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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
 Posted - 07/09/2005 : 11:40:13
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A rating of 3.5 out of 5, a review by Peter Bochan:
http://altmusic.about.com/od/reviewsinterviews/fr/frankblack.htm
Just before heading out on the road for the Pixies reunion tour, Frank Black dropped into a Nashville recording studio to lay down his first solo album since 1996’s “Cult of Ray”.
It’s very much a country soul type affair, heavy on the pedal steel and twang and light on the kind of vocal screaming dynamics that Frank uses in the Pixies and with his other incarnation—Frank Black and The Catholics. This interest in country and western should come as no surprise to anyone who has caught any of Frank’s solo tours --over the years he has opened shows with obscure Johnny Horton numbers, selections from Dylan’s “Self Portrait” as well as wearing elaborate cowboy shirts on stage while looping “All The Pretty Horses” through the house sound system.
“Honeycomb” comes out on Black Porch and contains 11 Black Americana type originals including the first single “I Burn Today” with a heavy nod to a Buffalo Springfield guitar lick from “Sit Down I Think I Love You” circa 1966. It’s crystal clear acoustic fun from start to finish. The three covers include a bizarre choice from the obscure Elvis Presley film catalogue---“Song of The Shrimp” from “Girls, Girls, Girls” in which the baby shrimp bids his parents goodbye while he jumps into the shrimp boat to head for New Orleans and the Creole girls who’ll coax him out of his shell. None of the shrimp seems to think this is a bad life threatening thing but it’s the closest to “God is Seven” you’ll find on this disc. There is also a sweet redo of the Sir Douglas Quintet song “Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day”—unreleased in the groove day it’s now covered in fine fashion, as is “Dark End Of the Street” written by Dan Penn in whose studios these mellow sessions were held. Backed by keyboardist Spooner Oldham, guitarist Steve Cropper and drummer Billy Block, Frank brings a laid back pre-punk read to the usual Black questions “Is Your Mind Gone---?” and “Are You Dog Tired?”. I think this is one that could grow on you.
"Fried food, cigarettes, no exercise, chest pain..." (Excerpt from the Angina Monologues) |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2005 : 12:03:40
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Thanks for posting!
“God is Seven” = "Monkey Gone to Heaven"?
Sometimes, no matter how shitty things get, you have to just do a little dance. - Frank
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2005 : 17:47:30
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| Thanks for that. It's going to be an interesting listen. |
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spaceghost11
- FB Fan -
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2005 : 10:34:55
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Pedal Steel? Pretty sure I didn't hear any....
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Jontiven
= Cult of Ray =
USA
347 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2005 : 15:32:36
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Spaceghost you are correct sir, there is NO pedal steel on this album.
You can't hold reviewers to every word, though. I've had my share of self-flagellating moments in my reviewing days and they are not fun.
But other than that, not a bad review, eh? The Buffalo Springfield reference is gratuitous, as ANY RIFF STEVE CROPPER PLAYS OWES NOTHING TO ANYBODY. He is truly the guvnor of all licks and owns first refusal rights to them. I can document the ones he invented and were subsequently recycled by all who came after. But I won't.
A little more than a week to go....I hope you've all got your watches set. And your $$$ saved. I want a DYNAMITE first sales week so we can get this touring thing in motion, and I'm not kidding.
best,
Jon Tiven |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2005 : 18:33:17
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Jon you can count on us!!
I am getting 8 copies. I wish I could by 80 thousand and then make a billion dollars on ebay in 20 years... but ya know!!
I am going to give one copy to a college radio station here in town that they'd play it if they had a copy.
I also got the green light for a community radio show in the Twin Cities promoting FB music featuring Honeycomb sometime between next week and Early Sept.
A friend that I met through FB.net last year is helping out... so it should be cool!  |
Edited by - Daisy Girl on 07/11/2005 18:38:24 |
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Joey Joe Jo Jr. Chabadoo
* Dog in the Sand *
1079 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2005 : 02:09:13
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And i'll sell my body to buy more Honeycomb copies!!!!
Hey calm down!!! What's the yiddish word for that?
By the way!
I don't think it's accurate to let say that it is the first solo album by Black since 1996...
We know what they mean, but not everyone! Is it an insidious verbal attempt from Frank Black management to put the unmassive success of the Catholics away from him?..
Moreover it is a concrete fact that Cult of Ray was the first Catholic Album. Teenager would be the last "solo" one before Honeycomb...
**** |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2005 : 04:12:10
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| Is'nt it great that Jon Tiven is posting here?! Hi, Mr. Tiven! :) |
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Jontiven
= Cult of Ray =
USA
347 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2005 : 10:58:22
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Glad my comments are meeting with a friendly reception.
On a completely different note- to alarm all of you completists and collectors out there, I just received the American promo cd for "I Burn Today" and it has completely different artwork from the other one, with some nice photos previously unseen of Frank Black.
I cannot attest to whether the shirt he is wearing in the photo is one of the legendary $200 shirts, but it is attractive.
bye,
Jon Tiven |
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Honeycomb review - Altmusic.com
