Customer Reviews

Nonstoperotik

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Probably it's impossible for Charles to ever be taken seriously when he pens a song worthy of a Waterboys greatest hits album and calls it "When I Go Down on You", despite the fact that he totally pulls it off and belts out the song without a trace of sarcasm. As usual, Black is really good here, but manages to pigeon hole himself as a semi-novelty act by the lyrical content, which may or may not be a fault, depending on your point of view.

What we got here will be instantly comfortable for most Black fans, the song writing touches are almost uniquely his. There's no mistaking who put together a song like "Cinema Star" from the early quirky excursions from the main theme, and no surprise when the song settles down into a rocking good coda and ends up sounding like a anthem. A very typical performance, a little rough at first, but eventually turning into melodic gems, as if all those good melodies inside him forced their way to the surface past the Frank Zappa style weirdness. And some, like "Lake of Sin" proceed the other way, but regardless there's a lot of memorable music here. The guy can just flat out write hooks, who knows what would happen if he deliberately sat down to write anonymous pop songs.

So, another album from Black Francis, what's it all mean? Probably nothing to the world at large, but another CD of killer music from a guy who doesn't miss much, at least within his own planet of sound. One star down for only being 37 minutes long, add 8 minutes in the "deluxe" version, which is the one to buy, the three "bonus" songs are all worth having.

NOTE: This review is for the import version of this album that includes the three bonus tracks (I purchase directly from a Japanese merchant):
12. 'Taint No Use
13. Rocket USA
14. The Grindsman
This collection spans more stylistic territory than recent output. Portions of this album would fit into the Catholics catalog, the Nashville period (Honeycomb and FMRM) as well as the Blue Finger/SVN FNGRS. That may not sound enticing to the folks that have been critical of any of those periods, but for folks that have largely enjoyed the span of Black/Francis' solo career, this collection is a treat.

"Corrina" is one of the best pure rock n' roll songs Black has done since (IMO) Black Letter Days. "Rabbits" is low key and atmospheric and has a sound that could have fit in nicely on "Christmass." I'm loving this record, and I highly recommend getting the import version. The three extra tracks are all keepers and add another facet to the album.

I really dig this album, even though I haven't had it that long. "Oh My Tidy Sum" (whatever that means) and "Rabbits" are the two best mellow songs of the year (imho). There's some other great rocking tunes on here as well. "When I Go Down On You" is my least favorite, but it has a great title so how can you not leave it out. I first heard "Dead Man's Curve" on his album Christmass (Bonus Dvd) and so I thought it not awesome to also put it on this album, years later; but it wasn't until I got this album that I finally appreciated the song. I thought it was a really good song but it took me almost five years to realize it was great. This probably is one of my favorite albums of the year, if not my favorite.

First, let me say I'm a big Black Francis fan. I've bought every one of his records, including the very rare---not to mention expensive--- Golem, which I consider far superior to NSE (and well worth your money if it's ever available in a wide, consumer-friendly format, which I suspect is only a matter of time). That being said, it's becoming increasingly clear to me that Black Francis plows his own furrow, consequences be damned. If anything, you have to admire his dogged persistence and his puritan work ethic. Like some artists, he's not content to rest on his considerable accomplishments or continue forth in a predictable direction.

Bafflingly, NSE is being hailed by critics as his best work in years, a verdict with which I must differ. Frank Black started to lose me a little bit with Honeycomb and especially with Fast Man Raiderman, but then he won me back with Bluefinger, which I consider one of his best post-Pixies records. It's fun, full of energy, and most importantly, it foregrounds his greatest strengths.

A few of the tracks on NSE do the same: Six Legged Man, Wild Son, Cinema Star could have all been on one of the first few solo albums, or at least from the sessions. The problem is, these seem like out-of-place and conspicuous standouts, almost as though they were recorded in a different session. They seem to have little to do with the sluggish and muddy numbers one has to wade through in the beginning of the album; NSE gets of to a wobbly start with Lake of Sin, which sounds like a Catholics throwback circa Devil's Workshop. Then comes O My Tidy Sum, which sounds like a Honeycomb outtake. Then comes Rabbit, which sounds like a demo from BF's stopgap Christmass project a few years back. Fourth up is Wheels, a Flying Burrito Brothers cover which sound like an obligatory rock and roll work out.

Point being, NSE, to my ears, is one of BF's spottiest and erratic records, not to mention frustrating. NSE has some fantastic production touches, courtesy of Eric Drew Feldman, but the nuances and subtleties are lost in the murky mix. The record tugs in many different directions as once, the product, seemingly, of several late-night sessions over the course of a few years. It's no wonder, then, that NSE sounds exactly like that.

After reading other reviews which recommended the Japan Import version of NSE, I blindly purchased the "Import" offered here on Amazon. When I received my order, there was no sign of the usual Japanese import packaging and no bonus tracks were listed. I could not find any information on the web to verify what I had received was in fact the "Japan Import", so I returned it. I believe the Import offered by Amazon is the UK version, which seems identical to the US version but at more than twice the price.

This is the latest F. Black album.
Definitely worth the purchase.
The songs are relatively calm, compared to other albums.
But Charles still invents new sounds, new approaches.
This guy is amazing.

Gratuitous disclaimer:

Charles is in my top five of all-time most talented songwriters. On a given day, he's my numero uno, depending on just how much I've burned myself out listening to his body of work - which has been quite a lot for a long time. Thought *Bluefinger* was the best record made in 2007 by anyone. Enjoyed the goofy *Svn Fngrs* too. Seemed to me he had found a new formula mostly distinct from earlier works in which to experiment.

Then comes *Nonstoperotik* .... don't be fooled. It's a dud.

I know lazy, pointless, I-can't-be-bothered-to-work-on-this-past-demo-stage songwriting. I've heard it from Westerberg, David Lowery, and others for a long time now. That is one of the reasons *Bluefinger* was such an edgy breath of fresh air. *Nonstoperotik* is about 15% of what Charles is capable of. He knows we're a loyal bunch and will buy it anyway, but please don't ask me to invent reasons why it's "good". It's biggest sin is that it is just plain dull. I've tried to give it second and third chances to grab me, but what I'm hearing are songs that break no new ground on any front, sung in a lame, annoying falsetto, and buried in lo-fi home studio mush that is the cherry on top.

I love you, Charles, but this is cereal filler. I'll surely buy the next one anyway, but oh, the waiting. All my heros are just tired of their jobs and want to retreat. Sucks.

Viva Spoon!

He's a very talented guy, one of the best songmakers we have, but this one feels like a dud to me. Lake of Sin is a good one, but the rest didn't impress me first time around. Maybe it will grow on me...

It doesn't approach the level of any of my personal favorite Frank Black works, but it's a pretty solid album and thoroughly enjoyable.

My personal favorite tracks:

O My Tidy Sum, Corrina, Cinema Star.

It is hard to give an album a good review when the sound quality is so poor that you can barely listen. His Pixies stuff sounded better and that was obviously recorded over 20 years ago. I don't get it. Most of his recent output is recorded better than this album is. That said, the songs aren't written well either. There isn't a standout on this album. What we have is a collection of mediocre forgettable songs. Big let down.