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theonecontender
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
565 Posts |
 Posted - 10/28/2005 : 18:07:59
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This is a monumentous album from Frank and I would like to open up a topic on it again.
People have talked about comparing the album musically to other rocking albums by Frank (usually for the worse), but I gotta say that it is unlike the others. It is one that the so called 'uber fans' should dig the most because it is all about Frank's words rather than a scorching RichG solo. I don't know about you, but I like hearing stories from the road and picturing the life of Frank. So I guess it's an album for himself and for those, like us, who follow his story. Very personal.. very cool.
I dig this album. It is a story of a man's life, and it rocks like a johnny cash tale rocks. And the covers are wickedly done as well.
So that's my rant..
Are there any other's who dig this album and want to sing for joy?
1c |
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pixiestu
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2564 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2005 : 11:35:52
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quote:
Originally posted by theonecontender
This is a monumentous album from Frank and I would like to open up a topic on it again.
People have talked about comparing the album musically to other rocking albums by Frank (usually for the worse)
I used not to like the album. Thought it was too mellow.
Of course, I was comparing it to TOTY, but then I realised that it rocks just as much in its own way.
Frank shouldn't have to compete with his earlier work, all his records should be accepted as individual and diverse, not judged against his old work.
quote:
Originally posted by theonecontender
Are there any other's who dig this album and want to sing for joy?
It now makes me sing for joy every time I hear it...
"The arc of triumph" |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2005 : 13:32:42
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quote:
It is one that the so called 'uber fans' should dig the most because it is all about Frank's words rather than a scorching RichG solo.
But isn't Honeycomb just as much about the Nashville session musicians as the Catholics albums are about Rich and the others? Granted, it's billed as a Frank Black solo album, but the backup musicians are an important part of the sound, aren't they?
I think someone can be an "über fan" and still dislike Honeycomb. Just because Frank is the main part of the appeal doesn't mean that the other contributors aren't relevant. Maybe some people think Frank's songs are at their best when performed by the Pixies, or the Catholics, or Eric Drew Feldman, or whatever. I don't really like the idea that one album is a more "authentic" Frank work than another. Honeycomb is more personal, yes. But when he sings about aliens or Bible stories, I still see that as authentic Frank, even if it isn't actually about his life.
I do agree that every album should be examined on its own merits, rather than compared to the others. On the other hand, presumably these other albums had something about them that made us like Frank in the first place. If Honeycomb lacks this something (which differs from person to person, of course), it makes sense that you wouldn't like it.
All this said, I DO like Honeycomb, and I think it might be a better overall work than the last few Catholics albums. But I don't think it's his masterpiece by any means.
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
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danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2792 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2005 : 20:31:01
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i waited for the record........then i heard it .......yep! Frank Black played me another bunch of songs and i was glad.
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2005 : 00:08:45
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I still think it's a masterpiece, but it lacks something.
What? Highway to Lowdown!
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God save the Noisies |
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lonely persuader
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
488 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2005 : 03:42:26
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>I still think it's a masterpiece, but it lacks something.
Is that a contradiction?
The word "masterpiece" is brandied about all too often these days. I have been liking honeycomb more recently after putting in my car for a long drive. It is good. Violet is still a crap song.
danjersey summed this topic up nicely. |
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lonely persuader
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
488 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2005 : 03:54:03
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oh, and just to reply to the original post.
>This is a monumentous album from Frank
Hardly, critic's and fans have been waiting for some big whirly-ma-gig musical statement from Frank ever since he left the pixies. He's happy doing what he likes now and he deserves it.
"monumentous", sounds like typical critic rubbish talk, lauding up anything and everything.
"I write songs. I record them. I go on tour and I play them. That's all. I don't ask people to 'put their hands together' or any other show biz crap."
"My records are unsuccessful because peoples' tastes are lame. I'm not saying my music is caviar for the brain, but I can't help think my stuff is better than a lot of crap out there." |
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theonecontender
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
565 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2005 : 13:36:32
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Good objective comments.. I guess I used the word monumentous to describe the change in songwriting. I think most would agree that this is the first 'lyrics-as-focus album' by Frank, thus, a big change in stylistic direction. I think a lot of the backlash towards this album, that some people have expressed, is due not to the country twang or the lack of trademark Frank chord progressions, but rather, the way he approached the writing of the album in general. Maybe I'm wrong.. Maybe they're just a bunch of not-so-strange rock songs.. But there seems to be a distict change in his attitude towards his music. It's no longer these criptic tunes about the three stooges. They are real life stories. That is a huge (read: any other adjective other than monumentous) change.
And I think Vovat's point is a good one. This is a hugely musical album. I can't argue against that.. Maybe what I was getting at before is that the music used to come first, where as here, it is most definitely about the lyrics taking center stage.
I've never been a big lyric dude.. never liked Dylan (trust me - I tried, I really did), but somehow this is the album that has changed my opinion on such matters. It's no longer about singing along to those catchy lyrics - it's about the story and the poetry of it all. Cheers to Honeycomb.
1c
aside: Someone please give us news of the box set. thanks. |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2005 : 15:46:22
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Yeah, Dylan was so original like that. Many of his lyrics have such an abstract beauty and wonderful turn of phrase.
 "Join the Honeycult!"
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2005 : 07:29:13
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quote:
Originally posted by lonely persuader
>I still think it's a masterpiece, but it lacks something.
Is that a contradiction?
The word "masterpiece" is brandied about all too often these days.
could be,
but since masterpiece is still subjective
and there's no exact description what a masterpiece is
(in terms of a music record) I can make up my own defination
of 'masterpiece' and therefore I don't contradict myself.
No need to reply, I also have my own definations of
''description'', ''defination'', ''contradict'', ''frank black'' and
''ketchup''
bye,
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God save the Noisies |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2005 : 15:34:13
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So do I, and I think Honeycomb is TOTALLY ketchup.
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2005 : 12:19:16
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Heinzycomb should have been the title
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God save the Noisies |
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SoKD
- FB Fan -
Italy
19 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 07:44:32
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quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
there's no exact description what a masterpiece is
Sorry if I disagree, but the word "masterpiece" should be used to define a work of art that is objectively considered as the best work of a certain artist (or movement, or historical period).
Now that the linguistic-aesthetic lesson is over  i can give my two cent about Honeycomb: I think it's a great album, there are no bad songs, the lyrics are inspired and the music is wonderful. It is exactly what you would expect from a 40 years old man, who is also a great artist, and who has his own life with his own good and bad periods.
Definitely in my top three list together with his first two lp's. (currently number one). |
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PixieSteve
> Teenager of the Year <
Poland
4698 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 07:51:32
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so in your subjective opinion, masterpiece is something objective? right.
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 08:12:18
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And in my objective opinion, a masterpiece is something adjective.
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
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SoKD
- FB Fan -
Italy
19 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 11:09:12
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| I was talking about something objective, although we all know that objectivity is subjective... |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 15:57:59
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objectively speaking, Frank hasn't done a good album since Doolittle
most of the people think that
here luckily, we know better, at least I do
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God save the Noisies |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 16:28:54
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HONEYCOMB is simply another piece of a master.
I was alone...in my BIG BED
-bRIAN |
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endofmiles
- FB Fan -
Switzerland
69 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 10:13:55
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I wasn't prepared when i was listening to the Pixies for the first time, i wasn't for the first solo album, and then with the Catholics. I never expected an album like Honeycomb, so intimate. The music, smooth and wonderful, seems to be in the background but has its own intensety.
Is Honeycomb a masterpiece? I don't know. I don't mind. Do I like it? I enjoy it each time i'm listening to it. That's what matters to me.
I agree with VoVat. A great review.
A nice topic theonecontender by the way.. |
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Honeycomb Discussion Revisited
