Black Francis: Bluefinger 7.2/10

Black Francis (aka Charles Thompson IV, Frank Black) has risen from the dead and delivered his best work for a long time. This material was allegedly intended for The Pixies reformation release and after listening to it you can only wish that Deal and Santiago had been there to flesh it out. You can almost hear Deal on the background vocals for Threshold Apprehension and You Can't Break a Heart and Have It.

This work was apparently inspired by the now deceased Dutch punk and artist, Herman Brood. Francis was "gripped by the spirit of Herman Brood" during the recording of a bonus track for the recently released best of 93-03 to such an extent he wrote most of the material for Bluefinger in a few days. Surprisingly, his output is pretty good but the production is ordinary as is the case with a lot of Francis's solo work. There is brilliance but it's scattered recklessly amongst some average arrangements. For instance, on Angels Come to Comfort You the grotesque upbeat country sound gives way to a gloriously executed coda which reminds me of the ending of Where is my Mind?.

I can hear Dog in the Sand (Frank Black and the Catholics) here more than any of The Pixies which is fair enough but I can't help feeling that there has been a huge missed opportunity. The name change promises much and this man can't help but deliver something of worth. There a some great songs on this album like the hard and gritty Threshold Apprehension, the Beatlesque Lolita, Tight Black Leather the song that was lost off Trompe Le Monde and the Brood cover You Can't Break a Heart and Have It. There really isn't a bad song just a sense of sloppiness that frustrates yet at the same time has you listening for more. It is the weak guitaring that essentially loses me. If there was a firmer grip on these songs and it was released under The Pixies tag people would have been going off their heads. Alas, not to be. Maybe Black, Frank, Charles or whatever the fuck he is called should take a step back from his ego and get some decent musicians (Deal, Santiago and Lovering) to flesh out his work.

Watch a live version of Threshold Apprehension.

Download and listen to Lolita