| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 10/01/2022 : 01:35:25
What we know (in chronical order):
- Doggerel was made with the 40 demo's/ideas that Frank (and a couple more from Joey) brought to the sessions. They had some good songs that didn't fit the record so they were put aside (acording to FBF in the French Rolling Stone)
- Paz says the band worked on 16 of the 40 songs (bass magazine interview) [12 were released on Doggerel]
- In april (source?) of 2022 the Pixies and Tom Dalgety recorded for a week in Rockfield Studios (Wales).
- One of the songs Frank liked from the demo's, but did not do during the Doggerel-sessions, that they tried to record in Wales. Bluesy, stomper song, "I enjoyed it as an acoustic demo" [...] they tried to make it bigger, better and louder, but "in the end it was just too loud", "too much information". It didn't work out, it was failure, "thank god we didn't release this because we were in a rush"
(interview on Raised on Radio)
- Joey brought some songs to the table again (working titles Howie's Garage, I hear you mary, Taking care of bid'ness, according to Uncut interview). They recorded three ideas in Rockfield (according to Under the Radar interview), maybe those three?
- Paz recorded two songs for it (according to BF in French interview)
- Frank to SPIN: [On Doggerel] "I think that’s one more writing collaboration than has appeared on any other disc in the Pixies catalog. I imagine there will be much more collaboration forthcoming. I sense it.”
- Session in Wales didn't go that well, acording to FBF in Ultimate Music Guide :
"I was not in a good mood for lots of reasons"
I was very frustrated because now Mr Fucking Producer wants to work on all the fucking artsy-fartsy scraps from the margin. I got all these 40 fucking songs I wrote, for once in my life I do my homework............Now I show up with the goods and they're like [] these werid little things that you didn't intend over here bla bla
[ ]
I threw my notebook on top of the roof [..] I threw about three temper tantrums in about eight days
- Joey in Under the Radar:
"we have recorded so far about seven or eight demos for the next album. There will be a ninth album, we’re planning that already. After a good amount of a break, we will start recording again some time next year. We’re already kicking around what part of the world to work and record in next time"
- October 2023: Pixies record a new session with Tom Dalgety at Guilford Sounds, same place were Doggerel was recorded
- Paz leaves the band in october 2023 - march 2024
- Pixies play Vegas Suite, a new song, on the Bossanova Trompe tour
- Pixies rehearse a new song, which is posted on instagram: https://fb.watch/qROLONNt-1/
- Frank Black plays a new song, which is posted on instagram:
https://fb.watch/qROQ6dvc5M/
- 11 song titles are published on the BMI website
It's here: https://pixies.tmstor.es/
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Mad Lucas |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 10:38:31
The most interesting thing about the Kim album is the change in lyrical style, dealing with mortality, existence etc from the perspective of someone ageing. It is striking to hear after so much of her prior work is clouded in abstraction lyrically (not a bad thing). Couple that with the fact she still has all her musical powers, unlike other artists who make this shift post age-60, and it makes a compelling package.
Nonetheless, I can't get away from the fact that she's returning to many of the same wells. I wonder during recording how many takes she re-records because she played the part too correctly, or gave the impression she was trying too hard. Like at some point, when you're getting a horn section on your album, you've shown your hand that you're doing your best. You don't need to do the performative sloppiness thing. But that's what I'm getting at with her prioritising aesthetic or attitude. I think that approach really paid off on Title TK, but there are diminishing returns. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 10:03:19
What about this one: if Frank releases a record I'm all over it, from the get go. Even the bad ones.
I know Kim's new record is better, at least the singles were, but I only listened to it two times
I know Kim is cooler and better in being an indie goddes. I love her. But Frank is not interested in making those records.
I don't think he can, to be honest.
But I'm all up for it. For anything. Make a hip hop record, I don't care. Even the duds. Bring 'em on.
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 08:44:02
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
quote:
Originally posted by Brank_Flack
Nobody Loves You More is a pleasant listen, but it veers a bit too close to well-produced-indie-music-by-the-numbers. I'll take Primrose, Jane, Mercy Me, Motoroller, Kings of the Prairie over most of NLYM, whereas The Night the Zombies Came came together in weeks or months as opposed to a decade.
I just feel the total opposite. Nobody Loves You More isn't "pleasant" to me, it has multiple songs that moved me to tears. Nothing Frank has done has come close to that in a long time (maybe the bridge for Daniel Boone, and of course I love the reject songs from Eyrie. I also love the new solo song "The Liar" which is very moving.) I don't hear anything by the numbers in Kim's new album, each song is totally different, with different production styles and different songwriting techniques.
But also the production is so much better than the Pixies album it is insane. It's just so much more enjoyable to listen to because I don't get distracted by how bad the vocals or drums sound. And none of the songs sound like Kim is forcing anything. All of the new Pixies sounds like Frank is forcing solo songs into a Pixies shape and I know I've said this 1,000 times here, but I just can't get over how awkward that can be. They are a solid band but for some of these songs it doesn't feel like they are the right people.
I genuinely think the Pixies maybe should have "died" and he should have just been a solo artist. I think we'd all see more freedom from him in the songwriting, who he chooses to play on his albums, etc. We'd have more range of stuff like Honeycomb to Teenager of the Year to Bluefinger, etc. I find the Pixies thing kind of restraining for him, but the financial incentives are too great so he stays with it. I think he is indeed "caught in a dream" that he can't get out of. Part of why seeing him play solo was so incredibly refreshing last week.
Anyway this is all to say that Kim's new album just feels so real and inspired to me and the Pixies new album feels awkward to me.
Yeah, it's inarguable that the production (and arrangements) on Kim's album is better, but I don't have the same emotional connection to the songs that you do.
I also agree that there is something awkward to Pixies 2.0 baked into the core - but I also think that despite some duds, the tension between Frank's mature songwriting style and the band creates some interesting, and again, idiosyncratic results that I am overall happy with. You mentioned in the other thread something along the lines that that with Kim everything clicks, whereas with Pixies 2.0 there's an awkwardness of goth wearing cowboy boots. I think that's a good description, but I come down on the other side of finding the latter oddly compelling. For all the diversity on NLYM, most of the songs sound like tasteful, competent indie/alt songs that I've heard before (even the more experimental tracks), whereas Pixies takes on British murder ballads, Phil Spector, and late-era Leonard Cohen is more of a left-turn for me.
Without calling for a disbanding of the Pixies, I do agree that it would be nice if Charles could record with a greater diversity of musicians to reflect his different interests. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 08:35:51
I don’t know if anything 1.0 has moved me to tears, other than tears of “this is amazing”
Maybe Motorway if I step into it
Nothing Kim has done gets me emotionally either, but always enjoy the listen |
| Skatealex1 |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 08:31:19
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
But also the production is so much better than the Pixies album it is insane. It's just so much more enjoyable to listen to because I don't get distracted by how bad the vocals or drums sound. And none of the songs sound like Kim is forcing anything. All of the new Pixies sounds like Frank is forcing solo songs into a Pixies shape and I know I've said this 1,000 times here, but I just can't get over how awkward that can be. They are a solid band but for some of these songs it doesn't feel like they are the right people.
I genuinely think the Pixies maybe should have "died" and he should have just been a solo artist. I think we'd all see more freedom from him in the songwriting, who he chooses to play on his albums, etc. We'd have more range of stuff like Honeycomb to Teenager of the Year to Bluefinger, etc. I find the Pixies thing kind of restraining for him, but the financial incentives are too great so he stays with it. I think he is indeed "caught in a dream" that he can't get out of. Part of why seeing him play solo was so incredibly refreshing last week.
I agree with pretty much of all of this. I don't hate on someone for cashing in but Frank doesn't even hide that Pixies is in big part a cash cow. I appreciate that hea evolved it to not try to recreate the old Pixies sound but it still seems almost a little off in some ways. Like letting Tom Dalgety seemingly make a lot of big choices like tracklists apparently and coming from a more classic rock than indie rock background. (Since when are Pixies a classic rock influenced band)
The Kim Deal production is so much more enjoyable and natural sounding to me than maybe any Pixies 2.0 release I can think of.
I'd add the last Breeders album on this list too. Even if it maybe sticks to Kim's guns a bit- it still just sounds more natural sounding and not overproduced indie rock where as maybe every Pixies 2.0 album has weird production choices that take away from it. |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 08:16:13
quote:
Originally posted by Brank_Flack
Nobody Loves You More is a pleasant listen, but it veers a bit too close to well-produced-indie-music-by-the-numbers. I'll take Primrose, Jane, Mercy Me, Motoroller, Kings of the Prairie over most of NLYM, whereas The Night the Zombies Came came together in weeks or months as opposed to a decade.
I just feel the total opposite. Nobody Loves You More isn't "pleasant" to me, it has multiple songs that moved me to tears. Nothing Frank has done has come close to that in a long time (maybe the bridge for Daniel Boone, and of course I love the reject songs from Eyrie. I also love the new solo song "The Liar" which is very moving.) I don't hear anything by the numbers in Kim's new album, each song is totally different, with different production styles and different songwriting techniques.
But also the production is so much better than the Pixies album it is insane. It's just so much more enjoyable to listen to because I don't get distracted by how bad the vocals or drums sound. And none of the songs sound like Kim is forcing anything. All of the new Pixies sounds like Frank is forcing solo songs into a Pixies shape and I know I've said this 1,000 times here, but I just can't get over how awkward that can be. They are a solid band but for some of these songs it doesn't feel like they are the right people.
I genuinely think the Pixies maybe should have "died" and he should have just been a solo artist. I think we'd all see more freedom from him in the songwriting, who he chooses to play on his albums, etc. We'd have more range of stuff like Honeycomb to Teenager of the Year to Bluefinger, etc. I find the Pixies thing kind of restraining for him, but the financial incentives are too great so he stays with it. I think he is indeed "caught in a dream" that he can't get out of. Part of why seeing him play solo was so incredibly refreshing last week.
Anyway this is all to say that Kim's new album just feels so real and inspired to me and the Pixies new album feels awkward to me. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 06:52:52
Related I think to this topic:
Was it that Kim had a real sense of how amazing 1.0 was and didn't want to tarnish the legacy like so many sequels do, etc?
Seems like Frank had a phase of that ("beautiful corpse") but also at the same time was demythologizing his own legacy in real time and loving it.
Also, Kim works at her pace (slower than Frank), and produces a certain number of songs (fewer than Frank) that hit on different levels (good songs bad songs) and Frank works at his pace (faster than Kim) and produces a certain number of songs (more than Kim) that hit on different levels (good songs bad songs).
|
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 06:30:59
quote:
Originally posted by Mad Lucas
I've had this conversation with Trouble in another topic but I personally find the Pixies album to be better than Kim's recent work. I don't think she is the same calibre of artist and doesn't have the songwriting chops. Nonetheless, on her own terms, as an artist that prioritises aesthetic, mood, attitude, and as one who seems to always be chasing the same sound, I can appreciate and enjoy the album, though when set against her other work there is a point of diminishing returns. [...]
My opinion is grounded in prioritising songcraft, engagement with or response to music tradition, hearing an artist evolve, among other things. Frank/Black/Charles hits that spot for me.
I agree with this. I think Kim has immaculate aesthetic taste and a knack for arrangements, but Frank's songwriting is just more idiosyncratic and interesting to me. Nobody Loves You More is a pleasant listen, but it veers a bit too close to well-produced-indie-music-by-the-numbers. I'll take Primrose, Jane, Mercy Me, Motoroller, Kings of the Prairie over most of NLYM, whereas The Night the Zombies Came came together in weeks or months as opposed to a decade. |
| Skatealex1 |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 05:43:50
I guess it may be subjective to some degrees but almost every song on Kim's new album is more interesting and fun to me than the new Pixies album.
I also feel like FB's songwriting hasn't exactly improved in recent years compared to his best stuff. At least the lyrics improved since Doggerel but on that album stuff like "There's a Moon on" and "I went to 711 and I think it's really great" felt like amateur hour from what I expect from Frank (no offense to the man).
From Kim's album- Crystal Breath, Are You Mine, Big Ben Beat, A Good Time Pushed are all more exciting/relistinable than just about any song from the last two Pixies album for me. |
| Mad Lucas |
Posted - 12/13/2024 : 02:56:00
The issue in evaluating an artist by their entire history of work, then comparing that artist to another and their work, is that we make assumptions regarding what makes the music 'good', both on its own terms and according to our personal understanding of 'good', which we never exactly share with another person.
I've had this conversation with Trouble in another topic but I personally find the Pixies album to be better than Kim's recent work. I don't think she is the same calibre of artist and doesn't have the songwriting chops. Nonetheless, on her own terms, as an artist that prioritises aesthetic, mood, attitude, and as one who seems to always be chasing the same sound, I can appreciate and enjoy the album, though when set against her other work there is a point of diminishing returns. It's a bit like Dinosaur Jr. When you've written the same song seven times there's a lessening of impact.
My opinion is grounded in prioritising songcraft, engagement with or response to music tradition, hearing an artist evolve, among other things. Frank/Black/Charles hits that spot for me. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 12/12/2024 : 23:48:06
Sorry, I mean more in a general sense
Of course albums to albums is more than fine
But I never understood the whole Beatles vs Stones thing too
Kim and Frank are totally different giants
Frank is more is more (cause he can go every way, both good and bad)
Kim is less is more (cause she basically does the same thing over and over)
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 12/12/2024 : 18:44:34
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
Kim works slow
One of the reasons she fell out with Robert Pollard
You can't compare Kim and Frank at all.
I'm not sure I understand why you can't compare them. You can compare albums of any artist with other artists, right? And they're both in the indie/alternative rock genre and come from the same band. Of course they're comparable. And Kim put out a new album and Pixies put out a new album and I think Kim's is of far greater quality. I can compare Kim's album with other artists who put out new albums too in the past year. What does the speed at which they work have to do with that? You can compare movies from different directors that work at different speeds too. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 12/12/2024 : 13:05:50
Kim works slow
One of the reasons she fell out with Robert Pollard
You can't compare Kim and Frank at all.
Funnily enough, both Frank and Kim have a thing for country and analog recording.
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 12/12/2024 : 08:52:08
Yeah, I'm on the more-is-more side with Frank. He's an intuitive snake feeling his way rather than an painstaking architect of a grand vision. He writes in batches for studio sessions, and admits himself that he's not great at quality control in the moment. So, his songwriting style does not lend itself towards accumulating gems over a few years in order to release a great mission statement. The more albums we get means the more gems he writes, less pressure on each album to be a mission statement, and more room for experimentation and even interesting misfires, even at the expense of a few duds.
(This is in part why I think the comparison with Kim Deal's new album in the other thread was an apples for oranges comparison, as this is decidedly not how Kim works.) |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 12/11/2024 : 14:09:46
Yeah I am on the fence on this. I agree with much of Fitzy's post, but I think Frank Black often is best (or most interesting) when he's allowed to fire in all directions and put as much out as he wants to, rather than letting someone like Dalgety choose from a batch of songs. I find sometimes with Frank, quantity IS quality. And sometimes the "lesser" songs that Dalgety would cut out could be slow growers that wind up being favorites, but they won't get the chance. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 12/11/2024 : 11:03:32
I have this theory that those records would be better if they would bang them out every year
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Fitzy |
Posted - 12/10/2024 : 15:53:29
Having listened to the album a bunch of times, I like it fine enough. Not amazing, not the best Pixies 2.0 album (IMO, Beneath the Eyrie still holds that title), just another good batch of FB songs.
Can't understand how 'The Vegas Suite' is released on a Pixies album. The definition of FB on autopilot, with a lackluster guitar lick, the song sounds like one of those handful FM/RM songs that no one remembers, like Billgoodman said, the break feels forced, comes out of nowhere and ends up adding nothing. Emma's vocals are lovely here (she's great whenever she adds her vocals, really), maybe the only decent part of the song. This song seems to remind people of Catholics records, a period of Frank's career that I was never that into (except for DITS, because that one is just too good).
And this is my main gripe with the new album, or with these new Pixies albums. The apparent lack of effort into making these albums timeless, on par with, if not Pixies 1.0, then Frank's best solo albums. And if FB's or TOTY's or DITS' brilliance is too far away in the past, he's released amazing albums not that long ago, like 'Bluefinger' or 'The Golem' (fuck, 2007 and 2011, let me double check the math, that can't be right). Or Beneath the Eyrie, released on September 13, 2019, by BMG/Infectious! (Fuck you, Time)
For every fantastic song that's on this album ('Primrose' is sublime, 'Jane' is one of Frank's best songs ever, 'Motoroller' is great, 'Ernest Evans' is really fun, 'Hipnotise' has been growing on me, 'I Hear You Mary' has Joey doing that one note hook on the chorus that's just right), there are a few songs that seem to be throw-away songs. A song like 'Stormy Weather' can be really fun too, if the rest of the album is Bossanova. Even if this new album has a great flow to it, and the band seem really confortable, it should have been apparent, if not to the band, but to the producer, that they didn't have enough great songs on this one to make an amazing Pixies album.
Couldn't they just have waited until Frank came up with more classic songs, and then release a truly great album? Why the rush in releasing Pixies album every couple of years? |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/29/2024 : 02:44:10
It's such a great track.
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/28/2024 : 07:24:52
Yeah, well put Mad Lucas.
I should add that Primrose keeps growing in stature for me. It may have jumped to be my favourite of the bunch. |
| QuaBear |
Posted - 11/27/2024 : 08:10:08
Yeh, I'd agree with that sentiment. I think Oyster Beds and You're So Impatient are much better within the organism of the record (though I do love Oyster Beds on its own).
quote:
Originally posted by Mad Lucas
I love the new album. Seeing them twice live last week gave me a real appreciation for The Chicken, Vegas Suite and Mercy Me especially.
The only thing I question is the choice of singles. Oyster Beds and You're So Impatient are nice up tempo album tracks which act as palette cleansers, but they're not super memorable. I enjoy them a lot more hearing them in album sequence than when I heard them individually.
I see this as a real maturation point for the band. It's not quirky and off kilter, it's poised and mature. Charles is mostly singing in a deep baritone, channelling Leonard Cohen, and this blends well with Emma's higher register. They're not pretending to be 25 like many bands do, making it a somewhat tragic listen. They're comfortable in their skin.
While this marks a certain slowing down, Charles is such a distinctive songwriter and the band's DNA is present enough that despite any slowing nobody else is going to make an album like this.
|
| Mad Lucas |
Posted - 11/25/2024 : 23:40:31
I love the new album. Seeing them twice live last week gave me a real appreciation for The Chicken, Vegas Suite and Mercy Me especially.
The only thing I question is the choice of singles. Oyster Beds and You're So Impatient are nice up tempo album tracks which act as palette cleansers, but they're not super memorable. I enjoy them a lot more hearing them in album sequence than when I heard them individually.
I see this as a real maturation point for the band. It's not quirky and off kilter, it's poised and mature. Charles is mostly singing in a deep baritone, channelling Leonard Cohen, and this blends well with Emma's higher register. They're not pretending to be 25 like many bands do, making it a somewhat tragic listen. They're comfortable in their skin.
While this marks a certain slowing down, Charles is such a distinctive songwriter and the band's DNA is present enough that despite any slowing nobody else is going to make an album like this. |
| QuaBear |
Posted - 11/17/2024 : 10:33:16
It's been about a month, still think this is their best 2.0 offering. I think everything from the flow, to the songwriting, to the instrumentation, to the vocals (brilliant backing vocals of Emma), to the variety, or what have you; It feels fresh. It feels not as contrived as the other 2.0 records.....I don't know, I like this one. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 11/15/2024 : 06:44:43
When I sing Kings of the Prairie I start singing Caught in a Dream too |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/15/2024 : 06:18:54
quote:
Originally posted by Sprite
I gotta say am about 20 listens and the trio of Mercy Me, Ernest Evans and KotP are what I really look forward as I work through the record.
Ernest Evans is 100% Pixies for me, it's so much better than say St Nazaire or Um Chagga Lagga. I mean they are both good songs but Evans just has as some proper Pixies leanness and bite but also something new with the rockabilly angle. Joey's chord on the break into the chorus is pure Johnny Marr on a Smiths late career B-side. I would be very happy to see them go more in this direction.
I agree - but I'd expand it to Oyster Beds - Mercy Me - Ernest Evans - Kings of the Prairie - Vegas Suite. A great run. If Tom didn't sneak I Hear You Mary, I'd add Motoroller to that stretch. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/14/2024 : 21:34:07
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
I don't think so. I think second to last (or last) song is the perfect place for "it's all gonna be ok, if things are bad, we're here to make it all better." Similar to Dog in the Sand and So. Bay and Whispering Weeds or Havalina being at the ends of those albums. This is a Frank thing he's done before...A kind of comforting, sweet goodbye.
Well maybe it should have been the last song?
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Sprite |
Posted - 11/14/2024 : 12:23:46
I gotta say am about 20 listens and the trio of Mercy Me, Ernest Evans and KotP are what I really look forward as I work through the record.
Ernest Evans is 100% Pixies for me, it's so much better than say St Nazaire or Um Chagga Lagga. I mean they are both good songs but Evans just has as some proper Pixies leanness and bite but also something new with the rockabilly angle. Joey's chord on the break into the chorus is pure Johnny Marr on a Smiths late career B-side. I would be very happy to see them go more in this direction. |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/14/2024 : 08:29:29
I don't think so. I think second to last (or last) song is the perfect place for "it's all gonna be ok, if things are bad, we're here to make it all better." Similar to Dog in the Sand and So. Bay and Whispering Weeds or Havalina being at the ends of those albums. This is a Frank thing he's done before...A kind of comforting, sweet goodbye. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/14/2024 : 02:37:59
Yeah, you are both right probably. Nothing really wrong with KotP but I feel that it needs another place in the sequence.
One more piece of criticism: the 'ohh ooh Ohh" that mimicks the bass line after "we're on our way to you" sounds totally shoehorned.
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/13/2024 : 19:51:11
I agree on Ernest Evans, like if you're gonna do a throwaway song, make it more insane. I feel this way about Impatient also.
I don't agree on Kings of the Prairie, I think that's one of the best on the album. Frank in comforting, sweet mode. Not that I think the Pixies should ever be comforting. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 11/13/2024 : 13:09:04
Great review Mr Goodman, I agree with much of what you said
I really think Emma is a significant part of why the beautiful songs are so beautiful
I really like Kings of the Prarie though I wouldn’t want to miss that one being on the album |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/13/2024 : 11:43:32
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
5 Hypnotised
This is kind of a summary of the whole record. The verses sound like Pixies 2.0 by numbers. Very slick production, could have been a bit rougher IMHO. There's a Chicked-style lead by Joey in the chorus, which itself is a bit like the second half of the record (Mercy Me, Kings of the Praire, Vegas Suite) with the country feel and the two vocals. The part after the chorus where Frank sings "I have been hexed" is my favorite. It floors me. With the four on the floor bassdrum and the talk singing. What can I say. I just love Franks voice. I'm that easy.
That bit also feels like a nod to the sound of I Hear You Mary.
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
I was thinking that the spoken "I have been hexed" interlude is David's velvety baritone. What are others hearing? |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/13/2024 : 11:10:12
One of the best 2.0 records. It won't beat BTE for sure, but it's a close call between this and HC and Doggerel.
Cut away some songs and work a little harder on some others and you have an amazing record. For instance, No You're So Impatient and Kings of the Prairie. Fuck up Ernest Evans and Johnny Good Man a little bit with some psycho Joey and you have the best 2.0 record.
1 Primrose
A dreamy opener. Never heard a Pixies song like this, I guess? This kind of song makes me keep on listening to FBF. Emma is killing those backing vocals. Especially the glide/portamento in her vocals in lines as "here in sweet repose". Joey is also playing lovely Bossanova-type leads. I like Dave on the cymbals.
2 You're So Impatient
Love how this one shoots out of the gate, after the surprise ending of Primrose. I happen to like dry drums. But that's it. Throwaway rocker. Like the "favorite part" in the break. Joeys lines in the chorus (a boring one) are totally snoozers. I like the fact that this is a short song.
3 Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)
Weird verses and that's what FBF is all about. I like Spector and I love the shouts and the low "Jane" by Dave. Great song overall and it feels short too. Just like the songs before it. Smart choices. Great bass tone.
4 Chicken
Lyrics don't bother me anymore. Love the chords under "I'm just running in circles". The big chorus makes sense now, coming after Jane. Joey plays great again! Love his sound. Emma is also great on the bass. Superb one!
5 Hypnotised
This is kind of a summary of the whole record. The verses sound like Pixies 2.0 by numbers. Very slick production, could have been a bit rougher IMHO. There's a Chicked-style lead by Joey in the chorus, which itself is a bit like the second half of the record (Mercy Me, Kings of the Praire, Vegas Suite) with the country feel and the two vocals. The part after the chorus where Frank sings "I have been hexed" is my favorite. It floors me. With the four on the floor bassdrum and the talk singing. What can I say. I just love Franks voice. I'm that easy.
That bit also feels like a nod to the sound of I Hear You Mary.
6 Johnny Good Man
Opening riff which is also the chorus, nice Surf guitar chords. I miss some extra Joey magic and Frank is also very plain on this track. It could be a good song, but it lacks energy. The outro is pretty nice, could be an anthem. But it never sounds like one. Missed chance.
7 Motoroller
This one does have some energy and takes some left turns. In the end, I just want some new songs by Frank. And this is one.
8 I Hear You Mary
I like this one, cause it has some new things soundwise. Don't love the key change, but it doesn't bother me after a while.
It's a nice addition, nothig more. Love the way Frank sings about cobblestones and flesh on the bone.
9 Oyster Beds
Best one of the bunch. This does everything that You're So Impatient does not. It's all in the delivery, because the song itself is not all that special too. Joey plays along just like he does on You're So Impatient, but here it works. The toggle switch sound is totally fan services but I love it. Also Dave drums lift up the track. He rarely does anymore. I wish this was the lead single. Or that You're so impatient sounded a bit more like this. Oyster Beds is one of the tracks where Frank does a little hey or grunt or squeek and this is the only time it really works. Energy!
10 Mercy Me
Lovely song, a modern and more direct version of stuff like Wave or In Heaven. Does Joey play a little bit out of time? I think he's guitar could have sounded better too. Love Emma's vocal.
11 Ernest Evans
This could or should have been a lot faster, or shorter and have even more Joey. To be honest it feels like a missed chance. The song itself is nothing much. Could have worked with Oyster Beds. I see how it works in an album context, but I wished it was a b-side.
12 Kings of the Prairie
Another plain country song, and it feels a bit redundant. It's not better than Primrose, Mercy Me and Vegas Suite. I could have done without it. Emma's is great on the vocals again.
13 The Vegas Suite
Joey's sound is good, the break feels a little forced, but I'm happy with that kind of chances on a Pixies song. Lovely Emma again.
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| vilainde |
Posted - 11/12/2024 : 12:55:53
Anyone else thinks Mary sounds like The Damned? Reminds me a lot of the epics of their later years.
Denis
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| Joey Joe Jo Jr. Chabadoo |
Posted - 11/12/2024 : 08:21:16
Okay, I bought the newest record the 30th of October.
I’ve been listening to it quite a lot (mostly in my car).
I stopped for like 3, 4 days and listened to it again and here are my very subjective impressions:
PRIMROSE – Andro Queen (Liddl version)
YOU'RE SO IMPATIENT – There’s a Moon On part 2, I’m afraid…
JANE (THE NIGHT THE ZOMBIES CAME) – Masterpiece. One of the most haunting songs by Pixies. A classic (more Classic than Masher).
CHICKEN – Fast Man / Raider Man type of song. Good filler
HYPNOTISED – The more I listen to it, the more I enjoy it.
A very decent Grand Duchy Tenement Song in the style of Get Simulated on Doggerel
but not at the level of a genuine Pixies song.
JOHNNY GOOD MAN – Fast Man / Raider Man again.
Interesting revamp of the story of Johnny Barleycorn,
a good man amongst Pagan Men… Further investigation needed…
MOTOROLLER – Not bad. Fast Man / Raider Man part 3
I HEAR YOU MARY – I don’t really hear it at the moment.
OYSTER BEDS – Good song. Sweet head banger.
The kids like it. Reminds me of Maelstrom by Rocket From The Tombs.
Less weird though...
MERCY ME – Dog Gone in the sand à la Fast Man / Raider Man. Nice.
ERNEST EVANS – I like it. Smells like Jumping Beans and Sugar Daddy,
the cover Frank Black (and Reid Paley) recorded
for Wig In A Box: Songs from & inspired by Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
KING OF THE PRAIRIE – Selkie Bride, Selkie Bride, but not…
THE VEGAS SUITE – Hmmm… What’s next ?
In the end, I hear a lot of similarities with FM/RM minus the greatest songs.
Now, I hope they’ll get a new producer soon (he's coming to save us). Jon Tiven would work fine for me at that point.
Any producer who would care for Dave and Joey's musicianship, actually.
I think Dalgety is very good at producing demos. He should stick to it.
Dave and Joey should reform the Everybody and invite Frank Black to sing (backing vocals).
The bass player? Whose bass player? Who cares now…
Anyway, it’s great to care for a new Pixies album.
Jane (TNTZC) is worth the price. It’s just fantastic!
Oh! And I love Pixies for 30 years!
Cool!!!
++++ |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/08/2024 : 20:02:27
I think me and Maharal have similar ears, and not just for the TMBG shoutout. (Hope you give my podcast a try sometime!)
The main thing saving Vegas Suite for me is Frank really sounds like he gives a shit, reminds me of a Catholics vocal.
I truly, truly hate the melody for the Johnny verses. The falsetto "the fiiiight", it makes me viscerally kind of irritated. I can't even explain it. Hypnotized is like that too for me. They are fast becoming skips as I feel I've made up my mind on them.
On the far other end of the spectrum, one of the melodic + lyrics highlight for me is Jane:
"Winter bitter gave him something that did make him small"
How fun is that to listen to and to sing? It's just infection to me. |
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