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two reelers
* Dog in the Sand *
Austria
1036 Posts |
 Posted - 02/17/2023 : 00:32:20
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Oh man, time passes quickly...
I posted this here in 2018 (25 years FB):
It was 1993 when the self-titled debut came out. The yellow album (on CD) and the orange album (LP), respectively...
Where was I, way back then? In high school, in Europe, 17 years old or so. I just had discovered the Pixies, and was really getting into them. At one day, out of the blue, I heard rumours that they have broken up (pre-internet times for me; a class mate who had MTV at home reported this to me). I felt sad, for having lost a very fresh and very passionate love. But then more rumours: The main Pixie, Mr. Black Francis, will follow up with a solo record. Exciting! But slightly frightened as well: How will it compare to the incomparable? Will I be disappointed? Every week I went to my local record store, just to be told to be patient until the album arrives, and they don't know when that will be. Ah, these pre-internet times - no spoilers, no leaking, just the beautiful excitement of eagerly anticipating the unknown...
Then it was here, and it took me by a very pleasant surprise: The LP sleeve was made of rough paperboard, not the usual smooth/laminated and glossy paper sleeve. It also had a folding flap, which I stupidly removed later on. The cover itself was fantastic, so different from the Pixies style. Very simple, but somehow much more warm and human. It had a sticker which became my motto for years to come: "DEATH TO THE PIXIES - HERE COMES FRANK BLACK!". And the best thing was the logo: The F & B, entwined to represent a man with a guitar. Ingenious, once for the form and once just for the idea to have a logo for a one-man-band. (For the old folks on this forum, you may want to remember that I made frankblack.net-T-shirts with that logo and distributed them among some of you).
What about the most important thing - the music? I probably was very nervous when I put it on the record player. When the first chords of "Los Angeles" started to resonate, all anxiety was blown away. I was immediately in love with this new thing. It was very different from the Pixies, more playful, less mysterious, in some way much more approachable. Despite being very much into loud and rough guitars and noise at that time, I was hooked to the synthie-pop sound of "Two Spaces" in an instant. I was so happy.
What other snippets or thoughts are there to share? Just two days ago, I listened to "Ten Percenter", and it really made me wish that Frank and David Bowie would have performed it together at the 50th birthday of Bowie. Imagine Reeves on the guitar, and Gail Ann Dorsay on the bass. Bowie and Frank sharing vocals 'if you wanna wile a while ..IF YOU WANNA WILE A WHILE!...JERK JERK JERK!!!' "Parry the wind, high low" - another highlight. I still think the Pixies 2.0 should do that song.
Anybody else?
I joined the cult of Souled American / 'cause they are a damn' fine band |
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Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
3142 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2023 : 07:29:27
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It really would have been so cool if FB could have done something to commemorate this album.
Sadly I think that 2024 will also come and go with nothing done for TOTY either.
I probably listen to these imperial FB albums more than anything from 1.0 or 2.0.
I forget who won album cover survivor but this one is near the top for sure.
I got the vinyl just to have the cover as a decoration.
He should at least do an interview about this album, 30 years 30 questions or something like that.
I remember seeing him on the 1993 tour and it was great, but the 1.0s were so recent you couldn't blame people for yelling Monkey or whatever. It was a great show. Felt very much like a UFO convention.
What year was the last time he played anything from this album? Had to be about ten years or so right? |
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30 years!
