Frank Black: Rating the Albums
Submitted by ash_campbell on Thu, 08/07/2003 - 09:54
Tags:
- 1. Dog in the Sand (2001)
- An amazing album, this has been described by more than one reviewer as having a ‘Southwestern’ feel. It seems like the right descriptor. With a nice range of work from the rockin’ If It Takes All Night to the more touching The Swimmer, Black has great lyrics, nice guitar work, and a tight backing band. St. Francis Dam Disaster may be his single best work as a solo artist.
- 2. Teenager of the Year (1994)
- Between Headache, I Could Stay Here Forever, and the closing Pie in the Sky, it’s hard to fathom that this didn’t become a bigger hit record. This is considered his only great work by his former Pixies fans.
- 3. Black Letter Days (2002)
- It could have been nipped and tucked a little (should have dropped the overlong 1826; two versions of the Tom Waits song The Black Rider are a bit much), but there are some unbelievably good songs, such as Chip Away Boy and 21 Reasons. It feels like the band is having a lot of fun here.
- 4. Show Me Your Tears (2003)
- This one finds Frank in full blown rock-country, with songs of drinking, being left by your lover, and all sorts of countrified sentiments. However, he finds just the right ways to turn these trusted formulas into masterful songs, with the great Coastline and My Favorite Kiss.
- 5. Devil’s Workshop (2002)
- Nearly simultaneously released as the slugger Black Letter Days, this one is the more compact, hit-‘em-fast-and-run companion by comparison. Fields of Marigold is the album’s strong point.
- 6. Frank Black (1993)
- A nice collection of songs, including his best instrumental piece Tossed, Black finds weird ways to take his music, and many of the songs feel like they could have been written while he still with The Pixies.
- 7. Frank Black and the Catholics (1998)
- Pretty much on par with his initial debut, this is solid work with what has largely become his permanent backing band. It includes the inspired Dog Gone, as well as the concert favorite Six Sixty Six.
- 8. Pistolero (1999)
- A little weaker than the others, this just doesn’t come off very strongly. It’s hard to put a finger on, considering there are clever songs like 85 Weeks, but overall, it lacks a certain conviction that is necessary to push this up to a higher level.
- 9. Cult of Ray (1996)
- It’s never a good sign when an artist distances himself from one of his works. Black has mentioned in interviews that this album was largely a ‘mistake’. It’s not that bad, but it’s not great by any stretch of the imagination. It largely seems disjointed, with no real flow, though again, individual tracks reveal the same creative song writing. It largely plays as a decent punk album, with the exception of the haunting final track The Last Stand of Shazeb Andleeb.
Author Comments:
After Frank Black broke up the highly influential, somewhat successful band The Pixies, he struck out on his own; first solo as Frank Black, then with his backing band, as the current Frank Black and the Catholics. Seemingly happier as a niche artist, he’s put out 9 albums in the last decade, including this year’s release, Show Me Your Tears. Here’s a ranking of Frank’s work.
I love Dog in the sand. It would rate as my second fav behind Teenager. I have yet to hear Devil's workshop or Show me your tears. I agree with your bottom 3 though. Good to see another fan of the maestro.