4.11.13

On April 11th I listened to Frank Black Frank Black, The Afghan Whigs Black Love, and Clutch Earth Rocker.

Black Francis is dead! Long live Frank Black! Or Frank Black Francis!

I don’t think I love another whole album from Frank, post-Pixies, as much as I love his first two solo projects. Frank Black and Teenager Of The Year are slick and fun and then everything he recorded after was coarse and almost as much fun.

Originally conceived as a collection of cover songs, Frank Black only features one. He does an upbeat version of the Beach Boys’ chilling “Hang Onto Your Ego” and the rest is all Frank Black.

A big collection of 15 songs, there isn't much on this album that isn't worth listening to. I get why he didn't continue making records that sound like this. It just wasn't him and maybe it was his shot at breaking through to a larger mainstream, but when he realized that wasn't going to happen, he just said “fuck it.” Now he does what he wants. I dunno, maybe?

I had been a little miffed at Frank since I was supposed to interview him in 1996 and he bailed at like the absolute last second. He “ wasn't speaking to save his voice for tonight’s show.” As I left through the back door of the venue, the crew was still loading in when I heard a guy yell, “Hey Bill! Where’s that box of cables!” I turned around and guess who it was? Dick! Frank did reply to one of my tweets last year, so I guess all is forgiven.

Do you hear that? A train’s coming. A train bound for the darkness! A train bound for enemy lines. A train bound for evil. A train bound for commercial disaster. All aboard!

Hands down, this is one of the best albums of the 90’s! It’s dark and brooding. It’s soaring and bluesy. It’s dirty and spiteful. It’s a fucking masterpiece.

The Afghan Whigs handed Elektra Records this masterpiece and said, “Go forth and promote the brilliance!” Elektra proceed to drop the ball with a record they had no idea what to do with. 

Granted, there wasn't much that was gonna get on the radio at the time, but putting out “Honky’s Ladder” as the album’s lead single with an awful video pretty much sealed its fate. The Whigs even sued the label afterwards so they could go somewhere else for their next album.  

I used to live with this Phish loving materialistic chick that loved to start fights with me for stupid shit. After the yelling, I’d throw on Black Love just to piss her off. “Do you think I’m beautiful, or do you think I’m evil!” She was both.

I’m not the biggest Clutch fan in the world, but are they just putting out the same record every two years now?

Sounds like Clutch! Right on, man! 

Tomorrow I listen to Gun N' Roses Use Your Illusion I and II, and Stereophonics Graffiti On The Train. 

Here's April's Playlist!