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Track Listings
| 1. Captain Pasty |
| 2. Thresehold Apprehension |
| 3. Test Pilot Blues |
| 4. Lolita |
| 5. Tight Black Rubber |
| 6. Angels Come To Comfort You |
| 7. Your Mouth Into Mine |
| 8. Descoteque 36 |
| 9. You Can't Break a Heart And Have It |
| 10. She Took All the Money |
| 11. Bluefinger |
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Musicians gain songwriting stimulus from broken relationships, bad intentions, and pop culture, but leave it to Black Francis (a.k.a. Frank Black) to find inspiration in the works of the late Dutch painter Herman Brood, who was also recognized as a musician fronting His Wild Romance. The Pixies' alter ego alludes to Brood either candidly or implicitly in all 11 songs, veering far from the Nashville-and-Memphis tones of the last two Black albums for a return trip to his raucous roots on loose-knit tracks like "Lolita" and "Tight Black Rubber" or the rapturous "She Took All the Money," a duet with Violet Clarke. "Captain Pasty" brings a perfunctory reminder of how Black's style once aroused a young Kurt Cobain, its chugging bass melodies and burning bark remindful of Nirvana's Incesticide, while "Angels Come to Comfort You" chugs along like a country ode, referencing the Hilton hotel where Brood died in 2001 and calling him "prettier than Brando" and "punker than punk." He even takes to covering Brood’s "You Can't Break a Heart and Have It," its lashing rhythm section and call-and-response vocals a dead ringer for the Bowery circa 1977--and Black Francis and band about 14 years later. --Scott Holter
Product Description
The Pixies' iconic lead singer Frank Black dons his decades-old moniker - Black Francis - and, imbued by the spirit of eccentric Dutch painter/musician Herman Brood, recorded a brand new set of 11 songs, collectively titled Bluefinger. Black Francis recorded Bluefinger in September 2006 in Portland, OR. Appearing on guitars, harmonica and vocals, Francis was joined in the studio by drummer Jason Carter (Guards of Metropolis), Violet Clarke on vocals, and bassist Dan Schmid (The Visible Men). Mark Lemhouse produced the album. Bluefinger showcases a Herman Brood cover, You Can't Break a Heart and Have It, and ten Black Francis originals: Captain Pasty, Test Pilot Blues, Lolita, Tight Black Rubber, Angels Come to Comfort You, Your Mouth Into Mine, Discotheque 36, She Took All the Money, Blue Finger, and Threshold Apprehension.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Many critics have already heralded this record as a return to the Pixies signature sound. This is not true. Bluefinger bears very little resemblance to any of the Pixies work. Some yelping and corroded chugging guitars does not a Pixies album make. Period.
With that out the way, Bluefinger is a great, fun, and rewarding record---Frank's best in years, by far. He's sounding rejuvenated, but most importantly, he sounds like he's having a blast.
Bluefinger clocks in at just under 40 minutes and there's not a dud in the bunch. Even the slowburners such as the title track are rewarding after repeated listens. Lyrically, the material is playful and cryptic, full of alternatingly direct and oblique references to dutch rock and roll artist Herman Brood.
Standout cuts for me are the more raucous numbers like Tight Black Rubber, Threshold Apprehension, You Can't Break a Heart and Have It, and Captain Pasty. The slower songs such as Lolita and She Took the Money are just as strong, however, stamped with Black's trademark quirky structures and time signatures.
Who needs the Pixies if Black Francis is back and he's going to be making albums this good?
With that out the way, Bluefinger is a great, fun, and rewarding record---Frank's best in years, by far. He's sounding rejuvenated, but most importantly, he sounds like he's having a blast.
Bluefinger clocks in at just under 40 minutes and there's not a dud in the bunch. Even the slowburners such as the title track are rewarding after repeated listens. Lyrically, the material is playful and cryptic, full of alternatingly direct and oblique references to dutch rock and roll artist Herman Brood.
Standout cuts for me are the more raucous numbers like Tight Black Rubber, Threshold Apprehension, You Can't Break a Heart and Have It, and Captain Pasty. The slower songs such as Lolita and She Took the Money are just as strong, however, stamped with Black's trademark quirky structures and time signatures.
Who needs the Pixies if Black Francis is back and he's going to be making albums this good?
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well, someone had his coffee this morning ... That was my first thought when Black Francis's new cd started playing. And that energy is the difference that makes this album worthwhile.
After years of being a huge Pixies fan, followed by years of Frank Black fandom (in truth, I prefer "Teenager of the Year" to any of the Pixies albums, though "Doolittle" is a very close second for me), I had actually given up on the many-named musician. "Fast Man Raider Man" was a debacle of such proportions that I thought it would spell the end of Mr. Charles Thompson.
In a blatant bid to recapture some of the old Pixies magic, Thompson has reclaimed not only his old pseudonym but much of his former band's sound. The good news is: it works. This is surely his strongest album since "Show Me Your Tears," and probably his best since "Dog in the Sand." Pixies fans will undoubtedly prefer this cd to either of those albums, though. There are hints of the western sound Thompson has toyed with (mostly unsuccessfully) in recent years, but most of the cues taken here are from the Pixies via the Stones. It's hardly an instant classic, and one can't help but wonder what the album would have been like had this been a full-blown Pixies effort, but for an artist with this much talent and potential, it's great just to have him back, working in the form he's most suited to.
There's room for growth here, but one thing's for sure: We've got Black Francis back. Hopefully the muse will continue to lead him in this direction in the future.
After years of being a huge Pixies fan, followed by years of Frank Black fandom (in truth, I prefer "Teenager of the Year" to any of the Pixies albums, though "Doolittle" is a very close second for me), I had actually given up on the many-named musician. "Fast Man Raider Man" was a debacle of such proportions that I thought it would spell the end of Mr. Charles Thompson.
In a blatant bid to recapture some of the old Pixies magic, Thompson has reclaimed not only his old pseudonym but much of his former band's sound. The good news is: it works. This is surely his strongest album since "Show Me Your Tears," and probably his best since "Dog in the Sand." Pixies fans will undoubtedly prefer this cd to either of those albums, though. There are hints of the western sound Thompson has toyed with (mostly unsuccessfully) in recent years, but most of the cues taken here are from the Pixies via the Stones. It's hardly an instant classic, and one can't help but wonder what the album would have been like had this been a full-blown Pixies effort, but for an artist with this much talent and potential, it's great just to have him back, working in the form he's most suited to.
There's room for growth here, but one thing's for sure: We've got Black Francis back. Hopefully the muse will continue to lead him in this direction in the future.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Mark L
Format:Audio CD
Thought for sure we lost him... If Honeycomb or Raider Man introduced you to (or opened your mind to) his solo material...then I'm glad...and welcome aboard! However, in my opinion...he nearly jumped the shark with those releases. Much of the material on the last two albums just sounded sterile to me. Maybe being in an 'important studio' with 'important musicians' made him think too much?
Now on to this jewel...This release seems like a natural progression of his solo work sprinkled with some Pixies reunion experience. Some of this material could probably have fit nicely on a new Pixies album...however, much of it is simply what would have happened without the reunion...definitely a strong and 100% organic follow up to Show Me Your Tears.
Look, Those of you waiting for the next Doolittle, forget it...he's moved on...and so should we. Do I wish it were Kim Deal doing the female backing vocals on this album? Kinda... Like I sometimes wish I still had a full head of hair...apparently, neither one of those things are happening.
Do yourself a favor, forget what could have been or should have been and just enjoy his work...He's back and he's spectacular!
P.S. Of course, as with all great Frank Black albums...it will likely take a bit of time to grow on you...but once it does...
Now on to this jewel...This release seems like a natural progression of his solo work sprinkled with some Pixies reunion experience. Some of this material could probably have fit nicely on a new Pixies album...however, much of it is simply what would have happened without the reunion...definitely a strong and 100% organic follow up to Show Me Your Tears.
Look, Those of you waiting for the next Doolittle, forget it...he's moved on...and so should we. Do I wish it were Kim Deal doing the female backing vocals on this album? Kinda... Like I sometimes wish I still had a full head of hair...apparently, neither one of those things are happening.
Do yourself a favor, forget what could have been or should have been and just enjoy his work...He's back and he's spectacular!
P.S. Of course, as with all great Frank Black albums...it will likely take a bit of time to grow on you...but once it does...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Black Francis
Ordered this for my significant other and it was a great gift. We used it already and recommend it to others.
Published 4 months ago by Miguel A. Acosta
5.0 out of 5 stars
What do they want?
I've had this album since it came out. I am a Pixies fan and that brought me here. I never wrote a review for this because I never thought it needed one. Read more
Published 12 months ago by C. L. Messina
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good as Anything the Pixies Ever Did
I wasn't particularly crazy about the first Frank Black solo efforts; their style wasn't that different from the Pixies, but somehow they just didn't measure up. Read more
Published on March 19, 2011 by DjC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Among the best of his solo work.*
* Caveat - of the best of his solo work which I own/have listened too. I'm still working my way backwards on his solo catalogue. But of the 5 I own so far, it's my favorite. Read more
Published on June 5, 2010 by Schmapdi
5.0 out of 5 stars
A major statement from one of indie/alternative rock's greats
Bluefinger is a classic from one of the most influential songwriters in the alternative genre (leader of The Pixies, aka Frank Black). Read more
Published on January 10, 2010 by A. Boyd
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best of his post-Pixies work
If you had told me ahead of time that my favorite album of 2007 would be a Black Francis solo work, I'd probably have laughed and rolled my eyes. Read more
Published on February 3, 2009 by The Bibliophile
5.0 out of 5 stars
All you ever wanted to know about Hermann Brood
Charles' return to the Black Francis moniker and his rocking roots. A great collection of songs about the Dutch Elvis. Each song stands on it's own.
Published on June 21, 2008 by Jason Hamlett
4.0 out of 5 stars
A new direction for Mr. Black
This album finds Black Francis, né Frank Black, né Charles Thompson, in a familiar yet refined musical place. Read more
Published on December 28, 2007 by Jesse H. Mellon
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Rock Opera is Back (and Black)
I've been a fan of Charles Thompson (Frank Black/Black Francis) since his Pixies days and have been waiting for this kind of release for a long time. Read more
Published on December 7, 2007 by H. D. Bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Blue Finger" is his best.
I love "Teanager of the Year" and "Surfer Rosa" but this is better. Deeper, more mature.
Published on December 3, 2007 by Craig Ehlke
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