Customer Reviews

Bluefinger

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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?

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.

I have been a fan of Frank Black form his begining days with the Pixies. His first three solo outings still smacked of his previous band, but a bit looser. After that, he took a different turn........a good turn, but different.....exploring more stripped down recording and even a couple of great releases with a Nashville twist. Blue Finger is a return, not to the first three solo releases, but to the Pixies days. Francis is in great form throughout this release.........his screams in You Can't Break a Heart and Have It, alone are worth the price of this release. If you are a fan of Frank Black (Black Francis) you probably already have Blue Finger. If you are a fan of early Frank Black or any of the Pixies releases, you will love this. Frank's wife dose a great job backing him up on a couple of tracks........very different from Kim Deal, but her voice suites the songs perfectly.
It will be interesting to see the direction that Frank Black or Black Francis takes on his next release......he can always be counted on to entertain....no matter what name he uses.

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...

I was in Los Angeles for work in mid-October and much to my surprise I found out that Black Francis was playing in Hollywood for 2 nights (Monday 10/15/07 and Tuesday 10/16/07). I went to the Tuesday show, not knowing what to expect. I am relatively new to the Pixies and Frank Black but this live performance made me a fan for life. Most of the show was the from the new Bluefinger album and I enjoyed ever minute of it even though this was the first time that I heard this material. Usually, I am not a big fan of brand new material at live shows but this was an exception. Threshold Apprehension, Tight Black Rubber and She Took All the Money are my personal favorites. I was so into music that I did not realize that wild man Jack Black (not related ha ha ha) was wondering around in the audience. PJ Harvey was also there that night. Get Bluefinger - best album of 2007. By the way, I think that iTunes has a bonus song at the end of this album that I haven't checked out yet.

What a pleasant surprise...this album of Frank's is SMOKIN! I have all his solo albums (and of course the Pixies) and Bluefinger will hold up to just about any of them. I couldn't believe my ears the instant I put this in. Even after about 3 notes you know you are in for some serious fun. Crank this one to 12 and let the neighbors howl.

I love all of Frank Black's albums, but this one is a refreshing and surprising change from his last few CD's. "Tight Black Rubber" may be my new favorite Frank Black song, and there's so many great tracks on here. Did I mention he's using his Pixies stage name for this album? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there will be many more Black Francis albums to follow.

This album finds Black Francis, né Frank Black, né Charles Thompson, in a familiar yet refined musical place. This feels more assertive and produced and less bluegrassy than his last few. Every song references Herman Brood, a Dutch artist, with a Brood cover ("You Can't Break a Heart and Have It"). Diggin' the male/female vocals, one of the things that made the Pixies such a good listen (although I'm a bigger fan overall of his solo stuff, blasphemous as that is). Perfect driving music.

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. The great thing about being a BF fan is that his stuff is always interesting and never disappoints, in terms of quality.

I'd have to say Bluefinger is his strongest release since Teenager of the Year. Every song on here is a knockout. It is very much a rock opera, in a casual kind of way, and stars Herman Brood, mentioned above in Amazon's product description. The interesting thing is, it's also a little about Mr. Thompson. When Thompson started recording this, he was close to Herman's age when he passed. Sometimes music can act as a catalyst for an artist, and I believe this is the case with Bluefinger. A recharge, reboot, whatever you want to call it ... a fun new phase has begun with Thompson's music (yes, it's always been fun, but now it's fun once again in a charged up, rockin kind of way). Black felt enough of a connection with Brood on some level to write an album revolving around him.

The cd starts with some great rockers and keeps on rocking into "Angels come to Comfort You", one of the highlights. As the angels escort Herman Brood into Heaven, he is "resurrected" in the next tune ... as Black Francis! Incredible energy and songwriting on this cd and the best thing I have heard come out this year .. in several years, actually. And where did he find that drummer ...? The drumming by Jason Carter is amazing. Ok, obviously I'm a big fan and if you've read this far you know you want to check it out. Highlights are "Angels", "Threshold Apprehension", "Test Pilot Blues" and "Bluefinger" but again, all the songs are great.

I suggest going on to the Black Francis official website (which is a lot of fun), listening to a couple of songs, and making your own decision from there.

I've been listening to the Pixies for years, and I loved Frank Black's first two solo albums, but somewhere along the line, his style changes lost me. I'll admit I haven't even checked out his albums within the last few years, and when I look him up on the internet, I'm always surprised on how much he puts out in such a short amount of time.

Anyway, thanks to positive reviews, I checked "Bluefinger" out, and I can confirm that it's fantastic. As with most Frank Black, there are the songs that will immediately hook you, and the others that will grow on you (and may eventually become the longtime favorites). I'm in the beginning stages of appreciation, but the heavy building dynamics of "Threshold Apprehension" and "You Can't Break a Heart And Have It" are immediate grabbers with their riffy hooks and Frank's singing and screaming vocals.

I also like the bittersweet melodies of "She Took All the Money." Those are the main tunes that come to mind as I sit here, but this is definitely an album that will be replayed many times, and will surely grow on me, and any other Pixies/Black Francis/Frank Black fans out there. Think Pixies wildness and dynamics with a bit of Frank Black maturity, and that's "Bluefinger" for you.