Devil's Workshop

When in 2002, Frank released two albums in the same time, critics and fans alike saw the longer piece (Black Letter Days), as the mellower, folkyier album, while the Devil's Workshop was perceived as the hard rock, return-to-the-pixies-style album.

Although the observation is not without merit, it is deeply misleading. While Devil's Workshop is somewhat more rock oriented then Black Letter Days, it very much represents the Frank Black of 2002. Not returning to the harder rockin' Frank of Doolittle or even Pistolero, this album is mostly filled with mid tempo rockers, and the only great different from Black Letter Days is the widespread use of distortion. It is the quality of the execution that makes this, like most of Frank's work, a very worthwhile collection of songs.

Perhaps the single most important reason for the `return to the Pixies' comments is the inclusion of a song which previously appeared as a Pixies B-side. Velvety, apparently written as an instrumental when Frank was 16. The addition of fun and intriguing lyrics, and especially of Frank's acoustic guitar make this track a grand improvement on the Pixies' version, and one of the best Frank songs of the last few years (the Acoustic guitar is truly brilliant. It shows a degree of subtlety that many Punk Rock acts should learn from). It is also the hardest rocking Frank Black song since `Pistolero'.

Although the Catholics are a wonderful band, they sometimes fit too comfortably into Frank's more standardized songwriting. There is nothing wrong with `Out of State', but there is nothing truly remarkable about it, either. Verses and Choruses, with fairly standard guitar solos in the middle.

However, `His Kingly Cave' is hardly ordinary. Easily the best song on this CD, His Kingly Cave is a strong narrative about a visit to Graceland, where the long gone presence of the King makes Frank reminiscent about death. Over the background of some of the most powerful music Frank has ever written, with fantastic guitar work by Joey Santiago, Frank sings about slowly creeping discomfort 'they went to celebrate they went to have a ball/everyone gathered at the gates but it wasn't good at all'. The visit was not what they expected 'the sky was turning gray... their skin began to crawl'. In death, there is no turning back 'they closed the gates and the scene was set/ enter into his kingly cave'. Finally, the visitors flee 'when the shuttle bus is called', but still, Frank is voicing for the dead 'I scream, I scream, for aaaaalllllll'

It took me a long while to get into San Antonio, TX, a real story about the illness of Frank's then wife. I thought it sounded too much like 'The End of Miles' and 'St. Francis Dam Disaster'. But this fan favorite grew on me with multiple listening.

Speed Bartholomew up a lot, add some screams, and it's a Pixies track. Surprisingly, then, I don't like it that much. A song about God, Sex and Death, with a memorable melody. It should be a classic, but for me at least it isn't.

On `The Blacksessions + the Kitchen Tapes' a live album documenting Frank Black's Teenager tour, appears an acoustic version of `Modern Age'. Now, there is finally a band version, but it sadly disappoints. The song simply is not Catholic style - and does not work.

I am not the only one to find the sound quality in `Devil's Workshop' disappointing. There has been many speculations about the cause, whether the blame is the famous live-to-2 track recording, or the equipment, but the results are rather poor. Nowhere is this more evident then on `Are You Headed My Way?', a straight-forward Honky-Tonkying Rockabilly song. It is fun and fast, catchy and traditional. But the sound of the instruments blur and the distortion is everywhere. Worse, you can hardly hear the sublime piano of Eric Drew Feldman.

Next, Frank hits us with one of the best songs on this CD, `Heloise'. Strangely sounding utterly original and classic at the same time, the love story of Heloise and Abelard is a classic Black subject, featuring wonderful little guitar lines, surf rock chord progression, and hallows from Frank as he croons the title over and over. `Heloise' is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs in Frank's career.

Even for an artist known for his subtlety (check out `The Swimmer' on Dog in the Sand, or the Epigrams in `Ana' and `Speedy Marie'), The Scene is wonderfully underplayed. Despite the absences of clear melodic or lyrical motives, the song is both exciting and sad. `Black Letter Days' and `Show Me Your Tears' are filled with sad songs, but rarely has Frank managed to convey the feel of the song with so few words or downright depression minor chords.

I'm afraid that `Whisky in Your Shoes', a bar blues song about the death of a child, simply does not do this to me, despite what it may reveal about Frank's psyche. `The Fields of Marigold' is much better, with hard distortion beginning, turning into a romantic and melodic grand final as Frank sings about Norwegian Heaven.

From a `value for money' standpoint, there are better Frank Black bargains then Devil's Workshop. But for the true fans, it is a necessity, and a worthy addition to one of Rock'n'Roll `s most impressive catalogues.

Long time fans of the Pixies will recognize the old Dig for Fire B-Side "Velvety", only this time with lyrics. Pre-Catholics Frank Black die-hards will also cheer at the inclusion of "Modern Age", the first studio version of the Kitchen Tapes song previously only available on "The Black Sessions- Live in Paris" import.

As for the new material, Devil's Workshop has its share of throw-aways, but the songs that shine are some of Frank Black's better works. "His Kingly Cave" is loaded with calculated chord changes that can't help but capture your attention; its follow-up, "San Antonio, TX", is almost as great and catchy as Dog in the Sand's "Llano Del Rio". The album even ends strongly. "Whiskey in Your Shoes" is a frantic, fast paced gem with lyrics sounding as if they were written by Johnny Cash. The final track, "Fields of Marigold", while good, also proves that Frank Black likes Bob Dylan so much that he wants to be him. (You'll see what I mean.)

When it comes to the two albums, it's a tough call which one to choose between. While Devil's Workshop has the better tracks, Black Letter Days does have the better flow. Luckily, we're all Frank Black fans, so I know you'll buy both. (If you don't have any Frank Black records, try Teenager of the Year or Dog in the Sand first.)