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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Frank Black Francis
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 2 votes
Read user comments
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Album Info
Label: Spin Art
Release Date: 12 October 2004
Discs: 2 discs
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
This unusual set from the Pixies frontman includes a disc of demo solo recordings dating from 1987, and a second disc of new studio recordings of an assortment of Pixies songs by Black with collaborators such as Pere Ubu and Two Pale Boys.
Also By This Artist: Fast Man Raider Man Honeycomb
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Frank Black & The Catholics: Black Letter Days Frank Black & The Catholics: Devil's Workshop Frank Black & The Catholics: Dog In The Sand Frank Black & The Catholics: Show Me Your Tears The Pixies: Complete B-Sides
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly
[On disc 2] he finds a dormant penchant for vocal nuance. [29 Oct 2004, p.68]
New Musical Express
What it shows is that if you're going to do the hits, the thing to do is pin them down, fuck them up and HURT THEM. [average of scores of 90 for Disc 1 and 70 for Disc 2; 16 Oct 2004, p.48]
All Music Guide
Those who really love Frank Black and Black Francis' songs, as opposed to just their sound, will enjoy eavesdropping on him playing around with his work.
Read Full Review >Mojo
For scholarly inclined fans, the 1987 demo is a fascinating document. [Nov 2004, p.110]
Uncut
It's the inclusion of [Disc 2] that makes this essential. [Dec 2004, p.140]
Pitchfork
The second disc is ultimately little more than a curiosity for most-- and will no doubt be complete anathema for some-- but given that the entire package retails for a single-disc price, that's hardly a reason for a die-hard to opt out.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
While the demos CD is guaranteed to please longtime devotees, the remakes will polarize many.
Read Full Review >The Wire
Black's pleasure at rediscovering these old songs in new company is infectious and makes the exercise engaging and worthwhile. [#252, p.62]
Tiny Mix Tapes
The one thing the demo and the remix have in common is they both put Francis' voice in a more prominent position than on the Pixies albums, and that is certainly not a bad thing.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
It is fun to hear the songs re-imagined [on Disc 2], no doubt, but the first disc is sketches of invention with the seedlings of genius. [average of scores of 7 for Disc 1 and 5 for Disc 2; #8, p.108]
Delusions of Adequacy
Overall, what could have been yet another cash-cow milker actually turns out to be a curious and compelling piece of therapy for Frank Black as a writer and performer.
Read Full Review >Paste Magazine
Unfortunately, disc two’s cache of amorphous, New Age-y, re-recorded Pixies standards falls flat.
Read Full Review >Junkmedia
[Disc 1 is] a revealing, if not quite essential, portrait of the artist.... [Disc 2 is] an inventive, rewarding look at the Pixies esteemed catalogue.
Read Full Review >Spin
These reimaginings... unlock some interesting textures suggested by [Black's] still-scratchy vocals. [Dec 2004, p.118]
cokemachineglow
[Disc 1] is fantastic and worth the price of admission in and of itself.... Sadly, the results [on disc 2] sound more like the soundtrack to a bad '80s cop movie than appropriate or even interesting re-takes of some of the best pop songs ever penned.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
If anything, [Disc 2] is the real rip-off, as unsuspecting buyers will be shellshocked by these FX-laden, space-ambient settings. [Dec 2004, p.135]
Blender
Hearing "Cactus" and "Subbacultcha" transformed into droning ambient jazz is upsetting, yet somehow perfect for this listen-once-and-destroy disc. [Dec 2004, p.134]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Money B gave it a9:
Great Album! I don't get the low ratings. A must buy for true pixies fans. Only song that was not so great - planet of sound on disc 2.
