| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
|
|
Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
2961 Posts |
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
 Posted - 03/23/2021 : 22:30:35
|
Thanks. Frank Black's music is a fascinating thing to talk about for a lot of reasons. His music is often a reaction against whatever's happening in music/culture at the time. He's also this oddball who made his own path and had a lot of different phases along the way. I'm 44 and I love to observe the many different ways that people age and Frank has been so prolific that there is an epic narrative there to talk about.
I want to take my stab at telling that story, but from the point of view of the person walking up to the record store counter with the new album in hand. Or something like that. |
 |
|
|
danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2787 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2021 : 06:11:06
|
| having received by mail a stellar new turntable w/speakers and amp included from turntablelab I was at once both psyched and intimidated. Eventually I figured out the whole fishing string with tiny weight thing. The result, Orange Gold! You never forget the first new turn upon play. |
|
|
|
Discoking
* Dog in the Sand *
Belgium
1103 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2021 : 06:39:51
|
is that sponsored content, dan?
 it's educational |
|
|
|
danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2787 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2021 : 14:43:16
|
quote:
Originally posted by Discoking
is that sponsored content, dan?
it's educational
no. but damn I dig the sound |
|
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
|
|
Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
2961 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2021 : 10:10:24
|
Your entry on TOTY is spectacular. I can’t wait to reread and comment further. Who else remembers the day TOTY came out? I bought my cassette from the very hostess with the mostest.
I can’t get your Cult of Ray link to open for me. Surely that is an alien conspiracy at work. Help me if you can agent. Can’t wait to read it |
|
|
|
benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3420 Posts |
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2021 : 06:05:58
|
Thanks. I have no idea why the Cult of Ray link didn't open for you, Bedbug. I did a Wordpress update yesterday. Maybe that will fix it.
I wish I bought TOTY when it came out, but I was about a year away at the time from even knowing who Frank Black was.
My first Frank Black show was in 1996 in Dallas. I still remember that he was smiling a lot and moving around on stage, something that I later learned that he's not exactly known for doing. |
|
|
|
Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
2961 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2021 : 11:41:05
|
Thanks Jason I was able to read it. Great stuff as always.
January was 25 years since CoR. What a great album, one that I think separates the casual FB obsessive from the ultra obsessive. I just listened to it straight through this week. Looking forward to your review of Oddballs. |
|
|
|
stuczuba
= Cult of Ray =
471 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2021 : 13:54:43
|
Always a good read. COR is the first one that didn't grab me and still hasn't to this day.
But I'm gonna have a readandlistenanathon and give it another whirl :) |
|
|
|
Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1034 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2021 : 22:41:04
|
Niiiice write-up. Good site. I love Cult of Ray, one of his best.
cheers |
|
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2021 : 12:57:24
|
Thanks.
The next 5 will be...
11 - DEATH TO THE PIXIES
12 - FB AND THE CATHOLICS
13 - PISTOLERO
14 - ODDBALLS
15 - DOG IN THE SAND
I think...
I'm undecided about whether to include all of the Pixies archival releases (such as the BBC album and the B-sides collection). I think I've run about things to say about Pixies 1.0, but I'll see how I feel as I go along. |
|
|
|
Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
2961 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2021 : 15:21:37
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jason
Thanks.
The next 5 will be...
11 - DEATH TO THE PIXIES
12 - FB AND THE CATHOLICS
13 - PISTOLERO
14 - ODDBALLS
15 - DOG IN THE SAND
I think...
I'm undecided about whether to include all of the Pixies archival releases (such as the BBC album and the B-sides collection). I think I've run about things to say about Pixies 1.0, but I'll see how I feel as I go along.
Can't wait for whatever you do next. I hope you do 'em all and don't skip anything. |
|
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
|
|
Discoking
* Dog in the Sand *
Belgium
1103 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2021 : 12:06:32
|
nice! thanks, jason.
my (first) copy of death to the pixies didn't actually come with the live disc.
it's educational |
|
|
|
Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
2961 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2021 : 04:59:43
|
Another great read, thanks Jason.
I never had this album, so I never heard that live performance til YouTube.
I did have that t-shirt back in 1992 that said "Death to the Pixies" in the long lettering and the thumbs down. I see now that if I would have hung onto that shirt I could sell it for $400. New ones are available at Walmart.com for $25. Kind of ironic.
Did Charles come up with the idea behind the shirt in 92 (and ultimately the album in 97) as a way of expressing how he was feeling about the band?
I agree the 17 tracks on the album are a nice enough mix. Not what I would have done with them, but definitely a good intro to the man and his band.
Thanks again Jason for your time on these pieces. |
|
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2021 : 07:41:32
|
| I've always been under the impression that the "Death to the Pixies" shirts went way back to the early years of the band. Like "Surfer Rosa" era, if not earlier. I was just a kid so I don't know firsthand, though. |
|
|
|
Discoking
* Dog in the Sand *
Belgium
1103 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2021 : 09:52:48
|
Same here.
it's educational |
|
|
|
benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3420 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2021 : 11:58:42
|
Another great writeup.
I might dust off my 4x10" vinyl boxset of DTTP for the spin today...
all i can say, thank god for polio! brian |
|
|
|
Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
2961 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2021 : 08:54:02
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jason
I've always been under the impression that the "Death to the Pixies" shirts went way back to the early years of the band. Like "Surfer Rosa" era, if not earlier. I was just a kid so I don't know firsthand, though.
That's interesting. FB does look young on the pic |
|
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
|
|
Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =
USA
815 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2021 : 08:43:27
|
| Really enjoying these Jason! Thanks so much. |
|
|
|
Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =
USA
815 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2021 : 18:53:17
|
I am surprised however that there's no mention of the They Might Be Giants influence on his first three solo albums. I basically assume that since in the early 90s Frank became "obsessed" with TMBG's Flood, his songwriting and approach changed drastically, and those first two albums basically sound like Pixies meets TMBG (not to mention a Cult of Ray song named after Flansburgh banter.) There's a lot of musical influences on those albums, but I think TMBG really changed things for him at that time (and then he reflexed hard against it with the Catholics.)
However, take with a grain of salt as I myself am obsessed with TMBG, and Frank :) |
Edited by - Troubles A Foot on 11/13/2021 18:56:50 |
|
|
|
Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2021 : 19:23:33
|
I've never been a big TMBG fan so their influence on Frank would be a blind spot for me.
Maybe I would like them. It's been a loooooooong time since I've listened to them. |
|
|
|
Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
2961 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2021 : 20:16:12
|
Loved this one too Jason, I'll definitely go back and read it more closely.
I was not aware of the history of the album, so thanks for that.
I agree with you about Dylan. I think there is a lot of Bob in Frank.
I also think this is one of Frank's most spiritual albums.
Thanks again and I look forward to re-reading this one and all the next ones. |
|
|
|
Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =
USA
815 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2021 : 21:36:03
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jason
I've never been a big TMBG fan so their influence on Frank would be a blind spot for me.
Maybe I would like them. It's been a loooooooong time since I've listened to them.
I tell TMBG fans if they like TMBG, they'd like Teenager of the Year. So the inverse is true, if you like Teenager, you'd like TMBG! Short melodic rock songs with oblique and fascinating lyrics, mostly about dark or haunting subject matter.
If you want some buddies following along in listening, me and my friend do a pretty intensive and fun podcast about their stuff! |
|
|
|
Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <
2961 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2021 : 05:40:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
quote:
Originally posted by Jason
I've never been a big TMBG fan so their influence on Frank would be a blind spot for me.
Maybe I would like them. It's been a loooooooong time since I've listened to them.
I tell TMBG fans if they like TMBG, they'd like Teenager of the Year. So the inverse is true, if you like Teenager, you'd like TMBG! Short melodic rock songs with oblique and fascinating lyrics, mostly about dark or haunting subject matter.
If you want some buddies following along in listening, me and my friend do a pretty intensive and fun podcast about their stuff!
Wow, comparing anything to TOTY is quite the extraordinary claim.
Where should someone who knows nothing of TMBG, such as myself, begin? |
|
|
|
Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =
USA
815 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2021 : 23:29:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
Wow, comparing anything to TOTY is quite the extraordinary claim.
Where should someone who knows nothing of TMBG, such as myself, begin?
It's not extraordinary to a TMBG fan :) To me TOTY is just Frank trying to be TMBG (among his other influences too.)
My two favorite albums are Lincoln and John Henry, which are forever locked in battle in my head. I'd also recommend following along with my podcast, if you're the type who listens to podcasts. I've had people tell me it really boosted the experience for them in checking out TMBG albums. Of course, you can also just listen to the music. |
|
|
|
rivum
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
256 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2021 : 04:54:06
|
quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
quote:
Originally posted by Jason
I've never been a big TMBG fan so their influence on Frank would be a blind spot for me.
Maybe I would like them. It's been a loooooooong time since I've listened to them.
I tell TMBG fans if they like TMBG, they'd like Teenager of the Year. So the inverse is true, if you like Teenager, you'd like TMBG! Short melodic rock songs with oblique and fascinating lyrics, mostly about dark or haunting subject matter.
If you want some buddies following along in listening, me and my friend do a pretty intensive and fun podcast about their stuff!
Wow, comparing anything to TOTY is quite the extraordinary claim.
Where should someone who knows nothing of TMBG, such as myself, begin?
the most accessible records are their more commercial ones ie. Flood and Apollo 18. I love both of those records, but they really are all great. |
|
|
|
Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =
USA
815 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2021 : 08:46:59
|
| That's funny, I've never thought of those albums as commercial, especially Apollo 18. I could see John Henry and some of the 2000s albums as commercial for sure. But to be honest, I'm not sure that's an adjective I'd ever use to describe their stuff. They seem incapable of following any popular music current trends in a normal way or not sounding like themselves. |
|
|
|
rivum
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
256 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2021 : 05:59:02
|
| fair enough. it's just that those were the albums that had some radio and video play where I live |
|
|
|
Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =
USA
815 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2021 : 11:39:21
|
quote:
1.) Frank Black was clearly over being rock’s top UFO conspiracy weirdo. There’s not ONE WORD on this whole album about Mars or outer space or aliens. The subjects here are love gone wrong, death, religion, escape, traffic, mysticism, personal misery and Jonathan Richman.
Isn't Dog Gone about aliens?
quote:
I have fuzzy memories of an old interview in which Black says that the lyrics are from a dog’s point of view, but don’t quote me on that.
You must be thinking of Pray For The Girls, which is from a dog's point of view. I've always taken the lyrics in Dog Gone to be from an alien's point of view. He said that in an interview, I swear to god. |
Edited by - Troubles A Foot on 11/29/2021 11:42:40 |
|
|
|
Stevio10
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1071 Posts |
|
|
Topic |
|
The FRANK BLACK-O-RAMA! series
