle-of-the-road really... (Rating: 3)


"Fried food, cigarettes, no exercise, chest pain..." (Excerpt from the Angina Monologues)

Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -

Ireland
11546 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2005 :  05:44:04  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
They rather liked a few tunes, but could'nt help but compare it to his earlier work. Well, don't compare it to earlier work!! Black Letter Days is a lot different from Teenager Of The Year, for instance.
Go to Top of Page

kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~

Belgium
15320 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2005 :  06:14:23  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
How can anybody hear Honeycomb and say that Frank is "sounding pretty much like everyone else"?

Thank you for posting, regardless. Always good to see The Man get some ink.


Sometimes, no matter how shitty things get, you have to just do a little dance. - Frank
Go to Top of Page

billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6214 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2005 :  06:51:35  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
because they're dumb, kathryn
FB is still groundbreaking, because I can't name one indierocker who followed the
same path he did. From Pixies to Frank Black to Catholics to Pixies and again Frank Black.
Pixies were groundbreaking and a succes. Frank Black was experimental with lots of styles (sci-fi rock, metal, reggea) with less sucess. Catholics were more embracing cliches (frank said them himself) with a style that went more and more to alt. country. Honeycomb has lots of soul, sounds nothing like the catholics.

In all those different kinds of music he can write a killer song
he's the best

god save the Noisies
Go to Top of Page

Kirk
= Cult of Ray =

USA
633 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2005 :  09:48:05  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
When it comes to sounding like everyone else...

I think most of the songs are very traditional, and the others are very Frank Black.
Like, when I examine the chord progressions and the lyrical content.

Traditional (predictive) Chord Progressions
Sing for Joy
I Burn Today
Dark End of the Street
Another Velvet Nightmare
Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day (half of the song)
Go Find Your Saint
The Shrimp Song
Violet
Strange Goodbye
All Around the World

Frank Black (trademark) Chord Progressions
My Life Is in Storage
Selkie Bride
Lone Child
Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day (half of the song)
Atom in My Heart

I'll let you decide with they lyrics, although All Around the World & Another Velvet Nightmare are pretty funky, yet wonderful!

..-. .-. .- -. -.- -... .-.. .- -.-. -.-
Go to Top of Page

billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6214 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2005 :  14:21:40  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Dark End, SSMVGD, Shrimp and All Around the World aren't his songs, so......
but I guess you're right






---------------------------
God save the Noisies
Go to Top of Page

Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~

Belize
5305 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2005 :  20:02:47  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
well i am not too worried about the reviews... he's always been ahead of his time and misunderstood by mainstream media.

true and new frank fans are going to love it!!
Go to Top of Page

Stevio10
* Dog in the Sand *

United Kingdom
1118 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2005 :  20:55:19  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It's my 100th post! Time for my 2p. What really really annoys me about the majority of cheap mag reviewers and frank black reviews is the lack of knowledge. Don't get me wrong, i know reviewing an album isnt a homework assignment so I dont expect massive amounts of background knowledge on the artist etc. However, it seems with most FB album reviews there is no prior knowledge besides the pixies. There is only the current album and the pixies. That seems to be the only contrast/comparison the reviewer can make or feels compelled to make. In this review we don't know if the reviewer is talking about the pixies or early solo work as it's pretty much a generalisation. There's no talk about the evolution of style etc, its always "pixies mainman goes country!" shock-tastic tactic! And it's getting very old! I may not buy these magazines or have to read the reviews, but it bugs me when i feel as if ive read the review for the 20th time. (Does not apply to Uncut!)
Go to Top of Page

VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

USA
9168 Posts

Posted - 07/08/2005 :  03:24:34  Show Profile  Visit VoVat's Homepage  Click to see VoVat's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
quote:
Don't get me wrong, i know reviewing an album isnt a homework assignment so I dont expect massive amounts of background knowledge on the artist etc.


On the other hand, most people don't get paid for doing homework, but they DO get paid for writing reviews for magazines.



I was all out of luck, like a duck that died. I was all out of juice, like a moose denied.
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
-= Frank Black Forum =- © 2002-2020 Frank Black Fans, Inc. Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000