Music Reviews
Artist:
Frank BlackTitle:
Frank Black '93-'03Label:
Cooking Vinyl
Charles Thomas, better known as Black Francis and even better known Frank Black has often suffered in having his solo output unfairly compared with his incendiary work with The Pixies. A review would often berate him for softening his edges, not shrieking enough, or basically for not re-forming the band. Well, he has done the latter in touring again over the past couple of years and with a new album potentially underway, perhaps it can allow a more objective review of what he got up to in the intervening years.
For a start, he was busy – he released nine albums up to 2003 mostly with his backing band The Catholics. The theme unifying them all is his sense of the lyrically absurd, his Pixies’ scream might not be utilised quite as much but the oddball flights of fancy and weirdness is still welcomed to the fore, particularly on ‘Ten Percenter’ and ‘Los Angeles’. What surprises the most is that this album is littered with catchy guitar hooks and light touches that often veer toward slightly off-beat Country. It wasn’t until 2004 that he began working with notable Nashville session musicians but it is clear that he was moving in this direction well before.
It’s not all soft at the seams though, as the inclusion of the song ‘Velvety’ from the 2002 release ‘Black Devil’s Workshop’ testifies. It is a re-work of his Pixies' song "Velvety Instrumental Version" and was the first indication that Francis Black was looking to the past and to his earlier career. This may have been more than just nostalgia on his part for around this time he experienced a divorce and began therapy – 2003’s ‘Show me your tears’ album documented both. With the inclusion of the frantic new track ‘Threshold Apprehension’ it is reassuring to know those events have not mellowed him and his music retains its chaotic edge.
The compilation also features a bonus disc of live recordings which do not hold up as well as the studio output but are nevertheless a welcome addition.
Overall this is a fine collection that displays a man overflowing with musical ability and ideas and without fear in laying down whatever words and sounds came to mind, regardless of critical opinion. This may have led to disappointment from those with definite expectations but viewing afresh these songs neatly define a productive era from a unique artist.
