Frank Black Francis - Frank Black
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. [On disc 2] he finds a dormant penchant for vocal nuance. [29 Oct 2004, p.68]
  2. 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]
  3. 80
    For scholarly inclined fans, the 1987 demo is a fascinating document. [Nov 2004, p.110]
  4. 80
    It's the inclusion of [Disc 2] that makes this essential. [Dec 2004, p.140]
  5. 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.
  6. It's an intriguing and refreshing listen.
  7. 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.
  8. While the demos CD is guaranteed to please longtime devotees, the remakes will polarize many.
  9. Black's pleasure at rediscovering these old songs in new company is infectious and makes the exercise engaging and worthwhile. [#252, p.62]
  10. 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]
  11. [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.
  12. 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.
  13. Unfortunately, disc two's cache of amorphous, New Age-y, re-recorded Pixies standards falls flat.
  14. 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.
  15. 58
    These reimaginings... unlock some interesting textures suggested by [Black's] still-scratchy vocals. [Dec 2004, p.118]
  16. [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.
  17. 40
    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]
  18. 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]
User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. 8
    A sure sign of the quality of these songs that they still sound good after Frank Black's revisiting here. On the remix disk, one would have thought any tampering with this material would have been ill advised, but while I'd take the originals every time, this take on things is enjoyable for old fans. It does take a good few listens to get into and I wasn't sure about this at all in the beginning but like it now. The demo disk is more of a rock music history document than anything else and again, for hardcore fans is a treat. Full Review »
  2. MoneyB
    9
    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.