Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Frank Black's Restrained Passion Shines, 4 Aug 2005
Certainly, any fan of the Pixies unfamiliar with Black's solo output may cry out at the apparent sacrilege this album is, yet in further examination anyone would appreciate that Honeycomb is both a sign of musical maturity and, ultimately, -I''m going out on a limb- a quiet, Country-like form of the Pixies' angst-ridden message. I know some will frown at this, so I don't ask to believe me but give this idea a chance.
For those who already enjoy Black's former albums -particularly with the Catholics- this may be a reason to rejoice. Although, to my taste, it may not reach the emotional depths of Dog In The Sand, Honeycomb is a pretty solid album.
The story goes that, on the eve of his first Pixies tour in years, he retreated to Memphis with a bunch of songs he's been wanting to record -most of which are his own compositions- and with the glorious aid of some session-playing legends, proceeded to lay down these tracks.
Speaking of "the band," since these people have a lot to do with the quality of this album, the work of Steve Cropper on guitar, Spooner Oldham on keyboards and Anton Fig on drums, definitely stand out. In addition to them, Buddy Miller's presence must be mantioned although the lack of specific reference makes me unable to say for sure what tunes he's on.
Now on to the songs, there are several great ones here. Specifically: "Selkie Bride" with its great chorus supported by Ellis Hooks' vocals and some of the most honest lines I've heard, in an after-the-breakup song -"if you return again / I'll be the saddest man / my lip will burn your skin / if you return again / please don't return again"- which are likely to stay in your mind for a while.
Besides "Selkie Bride," I'd list Doug Sams's "Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day," the country-like Leonard Cohen'ish feel of "My Life Is In Storage," "Violet" and the Southern Soul mood of "Dark End Of The Street."
All in all, this an album to own and appreciate through repeated listenings -particularly in the early morning or late at night- and let yourself be enveloped by the unhurried feel of Black's confessions. This is not mellow but quiet, the restrained passion of personal wisdom, fierce in its own way, willing to let you in on some truths about love and loss.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Return to form, 28 Jul 2005
I really liked this album - in my view much better than his previous solo efforts, but it does not sound like the Pixies. Its got a real country and western twinge which is a bit odd from the man behind Doolittle, but it works. Frank says that the album was written at at time where he did not know where he was going professionally or personally - and that theme really comes across ('Life in storage') and in a duet with his ex-wife. Worth a purchase but listen to it a few times....
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Evolution and catharsis, 1 Aug 2005
By A Customer
FB has short-circuited himself out of each of his creations after their (his) worse work. His solo stuff was becoming indulgent and he didn't have any to direct him. He met up with the Catholics and produced some fantastic music and (as usual) a small amount of dross. After his low point with the Catholics the 'therapeutic' Show me your Tears album presumably he realised it was going wrong. This was his out-pouring after his divorce. Honeycomb has several high points with at least two weak tracks. It is interesting to hear the amount of homage in this album. Echoes of Leonard Cohen were strong although as a contributor to the I'm your Fan tribute compilation his admiration of Cohen is a matter of record. This has soul and it is quirky. As usual the backgrounds of the songs are interesting. I can play this if we have dinner guests or eating with the family. It has broad appeal already within the house which cannot be said for his other solo work or the back catalogue of the pixies. Why not 5 stars? Were I to put together a FB compilation there are no tracks from this album that would make it. Not as complete as Doolittle or Dog in the Sand. Not with the massive high points of Pistolero or Black Letter Days. That said a better album than most, within the top third of his work. Had anyone else made this album it would have been five stars.
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