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Black Letter Days
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Black Letter Days Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: Recorded direct to two-track, 'Black Letter Days' features a stripped-down sound for the former Pixie and his current band. And if the 18 new tracks here (including not one but two covers of Tom Waits' "The Black Rider") aren't enough for you, there's even more on the companion release,Recorded direct to two-track, 'Black Letter Days' features a stripped-down sound for the former Pixie and his current band. And if the 18 new tracks here (including not one but two covers of Tom Waits' "The Black Rider") aren't enough for you, there's even more on the companion release, 'Devil's Workshop.'… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. CultureDose.net
    100
    Black Letter Days is a truly special work, and should be treated as such. Don't let the best record of the year go overlooked.
  2. Billboard
    80
    Dedicated fans will be pleased with the results.
  3. Splendid
    70
    As you might expect, the sheer number of tracks means there's a sizeable dollop of filler.
  4. PopMatters
    60
    Sure, there's some filler here and there but it's far from a Frank Black B-sides collection.
  5. Rolling Stone
    60
    Black Letter Days evokes an early-Seventies Stones bootleg -- a little bit country, a little bit rock & roll - minus the danger.
  6. AllMusic
    60
    Arguably, some prudent pruning might've made the album great instead of good, but even the album's uneven moments are still pretty enjoyable.
  7. The A.V. Club
    30
    The tossed-off quality of his recent work may be liberating to Black, but it's not likely to be so satisfying to his audience.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. ThomasB.
    Aug 30, 2002
    10
    Frank Black is just getting started
  2. AJ
    Jul 10, 2006
    10
    An underappreciated masterpiece. It slowly entangles you like ivy. Music to wander to.
  4. mommypants
    Sep 11, 2002
    10
    this is the stuff that made the pixies go--pure rock and roll song writing.
  5. AndrewK.
    Sep 30, 2002
    10
    Yet again another "grow on you" masterpiece!!
  6. JohanK.
    Aug 30, 2002
    9
    I really cant agree with those who say that the old man should be more selective. If some songs are just good and not fabulous - so what? I I really cant agree with those who say that the old man should be more selective. If some songs are just good and not fabulous - so what? I still havent found a Frank Black song that I wish was unwritten. Hope he makes a triple release with 54 songs next time ...… Expand
  7. GregM.
    Aug 22, 2002
    7
    Songwriter-extraordinaire Frank Black would do well to take heed of the old axiom "concise is nice," but he has begun to ramble in his old Songwriter-extraordinaire Frank Black would do well to take heed of the old axiom "concise is nice," but he has begun to ramble in his old age. Oh well, his rambling is better than 99% of the other crap out there, so just burn the best songs from each CD onto one mix, and do what Old Man Frank couldn't bring himself to do.… Expand

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