Customer Reviews

Black Letter Days

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know what else to say about Frank Black, one of the most creative, talented musicians and writers of our generation.

He may write an unlisteneable song or two, but that's just him, he is just off on his own musical tangent and all us fans are benefiting from it.

Yet Black Letter Days is quality from start to finish, as was Dog In The Sand and his Catholics' release in '98. Frank Black has matured, grown and is one of the best kept secrets in the music industry.

Listen to this CD nice and loud, and soak it up, Black Letter Days and Devil's Workshop are Black's "Exile On Main Street." And Black Letter Days has to be one of the better CD's that I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

California Bound, Chip Away Boy, 21 Reasons, God Of Miles, Black Letter Days, Southbend Bevy, The Farewell Bend, Cold Heart Of Stone, Jet Black River, Jane The Queen Of Love...easily some of the best music I've heard in a long time.

Take a trip into our minds, the everyday working man losing track of time, the days, divorce, a cold heart of stone, chipping away at debt, at the end of miles..please pardon me sir, you have 21 reasons at least to listen to this masterpiece!

Ok, I'll admit, I had both Black Letter Days and Devil's Workshop a few months before their actual release date (and was first in line the day of their release as well). Truth is, I simply could not wait. I saw Frank perform in Louisville Ky. April 29 (I think that was the correct date), and throughout his long, and might I add, fantastic performance, I heard several songs that were new to me. Turns out those songs were "Cold Heart Of Stone", "21 Reasons", "Black Rider" and a couple more, I think maybe Whiskey In Your Shoes" from DW being one of them. I was totally blown away. "Cold Heart Of Stone" sounded amazing live and "21 Reasons" is one of the best songs ever written IMO. I simply could not wait until Sept. to hear the new material and eventually managed to track down advanced copies of both albums. Upon first listen the songs that totally blew me away were "Chip Away Boy", "Cold Heart Of Stone" and "21 Reasons". I could'nt seem to get over these three songs and I played them over and over.....

After a week or so, I began exploring the other material (and there's a lot of it here, and combined with DW, there's REALLY a lot of material to digest). Like all of Frank's albums, I knew that "Black Letter Days" would only get better and better with age. It was not long before the genius of the title track, "End Of Miles", "Jane the Queen Of Love" (what an amazing song) and "Southbound Bevy" revealed itself. Other tracks ("California Bound", "Jet Black River", "True Blue", "I Will Run After You") slowly crept into the pleasure center of my consciousness as well.

The only complaints I have about BLD is the overlong, monotonous "1826", and the 2nd version of the cover of "Black Rider". Make an exception for those two tracks and you have yourself as close to a perfect album as you're likely to get.

The album as a whole incorporates a very loose, reflective desert mentality. Some of it is quite bitter and angry (the title track, "Cold Heart Of Stone"), while tracks such as "Chip Away Boy" and "End Of Miles" were meant to be played while drivin' out old country roads at night or crusin' through the desert by day. I've heard some reviewers mention that this sounds like a "truck-stop" album. Not in my opinion. Much more like a pure desert-rock album. I've also heard several people mention the "alternative country" tag in relation to this record. Once I again, while there are definite country elements, I disagree. If one considers "Sticky Fingers" era Rolling Stones "alternative country" then so be it, but not I. And BLD makes a definitive nod toward that golden era of that classic band. The musicianship is superb (dear God, I absolutlely LOVE the steel Pedal guitar sound this album employs...sounds amazing), Frank's voice is in top form, and the album is simultaneously polished AND rough around the edges sounding, much the same way the classic 70's Stone's albums were.

Like one of the earlier reviewers stated, Frank could put a new album out every month and I would be the first one in line for it. I personally vote both BLD and DW the best albums of 2002. Unlike so many people seemingly stuck in the past, I don't miss the Pixies one iota, and can honestly say that ever since the first FB record, I've never looked back. Every album Frank has released has bettered anything the Pixies ever did IMO. And the man just keeps getting better and better with age.

Thanks to you Frank for giving the world such wonderful compositions. And please come to Louisville again soon. I promise I'll be the first one in the building just as I was last time.

I bought this album and "Devil's Workshop" on the same day, and at first listen, my response included some of the reactions in other reviews here -- "could have been edited together into 1 awesome album" and "some songs make you wish for the old, highly-produced Pixies days." But I haven't been able to stop listening to either album in the week since I got them, especially "Black Letter Days." The idea that some of these songs could have been cut is unthinkable to me now. Likewise, glitzing this material up with studio fairydust would completely miss the point. These are raw, organic songs with a terrific range from bittersweet beauty to angry iconoclasm, and taking any one of them out or dressing any one of them up would be like editing a color out of the rainbow.

I don't know whether this album is a "good" or a "bad" place to start if you're unfamiliar with Frank Black. He's an artist whom you have to really listen to in order to appreciate. But if you're going to like Frank Black, I can't imagine that you won't end up loving this album, and at 65 minutes, it's a steal.

Upon first listening of this album I sank my head in dissapointment and was thinking that Frank Black had finally made an 'average' album. I live in Beijing, China but had managed to get a copy of the two albums a couple of days before their release date via Cooking Vinyl. However, my first impressions were very wrong (like most times I listen to Frank Black for the first time). He is one of the rare breeds of musicians who have the knack of writing albums, which at first sound nothing spectacular but after a few listens proceed to come up from behind and bite you on the [posterior], with no sign of letting go.

Black Letter Days is along the same lines as Dog in the Sand with the country style guitars, but with less of the punk that was present on the previous album. The songs which at first stick out (and bear in mind I have only had this album for 2 days) are California Bound, Cold Heart of Stone, Black Letter Day, End of Miles (this is a trully beautiful song), Southbound Bevy, Jane Queen of Love, and 21 Reasons (an old favourite of mine which Frank showcased during the Dog in the Sand tour of England last year).

For Frank Black fans who appreciate the way Frank writes his albums, this will be warmly recieved. Frank is a genius and his hardwork and love for music are displayed as he continually tries to change his style with each album. However for people who have not heard much of Frank Blacks material, this is an album which takes some listening before you appreciate it's worth (like all good albums in my opinion). I would recommend this album to anyone, and any other Frank Black album for that matter (including the highly underrated 'Cult of Ray'). Although I would say that if you are a newcomer then the first FB album, or 'Teenager' would be the be a good starting point to listen to Frank Black.

Bottom line: at first listen not Franks best work to date but well worth buying.... in fact I am listening to BLD as I am writing this review and my opinion of it is getting higher.... maybe I should scrap this review and start again!

By the sound of things, Frank must have had an awful lot of fun writing and recording these songs. Each is infected with the same spirit that made Teenager of the Year such a masterpiece. At the same time this is definitely not a sequel. Different sounding...more country, more mountainish, more melancholy. Beautiful, all of it. If you're a Black Francis fan, you're out of luckÐÐhe's been dead now for years people. But...if on the other hand you happen to be a Frank Black fan, or just a rock-n-roll fan in general, then sit back and revel in the long-winding leisurely journey that is Black Letter Days.

I think the important thing to know about Frank Black is that his albums tend to grow on you. As with many of his albums, I thought this was merely decent upon first listening to it, but, after a while, I came to realize how excellent many of the songs are. Part of the reason why this album might not tend to grab listeners immediately is that the overall feel is slower and more mellow than a lot of Frank's work (especially with the Pixies). There's a lot of steel guitar, and a somewhat "rootsy" flavor to many of the songs. There are eighteen songs on the album, which some people might consider too much, but the advantage is that, with that many songs (not to mention eleven more on the companion album, Devil's Workshop), Frank fans are pretty much guaranteed to like something on here. My personal favorite is "21 Reasons," but there are a lot of other good ones on here. This album is definitely worth a listen, and, if you don't like it then, it's worth several more until you start to like it. Don't start your Frank collection with this album, though. The self-titled album and Teenager of the Year are better in that respect.

a phenomenal, astounding and richly entertaining work that is easily one of the best offerings of 2002..if not the past ten years. Frank Black creates vivid imagery and moods with his music, with a nice coalescence of sounds from rock, country, blues and sundry other influences. Then he mixes everything up and delivers a unique blend that is absolutely startling in its ingenuity and the joy it produces! He makes magical songs from some other universe.

I love the arrangement of songs on this disc - as it opens and closes with a dark but upbeat number called The Black Rider and in between you are treated to a musical escapade that leaves nothing to be desired. Beautiful country and folk sounds fit in nicely with rocking numbers. Visual landscapes of the wild wild west delight beyond belief! Fun fun fun!

Frank Black often straddles that thin line between genius and absurdity and consistently comes out on top. There is "Frankly" no one else like him and he is as vital now as he ever was with The Pixies. He's even getting better. Actually in today's music market we should be thrilled to even have someone of his caliber forging ahead so deftly. He is expanding such horizons that music fans with the highest standards will surely give it up and praise his brilliance.

This disc is so strong that I give it my unbridled highest recommendation. It satisifies on so many levels that words cannot do it justice.

If you have been so lucky to come across it, thank your lucky stars!...

Frank Black, for reasons known only to him, released two albums on the same day. They're almost like a double album, and like most double albums, could be edited down to one super classic disc. The songs are mostly very strong - catchy and unique-sounding, just like the Frank Black we're all fans off. A couple, like "California Bound" go through the ears without leaving an impression. "Black Letter Days" (the album) is mellower than "Devil's Workshop", though "1826" is the hardest, Lynyrd Skynyrd-rockingest song on the two of them. Frank played "Black Rider" live when he came through my town, though I'm not sure why he put two versions of that song on the disc - the second one has more organ and whinier singing, whereas the first is more straightforward rock-n-roll. They have the same tempo. The title track is one of the stronger songs. All in all, if you're a fan, you can't pass it up.

Seriously...How can an artist/band write albums that seem so boring or even horrible the first listen and then slowly become a gem in your record collection forever? Seriously! Everytime! Thats what happens with Frank Black albums everytime i get one! So, BE WARNED! This album will take time. But trust me, it's awesome. It is an amazing album. Buy it, and give it time.

In the uk this CD got slated in the review columns of the music press, they didn't like the fact that he released it at the same time as the devils work shop.They went on about quality and quantity, because of this I put off buying this cd ,and when I heard the end of miles on the radio I had to buy it. This is the best thing frank black has done since teenager of the year ,with great songs like THE BLACK RIDER , CALIFORNIA BOUND AND 21 REASONS.highly recommended so buy it!