-= 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
 Here Comes Your Subbacultcha
 2.0 Taxonomy Attempts
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 03/20/2020 :  08:15:56  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I was gonna spend a lot of time on this, but too much Covid 19 on the brain.

Feel free to trash this, refute it, improve it, make it the best thing ever.

I was gonna try to upload my color coded chart, but couldn't figure out how.

IC, HC, BTE all have 12 songs. Is there a classification system we can come up for them, particularly across the three albums?

=================================================================

The radio friendly hit - Greens and Blues, Classic Masher, Long Rider

The screamy song - Blue Eyed Hexe, Baal's Back, St. Nazaire

The poignant semi-religious / spiritual one - Andro Queen, All the Saints, Daniel Boone (or Death Horizon maybe)

The history lesson - Jamie Bravo, Head Carrier, Mrs. Mark of Cain

The easy listening song - Ring the Bell, Plaster of Paris, Bird of Prey

The tragic lost love song - Indie Cindy, All I Think About Now, Ready for Love

The straight up rock song - What Goes Boom, Um Chagga Lagga, On Graveyard Hill

The loud quiet loud formula - Bagboy, Oona, Silver Bullet

Completely arbitrary first attempt.

I'm not necessarily saying FBF picks from various categories like ingredients for a soup, but at the same time none of the albums all have one unified sound obviously. Curious if he's like, "ok, we need a soft song here, a loud song here" etc. Or the producers. Etc. Whatever. Back to you guys.

stuczuba
= Cult of Ray =

471 Posts

Posted - 04/28/2020 :  07:08:55  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I'd be all over a Config Management attempt - by my reckoning we're on Pixies v2.1 or 2.2 - depending if the Dubs incarnation counts.

I reckon you could do taxonomy by colour - these are blue songs, these are green etc. Lots of themes in there.
Go to Top of Page

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 04/30/2020 :  11:54:11  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Adding some from Trompe

The radio friendly hit - U-Mass, Greens and Blues, Classic Masher, Long Rider

The screamy song - Distance Equals Rate Times Time, Blue Eyed Hexe, Baal's Back, St. Nazaire

The poignant semi-religious / spiritual one - The Navajo Know, Andro Queen, All the Saints, Daniel Boone (or Death Horizon maybe)

The history lesson - Alec Eiffel, Jamie Bravo, Head Carrier, Mrs. Mark of Cain

The easy listening song - Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons, Ring the Bell, Plaster of Paris, Bird of Prey

The tragic lost love song - Letter to Memphis or Motorway to Roswell, Indie Cindy, All I Think About Now, Ready for Love

The straight up rock song - The Sad Punk, What Goes Boom, Um Chagga Lagga, On Graveyard Hill

The loud quiet loud formula - Subbacultcha, Bagboy, Oona, Silver Bullet
Go to Top of Page

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 04/02/2022 :  17:25:50  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I'll be curious to see where the new album Doggerel fits into this. Assuming Human Crime is on it I would put it under The Radio Friendly Hit

The radio friendly hit - U-Mass, Greens and Blues, Classic Masher, Long Rider, Human Crime

The screamy song - Distance Equals Rate Times Time, Blue Eyed Hexe, Baal's Back, St. Nazaire

The poignant semi-religious / spiritual one - The Navajo Know, Andro Queen, All the Saints, Daniel Boone (or Death Horizon maybe)

The history lesson - Alec Eiffel, Jamie Bravo, Head Carrier, Mrs. Mark of Cain

The easy listening song - Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons, Ring the Bell, Plaster of Paris, Bird of Prey

The tragic lost love song - Letter to Memphis or Motorway to Roswell, Indie Cindy, All I Think About Now, Ready for Love

The straight up rock song - The Sad Punk, What Goes Boom, Um Chagga Lagga, On Graveyard Hill

The loud quiet loud formula - Subbacultcha, Bagboy, Oona, Silver Bullet
Go to Top of Page

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 10/05/2022 :  04:39:21  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Ok I'm sketching out a Doggerel attempt on this, obviously removing Human Crime since it's not on the album after all. But quite honestly I don't think Doggerel fits this taxonomy very well at all, which of course is another reason to love it (and why not)

The radio friendly hit - U-Mass, Greens and Blues, Classic Masher, Long Rider, Haunted House (could have been half the album actually)

The screamy song - Distance Equals Rate Times Time, Blue Eyed Hexe, Baal's Back, St. Nazaire, Dregs and Moon are the only two that could fit

The poignant semi-religious / spiritual one - The Navajo Know, Andro Queen, All the Saints, Daniel Boone (or Death Horizon maybe), The Lord has come back today

The history lesson - Alec Eiffel, Jamie Bravo, Head Carrier, Mrs. Mark of Cain, Dregs of the wine seems to be history of sorts

The easy listening song - Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons, Ring the Bell, Plaster of Paris, Bird of Prey, Pagan Man

The tragic lost love song - Letter to Memphis or Motorway to Roswell, Indie Cindy, All I Think About Now, Ready for Love, Who's More Sorry Now

The straight up rock song - The Sad Punk, What Goes Boom, Um Chagga Lagga, On Graveyard Hill, There's a Moon On

The loud quiet loud formula - Subbacultcha, Bagboy, Oona, Silver Bullet, Nomatterday
Go to Top of Page

Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1012 Posts

Posted - 10/05/2022 :  09:04:58  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
How about a "like nothing they've done before" category?

I'd put Bagboy and Doggerel in there

I'd personally do a "could have been a Catholics song" category but many of them would be in it.
Go to Top of Page

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 10/06/2022 :  01:59:25  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Both great points, agree with you on your examples too
Go to Top of Page

Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *

Canada
1050 Posts

Posted - 10/16/2022 :  06:48:40  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I've been reading the so-called "history" books of the Old Testament, in which Baal pops up quite regularly. Baal's Back is such a great theme for a lyric.

Had me thinking more generally, that I strongly disagree with a growing consensus that the Pixies 2.0 screamers have been forced/disappointing. I think both Blue Eyed Hexe and Baal's Back are excellent additions to the canon, although I would agree that Tom did a *terrible* job recording Charles' vocals for the latter. The live versions are miles ahead.

Edited by - Brank_Flack on 10/16/2022 13:09:39
Go to Top of Page

The Maharal
* Dog in the Sand *

1012 Posts

Posted - 10/16/2022 :  08:02:02  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yeah Baal's is a class song, just tainted by the production. Hearing it live was a blast. It's Pixies meeting mclusky/Future of the Left, wonderful stuff.
Go to Top of Page

Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1012 Posts

Posted - 10/16/2022 :  09:32:37  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I think Blue Eyed Hexe is one of the best produced Pixies songs of all time. It's FEROCIOUS.

Baal's Back is...the complete opposite of that.
Go to Top of Page

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 10/16/2022 :  14:21:46  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Still can’t get into either BEH or BB fully, though the first minute of BEH has grown on me. I can imagine both songs are interesting live. It would be great to see either join the set lists.
Go to Top of Page

Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1012 Posts

Posted - 10/16/2022 :  14:43:36  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
though the first minute of BEH has grown on me.




Observant...the first minute of BEH to me sounds as much like Pixies 1.0 as anything they've ever done, and it's the kind of things they seem to have mostly abandoned.

Discordant, weird guitar voicings (like the chords.) Screeching and ugly. Weird timing until the drums come in and seem to make it make sense. The changes in the guitar chords as Frank starts singing, it's so scratchy and full of texture and grit (never noticed till listening now.) The song ROCKS! It's REALLY well produced!

I mean sure, maybe it's "forced"...but??? Who cares??? I dunno.
Go to Top of Page

Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *

Canada
1050 Posts

Posted - 10/16/2022 :  14:49:18  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot

quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
though the first minute of BEH has grown on me.



I mean sure, maybe it's "forced"...but??? Who cares??? I dunno.



Exactly! Also, love and completely agree with this description:

"Discordant, weird guitar voicings (like the chords.) Screeching and ugly. Weird timing until the drums come in and seem to make it make sense. The changes in the guitar chords as Frank starts singing, it's so scratchy and full of texture and grit (never noticed till listening now.) The song ROCKS! It's REALLY well produced!"
Go to Top of Page

johnnyribcage
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1301 Posts

Posted - 10/28/2022 :  17:28:49  Show Profile  Visit johnnyribcage's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Blue Eyed Hexe is my favorite song of the 2.0 era. I love literally everything about it.


I had a bad reaction to your public hobby writings.
Go to Top of Page

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 10/29/2022 :  02:11:43  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by johnnyribcage

Blue Eyed Hexe is my favorite song of the 2.0 era. I love literally everything about it.


I had a bad reaction to your public hobby writings.



No kidding? That’s interesting. I’ve grown to like it quite a bit more than I did at first, as with all of IC.
Go to Top of Page

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 12/19/2024 :  08:22:28  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Trying this with The Night the Zombies Came, and reminding me how different this album is.

Welcome anyone's contributions, my TNTZC attempts are in all caps:

The radio friendly hit - U-Mass, Greens and Blues, Classic Masher, Long Rider, Haunted House (could have been half the album actually)

The screamy song - Distance Equals Rate Times Time, Blue Eyed Hexe, Baal's Back, St. Nazaire, Dregs and Moon are the only two that could fit

The poignant semi-religious / spiritual one - The Navajo Know, Andro Queen, All the Saints, Daniel Boone (or Death Horizon maybe), The Lord has come back today, VEGAS SUITE

The history lesson - Alec Eiffel, Jamie Bravo, Head Carrier, Mrs. Mark of Cain, Dregs of the wine seems to be history of sorts

The easy listening song - Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons, Ring the Bell, Plaster of Paris, Bird of Prey, Pagan Man, KINGS OF THE PRAIRIE

The tragic lost love song - Letter to Memphis or Motorway to Roswell, Indie Cindy, All I Think About Now, Ready for Love, Who's More Sorry Now, MERCY ME

The straight up rock song - The Sad Punk, What Goes Boom, Um Chagga Lagga, On Graveyard Hill, There's a Moon On, ERNEST EVANS

The loud quiet loud formula - Subbacultcha, Bagboy, Oona, Silver Bullet, Nomatterday
Go to Top of Page

Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1012 Posts

Posted - 12/19/2024 :  13:16:25  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I would put almost all of TNTZC into "easy listening", shrug.
Go to Top of Page

Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3209 Posts

Posted - 12/19/2024 :  14:58:41  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot

I would put almost all of TNTZC into "easy listening", shrug.



You just made me think of that Bob Mould album “File Under Easy Listening”
Go to Top of Page

two reelers
* Dog in the Sand *

Austria
1052 Posts

Posted - 12/20/2024 :  04:33:01  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
To file "Bird Dream" under easy listening does not do justice to this masterpiece, IMO.

Once you grasp the idea of the storyline, I would call it a profound reflection on the insignificance and mortality of what we consider "individuals" (the little bird). And the language is so colorful and visual - listening to it iterally evokes a painting with sunset, a starry sky, and rust red all over the edges. And after it has concluded, the dream is suddenly over and one is thrown without warning into the aggresive confusion of life which is Space (I believe in).

If still needed, Trompe Le Monde is the proof that FB is not from this world.

I joined the cult of Souled American / 'cause they are a damn' fine band
Go to Top of Page

Troubles A Foot
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1012 Posts

Posted - 12/20/2024 :  07:48:31  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
The Sad Punk should also be a "screamy" song, but it's also kind of a loud quiet loud song, as half of it is loud and half of of it, sort of, more mellow.
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