It used to be easy to tell the musical story of Charles
Michael Kittridge Thompson IV - he was Black Francis, leader of the acclaimed
Pixies, then the Pixies broke up, and he was solo artist Frank Black.Even adding ‘& The Catholics’ to
his solo moniker didn't change things.But after The Catholics, the Pixies reunited at Coachella in 2004
(basically starting the ‘alt bands reuniting - and cashing in - trend’), though
only playing the old, much-beloved material.Then Thompson returned to the ‘Black Francis’ name.He also produced the last two Art Brut
(QRO spotlight on), did a score to the
1920 silent film The Golem, teamed up with his wife as Grand
Duchy (QRO album review), and more,
while still putting out solo records - albeit of diminishing returns.But now Frank Black Francis has done
his best off-angle move so far, pairing with longtime friend & tourmate
Reid Paley as Paley & Francis.
While Francis is still best known & loved for his alt-rock
work in Pixies and as Frank Black, recent years have seen him trend into the
alt-country lane, especially since readopting the ‘Black Francis’ name in 2007
with Bluefinger (QRO review).The more stripped-down Francis
certainly had its high points, but by last year's Nonstoperotick (QRO review), they were getting fewer
and farther in between.Teaming up
with the gruffer alt-country troubadour Reid Paley (who's also known for his
winning humor on stage, including opening for Francis) has brought a shot of
vigor into Francis, even as his goes further into even alt-blues & -gospel.
The songs on Paley & Francis (how nice of the more famous of the two not to take
first-billing; though that's not alphabetical order...) go roughly one-two in
terms of who takes the lead, with Paley a much gruffer, saloon-style voice,
even ragtime on pieces such as "On the Corner", "Ugly Life", "The Last Song",
and "Deconstructed", though varying from sad, near-gospel sway ("The Last
Song") to saloon bombast ("Deconstructed").Indeed, Paley's is the more memorable voice on Paley
& Francis, though Francis' guitar work
stands out on such numbers as "Curse", "Crescent Moon", and especially
"Praise", as fine a song in Frank Black Francis' discography as there is.
People looking for new Pixies or Frank Black II won't find it on Paley & Francis, but they should know better by now (Pixies have
been touring behind deluxe edition of Doolittle for over two years now - QRO live review).But the alt-country Black Francis has
been revived with a heavy dose of Reid Paley.
Click here for photos of Black Francis at Brighton Music Hall in Boston, MA on October 22nd, 2011 in the QRO Concert Photo Gallery
It used to be easy to tell the musical story of Charles
Michael Kittridge Thompson IV - he was Black Francis, leader of the acclaimed
Pixies, then the Pixies broke up, and he was solo artist Frank Black.
Fueled with Voodoo Doughnuts, Alcoholic Faith Mission
delivered to a rockin' crowd in Portland.
Those lucky enough to
enter the House of Blues Boston took a spacey journey
that felt like one long dream starting with opening act I Break Horses.
The student-filled O2 Academy in Manchester started heaving
forward the instant the visual art showed "The Cribs" on the backdrop.
