Frank Black

Amazon.com
The sound and the fury that was the Pixies is in little evidence on this shockingly easy-going debut by the band's frontman. "Fu Manchu" is a hoot and there's a soaring version of Pet Sounds outtake "Hang onto Your Ego." --Jeff Bateman

Frank Black,Frank Black,Elektra / Wea,Alternative Pop/Rock,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Frank Black

Average customer rating: It's gotta be 5 stars because its Frank Black, but overall I hate best of's Best of the Best

'93-'03 Frank Black Manufacturer: Cooking Vinyl ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Christmass Icky Thump Unbreakable: A Retrospective 1990-2006 Era Vulgaris Beyond ASIN: B000OV15I6 Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

1. Los Angeles
2. Ten Percenter
3. Czar
4. Old Black Dawning
5. (I Want To Live On an) Abstract Plain
6. Calistan
7. Speedy Marie
8. Headache
9. Freedom Rock
10. Men In Black
11. You Ain't Me
12. I Don't Want To Hurt You (Every Single Time)
13. All My Ghosts
14. I Gotta Move
15. Bad Harmony
16. Western Star
17. Robert Onion
18. Hermaphroditos
19. Velvety
20. California Bound
21. Massif Centrale
22. Manitoba
23. Threshold Apprehension

Tracks:

1. Deadman's Curve
2. Raiderman
3. My Terrible Ways
4. I'll Be Blue
5. Johnny Barleycom
6. Ten Percenter
7. Dog Gone
8. The Swimmer
9. Suffering

Album Details

2007 Issued Anthology of the Pixies Frontman's Solo Albums from his Eponymously Titled Solo Debut Thru "Show Me Your Tears".

Customer Reviews:

It's gotta be 5 stars because its Frank Black, but overall I hate best of's.......2007-07-07

I am not one for many words... Frank Black is a genius there is no doubt about that. His Pixies records and solo stuff are great... but as always a best of does not do justice to an artist with such a range of songs. If I were you I wouldn't buy this compilation, but buy his solo stuff starting from the beginning with the self titled album and then if you like that grab the next album (teenager of the year) and so on.

The reviewer above quite rightly said that these songs take a while to sink in and appreciate. That's true for all of Frank's work... don't expect to put a Frank album on and immediately like it... give it 5 or so plays and the genius will hit you. Frank Black albums are special... buy them, not the best of!

Best of the Best.......2007-06-29

Frank black is my favorite musician of all time. I've searched everywhere for those who truely have the gift of melody, and Frank Black takes the cake for my personal favorite. No one else consistantly writes interesting, extremely catchy songs in unique ways as well as this man.
God has truely given him a great gift. This Best of does not have all my favorite songs by him, and some of the selections on here are some of my least favorites (manitoba, i gotta move). However, this compilation is a great showcase of Frank's talent and how his styles have evolved. This is a great start for the uninitiated, and i would recommend it to anyone who loves guitar driven music. All of his songs are gems so of course this isnt really a "best of". One would have to listen to his whole collection for that. The bonus disc is great also for fans to hear some of his classics live. The tracks are in stark contrast to the accoustic selections of last years Christmass album. To all the unitiated though, i must warn you, as any fan would tell you, THE SONGS TAKE TIME TO DEVELOP in your brain. Every album of his i did not like at first. And then came the moment of clarity that would almost always bring tears to my eyes. I dont know how he does it, but this man is clearly gifted in a divine manner. I would call him a modern day Bob Dylan, but better, and less known, and certainly less appreciated.

Average customer rating: Frank Black live - and some extra goodies

Christmass Frank Black Manufacturer: Cooking Vinyl ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: '93-'03 Pixies: Acoustic: Live in Newport Fast Man Raider Man Loudquietloud - A Film About the Pixies Show Me Your Tears ASIN: B000LV62AU Release Date: 2007-03-05

Tracks:

1. (Do What You Want) Gyaneshwar
2. Bullet
3. I Burn Today
4. Wave Of Mutilation
5. Living On Soul
6. She's My Way
7. Massif Central
8. Where Is My Mind?
9. Raiderman
10. Demon Girl
11. Dead Man's Curve
12. Cactus
13. Six Sixty Six
14. Radio Lizards
15. Don't Get Me Wrong
16. All Around the World
17. Nadine
18. Manitoba
19. The Water
20. Outakes/Song Of the Shrimp

Album Description

Limited edition CD/DVD (region 0 NTSC). This release comprises of live acoustic performances from summer 2006 along with 5 studio tracks recorded in various hotel rooms whist Frank toured the world and partly recorded songs at Planet of sound studios, Hartford. DVD footage is selections from live a acoustic show in Sacremento 2006. Cooking vinyl 2006

Album Details

This Release is Comprised of Live Acoustic Recordings from Summer 2006, Along with Five Studio Tracks Recorded Partly in Hotel Rooms and Partly at Planet of Sound Studios in Hartford, Connecticut; There is also a Dvd (Ntsc Format) with Selections from the Live Acoustic Show in Sacremento 2006.

Customer Reviews:

Frank Black live - and some extra goodies.......2007-05-14

This is a compendium of mostly live recordings from Frank Black's latest solo acoustic tour. If you're a fan, you probably already have this, but if you don't, get it while you can.

It's a testament to the strength of his songwriting that so many of these tracks stand up to solo acoustic renditions. As you can see, he also peppers in a few Pixies songs here & there, which is always a treat.

There are also a few *new* songs here, recorded while on the road and remixed. The best of them are "(Do What You Want) Gyaneshwar" and "She's my Way". I can't vouch for the others, which seem to be semi-failed experiments (especially "Demon Girl"... yeck).

The outtakes at the end are quite funny, especially the last one where Charles is dealing with a drunken screaming fan proclaiming that she saw him step out of a UFO before the concert.

Anyway, get it if you dig Frank Black. It's a great tide-me-over until Bluefinger is officially released.

Average customer rating: Hatebreed trying to immitate Hatebreed READ MY REVIEW!! (If you haven't heard it yet) GREAT HARDCORE!!! Good enough (if you're not too picky) BURY YOUR DEAD'S BROTHER

Supremacy Hatebreed Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sacrament Perseverance The Rise of Brutality Christ Illusion III: In The Eyes OF Fire ASIN: B000H0MGSW Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

1. Defeatist
2. Horrors Of Self
3. Mind Over All
4. To The Threshold
5. Give Wings To My Triumph
6. Destroy Everything
7. Divine Judgment
8. Immortal Enemies
9. The Most Truth
10. Never Let It Die
11. Spitting Venom
12. As Diehard As They Come
13. Supremacy Of Self

Customer Reviews:

Hatebreed trying to immitate Hatebreed.......2007-07-05

When Hatebreed initially "made it big" with their record 'Satisfaction is the Death of Desire', the entire hardcore scene was flush with crappy bands trying to immitate Hatebreed. This record sounds like Hatebreed is trying to immitate themselves.

READ MY REVIEW!! (If you haven't heard it yet).......2007-05-18

OK listen, don't listen to those that said that this album sucks, because if you think so, you have no life. THIS IS THE BEST HARDCORE ALBUM EVER!!!
Impressive guitars for a hardcore band, and very strong, deep vocals! They sound more brutal than ever! "Horrors of Self" had a dark part in the beginning with a loud screaming! "Give Wings To My Triumph" and "Immortal Enemies" are the best tracks ever! "To The Threshold" was a song that actually sends messages or tell a story behind it. The music video was pretty weird too. Leave it to Roadrunner records to have kick-a** bands! "Never Let It Die" had a catchy beginning, and "Destroy Everything" does repeat the chorus often. "Defeatist" is a good song, with great guitars and fast vocals!

Best tracks:

3. "Mind Over All" 10/10- Short and sweet. Has a screaming part with some angry guitars!

5. "Give Wings To My Triumph" 11/10- God, I love this song! With a soft, dark side in the beginning then out came Jamey's loud vocals! Very catchy singing and chorus!

8. "Immortal Enemies" 11/10- Great drumming part in the beginning, and very catchy guitars too! Love Jamey's vocals here! Just love it!

11. "Spitting Venom" 10/10- Great beginning, has similiar vocal styles from "Give Wings To My Triumph".

12. "As Diehard As They Come" 10/10- Good guitars at the beginning, has a groovy part as they chant out "YOU ARE! As diehard as they come!" with some drummings too!

GREAT HARDCORE!!!.......2007-03-07

This album is faster, heavier, and more angry than theirn other albums! Great hardcore! So many people keep saying that Hatebreed is metal! To me, they sound nothing like metal, just by their lyrics and the way they sound, their music is fast and short. Exactly like hardcore. "To The Thresold" is about people who bares scars from an abusive childhood, just by watcfhing the video. "Defeatist" had the speed and the hating lyrics. This band sounds so much like Bury Your Dead (when they had Mat as ex-singer) and Sick of It All! I can tell that Hatebreed is definetly not thrash metal! I don't understand why soooo many keepsaying that their lyrics are weird and not good. Jamey's voclas sounds a lot less throaty like their first album, and their music and guitars sound faster and thicker! This is a perfect hardcore album! GET THIS!!! And check out te band Sick Of It All!

Good enough (if you're not too picky).......2007-01-26

It's hard to find much talent among the generation of post-Pantera metal bands.

Vocally: weak (although this is to be expected; none of these guys can actually sing).

Lyrically: kind of interesting in parts.

Songwriting: adequate. I didn't hear a lot of variation. Nothing really interesting. The songs do tend to sound a bit alike.

Guitar work: dull with brief moments of butt-kicking. There were a couple pretty cool riffs but, overall, pretty mundane.

People seem to think that earlier albums are better (this is my first Hatebreed experience) but, based on this recording, I'd say that they don't have much going for them. I feel like I'm being generous giving them 3-stars (but I like the heavy stuff generally). These guys aren't great but there a bands a lot worse out there selling records.

BURY YOUR DEAD'S BROTHER.......2007-01-04

This album was angry and headbanging!! The best tracks are "Mind Over All", "Horror Of Self", "Destroy Everything", "Never Let It Die", "The Most Truth", "To The Thresold", and Defeatist". I don't understand why a lot of people don't approve with this album?! It's so angry and sounds so much like Bury Your Dead, both moshcore, both angry, and headbanging!! GET THIS!!! For the fans of Bury Your Dead, get this!

Average customer rating: Ceaselessly Brilliant Frank Black to Please All Senses fun Frank's first solo album Wonderful Album

Frank Black Frank Black Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Teenager of the Year Pistolero Frank Black and the Catholics Honeycomb Show Me Your Tears ASIN: B000002HCM Release Date: 1993-03-09

Tracks:

1. Los Angeles
2. I Heard Ramona Sing
3. Hang On To Your Ego
4. Fu Manchu
5. Places Named After Numbers
6. Czar
7. Old Black Dawning
8. Ten Percenter
9. Brackish Boy
10. Two Spaces
11. Tossed (Instrumental Version)
12. Parry The Wind High, Low
13. Adda Lee
14. Every Time I Go Around Here
15. Don't Ya Rile 'Em

Amazon.com

The sound and the fury that was the Pixies is in little evidence on this shockingly easy-going debut by the band's frontman. "Fu Manchu" is a hoot and there's a soaring version of Pet Sounds outtake "Hang onto Your Ego." --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews:

Ceaselessly Brilliant.......2007-07-16

I was working in a record store when this came out in 1993. We would put this on in the store and sell tons of copies. My saying was that this was the very definition of "alternative music" at the time. If that ambiguous catch-all term could be summed up somehow, this was it.

Now 14 years later, this CD still stands the test of time. I lost the CD recently and had to re-download it. Hard to live without... it hooks me from the first notes and words of "Los Angeles" and doesn't let go. I feel it's definitely Frank Black's most consistent solo album.

Frank Black to Please All Senses.......2007-07-13

No matter what your favorite type of music is, you are sure to find a favorite in Frank Black. Some of it is soft, some heavy, a few funny, none too sad. I highly recomend you give it a try.

fun.......2007-05-07

fun stuff, frank black is a strange guy but it's fun, my favorite song is ten percenter

Frank's first solo album.......2007-02-20

Frank Black's first solo album was a no-brainer must-buy for any avid fan of his past (and present day) band PIXIES. their trademark sound is still intact here, but with a bit more of a polished and mature edge that has it's moments of brilliance. but Frank Black doesn't seem completely comfortable in his role as a solo performer here on this album and his songwriting edge loses a bit of sharpness which dulls the ride a bit. it's a pleasing album of skewed pop songs that doesn't sound too far removed from the Pixes "Trompe Le Monde" album; but honestly, this first solo record has not really held my interest over the years. Frank Black's next album, the indespensable "Teenager Of The Year" would be a better showcase for his immense talents. not to mention the future releases of "Pistolero" and "Dog In The Sand." if you want to get your feet wet in Black's solo career, you'd probably be better off starting off with those albums and then circling back to pick this one up later.

Wonderful Album.......2006-12-30

One of my favorite albums ever. I've had it for years and still love it. Teenager of the Year is also good.

Average customer rating: pure ear candy Whatever happened to Pong? I like qwirky !!!!!!!!!! If I could take an HG Wells/ I'd be on the first flight... Wayward Alchemy

Teenager of the Year Frank Black Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Frank Black Pistolero Frank Black and the Catholics Honeycomb Show Me Your Tears ASIN: B000002HF0 Release Date: 1994-05-24

Tracks:

1. Whatever Happened To Pong?
2. Thalassocracy
3. (I Want To Live On An) Abstract Plain
4. Calistan
5. The Vanishing Spies
6. Speedy Marie
7. Headache
8. Sir Rockaby
9. Freedom Rock
10. Two Reelers
11. Fiddle Riddle
12. Ole Mulholland
13. Fazer Eyes
14. I Could Stay Here Forever
15. The Hostess With The Mostest
16. Superabound
17. Big Red
18. Space Is Gonna Do Me Good
19. White Noise Maker
20. Pure Denizen Of The Citizens Band
21. Bad, Wicked World
22. Pie In The Sky

Customer Reviews:

pure ear candy.......2007-05-01

teenager of the year is a hallucinogenic sci-fi inspired daydream that captures a still freshly emancipated frank black at the pinnacle of his prolific 17+ album career. the record finds a blissful, if not idyllic, balance between the post punk alt rock sound black established with the pixies and the straight-ahead rockers coloring the latter years of his solo catalog.

teenager jam-packs 22 tracks into 60 minutes. fear not, black is ambitious here; never self-indulgent. Each of the 22 tracks stands on its own. teenager's lyrics are as sharp and as abstruse as any in black's catalog. consider calistan, black's depiction of a futuristic california:

went in from the weather when i got wheezy
i play some pachinko i play parchisi
and st. anne is still making it breezy
in the valley of tar that once was l.a.

and my best friend he's the king of karaoke
he struck up a chord and he took it away
out of the pan
and into japan
'round there, calistan way

the album offers plenty more zany verses soulfully belted by our antihero, often with a more tempered and melodic quality than in prior efforts. this is a good thing!

black also experiments with a range of styles spanning punk, new wave, reggae and the straightforward rock ballad, always with his own twist and always distinguished by his signature lyricism.

teenager easily earns a place on my list of the top 10 albums of the nineties. i recall the day this sweet rock candy invaded my ears and rotted my brain in 1998. i realizing how much time i'd wasted listening to the over-produced, shallow sludge polluting the airwaves at the time. teenager of the year helped to inspire a newfound passion in my appreciation and exploration of music. if you dig alternative rock, chances are you'll love this album. let me know what you think.

if you like teenager of the year, also check out frank black and the catholics - dog in the sand (2001) and frank black - black letter days (2002)

Whatever happened to Pong?.......2006-09-09

Somehow, I made it through the nineties without ever hearing Frank Black, despite the fact that those were my teenage, angsty years. It wasn't until several months ago that I'd decided to download a few tracks of his, and immediately became hooked.

I'm still an FB neophyte, but I'm definitely signing up for my card. Teenager of the Year is a generous album, with 20 songs ranging from punk to pop to ska to rockabilly. I can't claim to enjoy all of the tracks, but given that there are so many, I still come away with as many favorites as appear on most artists' albums. Tracks like Superabound, Calistan, Speedy Marie, and Abstract Plain are worth the price of admission outright.

I don't have a broad musical experience to compare his work to, but the most obvious comparison I could come up with is Lou Reed. Black's delivery has the same easy, heroin-hazed understatement that made Reed sound like he was delivering his vocals to no one in particular. Black can also belt out a screaming tune when the chord calls for it, as witnessed on Headache. The guy's just got a memorable, unique voice, which stands out in this age of Nickelback-esque studio singer styles.

Something else I immediately noticed about Black was his fondness of repetition. If something sounds cool to sing 4 times in a loop, he'll do it. I have a personal penchant for repetition, a penchant for repetition, and trancelike arrangements, so this suits me fine.

Finally, I appreciate the melodies that Black has come up with. Just about any artist could take the score to Speedy Marie or Headache and turn it into a good song, attitude or no. Nirvana was much like this. They could craft a great tune, though it was often overshadowed by the vocals, feedback, and energy.

I like qwirky !!!!!!!!!!.......2006-03-08

My first exposure. I thought this was a current 2005 album. So I guess that it has a timeless quality since it's 12 years old. Love this guys voice!
I'll be getting more of this artist!!

If I could take an HG Wells/ I'd be on the first flight..........2005-12-04

There's no doubt that this is FB's best album, his only solo effort to compare favourably with the output of his former alias Mr Francis (that's not to say that his other solo albums aren't worth checking out). Its a sprawling, protean effort- an eclectic and defiantly odd-ball collection. At times it sounds like The Fall (Whatever Happened To Pong?), at other moments more like Dire Straits (Calistan, Speedie Marie), but it NEVER sounds much like the Pixies. The sound is cleaner and poppier, smoothing off the edges of the Pixies' abrasiveness, but the weirdness, the bug-eyed humour (and the sheer quality) remains.

Despite its sprawling nature, this is nonetheless a very accessible and remarkably consistent album. I don't agree at all with people who consider it uneven. Only the cod-reggae of "Fiddle Riddle" has me reaching for the skip button. But its true that Frank Black's taste occasionally fails him- Lyle Workman's awful guitar solos on the otherwise excellent Two Reelers and Ole Mulholland stray too far into tasteless rock territory for my liking. But that's what makes the guy interesting- he clearly doesn't give a monkey's about being cool or fashionable, and its this refreshing eclecticism which makes this singularly odd collection one of the most under-rated albums of the 1990s.

Wayward Alchemy.......2005-08-25

In retrospect it's easy to see why an album as compelling and inventive as "Teenager of the Year" bombed commercially- after all it was released in the middle of grungemania and few if any of these songs could be filed under that genre- but with the passing of time this has come to be Frank Black's undisputed masterpiece (and for my money even topping the Pixies).

One of the things I value the most when listening to an album is its capacity to surprise, that puzzling moment in which you grin and wonder if you've heard what you think you did- the little yet brilliant details that keep the listener on its toes wondering what will follow.

And this album is the king of the unexpected musical detours since Black's always shuffling his ingredients, which means that you can find here frenzied charges to match the Pixies' "Something Against You" ("Thalassocracy") resting alongside surf ballads ("Sir Rockaby"),or haunting keyboard odes ("Speedy Marie") shadowing power pop("Headache") and airy space pop ("Space is gonna do me good").

It's simply the most rewarding and enduring record I own, and that's without mentioning how much fun it is to listen to.

Average customer rating: Indie listening Superb, laid-back, country-fried (4.5 stars) His best album in a while Not bad, just not great Black Letter sorrows

Fast Man Raider Man Frank Black Manufacturer: Back Porch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Honeycomb Greenland Christmass Another Fine Day Rather Ripped ASIN: B000FMGWDM Release Date: 2006-06-20

Tracks:

1. If Your Poison Get You
2. Johnny Barleycorn
3. Fast Man
4. You Can't Crucify Yourself
5. Dirty Old Town
6. Wanderlust
7. Seven Days
8. Raider Man
9. The End Of The Summer
10. Dog Sleep
11. When The Paint Grows Darker Still
12. I'm Not Dead (I'm In Pittsburgh)
13. Golden Shore

Tracks:

1. In The Time Of My Ruin
2. Down To You
3. Highway To Lowdown
4. Kiss My Ring
5. My Terrible Ways
6. Fitzgerald
7. Elijah
8. It's Just Not Your Moment
9. The Real El Rey
10. Where The Wind Is Going
11. Holland Town
12. Sad Old World
13. Don't Cry That Way
14. Fare Thee Well

Amazon.com

Recorded in the same casual manner as 2005's Honeycomb, in various hit-and-run sessions with superstar session musicians during gaps in the Pixies' unending reunion tour, Fast Man Raider Man abides by the this-will-do aesthetic that has been a hallmark of Frank Black's solo career. With songs seemingly made up on the spot, the singer delivers a thoroughly mellow 27-track double album that is largely free of the inscrutability and insanity of his most famous work. Instead, it is homey pedal steel guitars, sleepy saxophone solos, rootsy barroom rockers like "Down To You," a heart-on-sleeve R&B ballad or two such as "Sad Old World," and a wobbly cover of Ewan MacColl's "Dirty Old Town." His strangest offering yet? --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

Indie listening.......2007-05-04

Carries on in a vein similar to Honeycomb, but expanded into a 2-CD set. If you haven't heard Honeycomb, it's hard to know exactly how to describe this. It's sort of an indie-rock easy-listening album. It makes me think of 70s guitar-strumming pop music from maybe a darker and more quirky alternate reality. When I listen to this, I often find myself thinking of old Randy Newman albums from the 70s, with the keyboards and brass and quirky storytelling. What's striking is that for a double album the quality of the songs is very even. There is no filler. On the other hand, sometimes "even" isn't the greatest thing to be. There are no tracks that really stand out in my mind after the CD is over, no songs that have engraved themselves in my brain and that bring me back to listen to it over and over again. [Honeycomb had several real gems -- most of the CD in fact]. Musically, the performances are great and the sound is very clean; the wordplay does not seem up to the usual FB level, it's still better than a lot of what's out there. Overall, worth listening to, and although similar in a lot of ways, does not quite live up to Honeycomb [which you should buy right now].

Superb, laid-back, country-fried (4.5 stars).......2007-01-06

Frank returns to the wonderful world of Honeycomb with some of the best musicians to ever lay tracks to wax, and the result is arguably even better. From the classic "If Your Poison Gets You" through the numbers co-written with punker Reid Paley ("I'm Not Dead, I'm In Pittsburgh" is superb), all the way to the end, this album is stunningly satisfying to repeat listens.

This is not a new Catholics album played by other people, this is a unique entity. Music legends Al Kooper, Levon Helm and Steve Cropper all feature with amazing result, but this is still definitely a Frank Black album. Take a listen to the musical progression and lyrics of "Kiss my ring" if you doubt.
Then, just for fun, listen to any of the instruments individually, in any song.
Perfect.

His best album in a while.......2007-01-04

Like many of Frank Black Francis' compositions, I was lukewarm on this album at first, particularly since I thought the double album was gratuitous, even for this incredibly prolific man. Now that I have given it a few listens, though, I have to say I love it (like almost all his compositions). I think this is his best album since the first Catholics album, or maybe even Cult of Ray. Frank is back!

Not bad, just not great.......2006-12-29

I've been heavily into the Pixies since "Surfer Rosa", and have been repeatedly challenged by Frank Black's solo work, which always exceeds my expectations. Can't say why I would doubt him, since he's written so many brilliant songs. Unfortunately, this is the first time I would say I come away disappointed. And I think it has a lot to do with the musicians playing on the recording. Many great ones, but more commonly heard playing the mellower side of rock. My guess is that The Catholics wouldn't have permitted Frank Black to sound like he's playing to 40-somethings who are comfortable with an adventurous rocker slipping into cruise-control. Who knows, maybe it will garner him some new fans.

Black Letter sorrows.......2006-11-14

Frank Black is really quite brilliant, an amazing talent who should always be surrounded by some of the best musicians in an environment that is conducive to bringing out his best. I would hope that because of his pedigree he would take the time to put out his best work. Does anyone remember Black Letter Days? a phenomenal album that spawned one of the most memorable tours. There was exceptional songwriting, a finely crafted album and a selection of musicians that truly rocked (remember the guy with the flailing guitar and the skills to back it up)? Everyone went away thrilled. Did the sellout Pixies tour dampen Black's spirit a bit? I admire him for continuing to go solo on his terms, but where is the indomitable energy and creativity? Our expectations were so elevated after Black Letter Days!

I guess that since Black Letter Days, everything seems half-hearted to me..including this latest release by the master. Here's hoping that some Black Letter magic goes his way for the next one. I'm biting my tongue as I write this; because BLD has meant so much to me and I am indebted to the artist for creating such a masterpiece! If an artist can affect a person so profoundly, with even just one of his works, then he is doing everything right.

Perhaps this is all subjective and many of you find this latest offering superior. Who knows?

Average customer rating: Good... Tired And Emotional LOVE IT, DISC 2 IS BRILLIANT! A must-have for hardcore fans Not sure what to make of it

Frank Black Francis Frank Black , and Black Francis Manufacturer: Spin Art ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Honeycomb Fast Man Raider Man Show Me Your Tears Black Letter Days Dog in the Sand ASIN: B0006213SA Release Date: 2004-10-12

Tracks:

1. Holiday Song
2. Nimrods Son
3. Caribou
4. Vamos
5. Isla De Enchanta
6. Ed is Dead
7. Oh My Golly
8. Build High
9. Ive Been Tired
10. Break My Body
11. Broken Face
12. Im Amazed
13. Rocka My Soul
14. Subbacultcha
15. Boomchickaboom

Tracks:

1. Monkey Gone to Heaven (Doolittle)
2. Wave of Mutilation (Doolittle)
3. Where is My Mind (Surfer Rosa)
4. Cactus (Surfer Rosa)
5. Into the White (Here Comes Your Man EP)
6. Caribou (Come on Pilgrim)
7. Nimrods Son (Come on Pilgrim)
8. Levitate Me (Come on Pilgrim)
9. Holiday Song (Come on Pilgrim)
10. Velouria (Bossanova)
11. Is She Weird? (Bossanova)
12. Subbacultcha (Trompe Le Monde)
13. Planet Of Sound (Trompe Le Monde)

Customer Reviews:

Good..........2007-04-24

A nice little disc for ultra Pixies fans. I especially enjoyed the acoustic disc and Frank's vocals have even improved with age.

But Frank's version of "Into the White" comes no where near Kim's. Sorry.

Tired And Emotional.......2006-02-08

Kurt Cobain said Nirvana stole all their best ideas from them, key Radiohead members Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke have similarly emphasised their debt to them, U2 were so enraptured with them that they took them on the Zoo TV tour as special guests and even David Bowie claims they breathed new life into music in the 1980s. If you're new to this act The Pixies that everyone is raving about since their reformation, don't start your collection by snapping up this solo CD set from head Pixie Charles Thompson IV (hunt down Death To The Pixies as a greatest hits taste-test to begin with, then grab a copy of Doolittle and Surfer Rosa). However, if you're a fully fledged fan of The Pixies, Frank Black Francis acts as an even greater revelation than the less expansive but similar period's Pixies (also known as The Purple Tape), with the first of the two CDs (Demo) showcasing Black Francis's 1987 acoustic outlines of all the tracks (bar Levitate Me) that would make it to debut album Come On Pilgrim, as well as Surfer Rosa's Broken Face, Break My Body and Oh My Golly. I've Been Tired reveals a measure of Jack White in Frank's erratic yelps, while the sketchy demos also interestingly include Frank's comments to producer Gary Smith such as "There's supposed to be screaming here" mid-song. Such a rough compilation was never meant to be released, yet Black's fully-formulated idea of how he wished Come On Pilgrim to sound makes the first disc compelling for completists. Of lesser note is the woozy bass-heavy revisionism of The Pixies' legacy on disc two (Treated), although Frank concedes in the liner notes this re-recorded and re-interpreted collection was only put together to bolster the musical content of the Frank Black Francis package. While Where Is My Mind? and Nimrod's Son are interesting due to their `Frank On Tranqs' malaise, similarly classic tracks such as Cactus and Levitate Me don't work quite so well in this sluggish sonic territory. Nonetheless, replacing savage guitars and shrieking howls for tubas and keyboards on awesome tunes such as Monkey Gone To Heaven and The Holiday Song shows Frank is commendably unafraid to experiment with his classic tracks. While such reinvention has divided many fans, the creativity on display on both discs creates an exceptional stop-gap between his 2003 solo album Show Me Your Tears and (fingers crossed) the next Pixies album.

LOVE IT, DISC 2 IS BRILLIANT!.......2005-12-28

I've been a Pixies fan since 89 and have followed Frank Black and his other bandmates other projects since the group broke up. The Pixies were great, and seeing the reunion tour was fun, but it didn't really excite me in the way of new ideas or material. Where the music was once fresh and innovative, it's 15 years later and without new material or any updating of the songs, it just seemed like too much nostalgia. (At least hearing Pixies versions of some Catholics or solo FB or Breeders or Martinis tunes would have been interesting) Disc 2 here remedies that! FB teams up with the duo Two Pale Boys to reinvent the songs so that they sound just as playful imaginitive and whacked as they did 14+ years ago. One of the best parts is that the lyrics stand out more in this format, you can hear what FB's saying and follow the stories. It's just so fun. I hope Francis & the Pixies record some new material that is this bright. Disc 1 is good too, but to me it's more a trip down memory lane, not a step forward.

A must-have for hardcore fans.......2005-12-09

Frank Black/Black Francis is one of the most significant artists of the last 25 years and is still making incredible music with his latest band. These 2 discs are really an oddity, but for any hardcore fan they offer unique musical perspectives on some of the most classic Pixies stuff ever. Yes, the first disc is much more lively interesting, a rare sonic insight into early Pixies. But the second disc will sneak up on you as well if you love the songs.

Not sure what to make of it.......2005-09-24

This set comes on two discs. One is early demo tracks of Pixies songs performed by just Frank Black and his guitar. Two is what I can only describe as reminaginings of classic Pixies songs.
The demos are amazing. Raw, a little dirty in the sound quality, and rough around the edges. It's like listening to old friends who were recorded before I met them.
The re-imagined versions are a whole other thing. It's not that I feel like hey have no business messing with classic songs this way. I love to hear different versions of the same song. It's just that I'm not sure I like the style in which it was done. Some, like "Cactus" and "Where is My Mind" are cleverly done enough. But as a whole the tracks come off as unfocused and even, in a couple of cases, boring.
Still, they are Mr. Black's songs to let people mess with as he wishes.
I'm not going to call it horrible, but I'm not sure very Pixies fan will be into this. In fact I'm sure some will outright hate it.

Average customer rating: A Different Perspective A Lone Pixie Is Never Lonely Lull me, Frank. You da man! "John Wesley Harding" meets "The Circle Game" the verdict is still out on this one

Honeycomb Frank Black Manufacturer: Back Porch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fast Man Raider Man Teenager of the Year Frank Black Show Me Your Tears Frank Black Francis ASIN: B0009VBU4A Release Date: 2005-07-19

Tracks:

1. Selkie Bride
2. I Burn Today
3. Lone Child
4. Another Velvet Nightmare
5. Dark End Of The Street
6. Go Find Your Saint
7. Song Of The Shrimp
8. Strange Goodbye
9. Sunny Sunday Mill Valley Groove Day
10. Honeycomb
11. My Life Is In Storage
12. Atom In My Heart
13. Violet
14. Sing For Joy

Amazon.com

Those having witnessed Frank Black exorcising his demons through screams and wails onstage with the Pixies will stop for a double-take when they hear this, an album the frontman recorded live in Nashville just days before the band launched its 2004 reunion tour. He sounds like George Jones with a hangover. Stripping away the ear-splitting feedback and lyrics about spaceships, Black teams up with a group of dust-caked local musicians, whose collective resumes include stints at Stax Records, Muscle Shoals and American Studios, for a set of songs that are beautiful and warm--even when on "Another Velvet Nightmare," he mournfully sings, "Today I felt my heart slide in my belly/ So I puked it up with liquor." --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

A Different Perspective.......2007-03-02

I've never listened to the Pixies or Frank Black before stumbling across this album. I think it's great.

Die-hards will probably be upset when I say this, but it sounds like a better version of Jack Johnson mixed with some blues and Bob Dylan. It's a great-sounding and relaxed album with very good quality guitar work throughout. The songs are mellow, but not in a boring way. The highlight for me is the very intricate guitar pieces in between lyrics and the blues-y solos.

This is palatable folk-rock at its finest. I've had a hard time finding anyone who is a music fan that doesn't like the sound of this cd. I'd recommend it to anybody. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that it seems repetitive at times, and I seem to enjoy the first half of the album more than the second half. Plenty of great tunes on here though. Enjoy.

A Lone Pixie Is Never Lonely .......2006-03-22

In 2003 Charles Kitteridge Thompson IV's Show Me Your Tears album was a terrific little release, beflecked with country odes to marital woes and some of the best songs of the artist's career. That it was so overlooked stems less from the fact that it was dud album and more due to Thompson's background in one of the most revered alternative acts of all time, The Pixies. Following the demise of said band in the early 1990s, Charles `Frank Black' Thompson's subsequent decade as a solo artist was consistently measured against his years in The Pixies, with interviews never failing to question the possible return of the indomitable quartet.
Last year Pixies fans finally saw the band return to the live arena with US and European dates, however the reunion hasn't dampened Frank Black's enthusiasm for releasing his own material. More MOR rock than the country flavours of Show Me Your Tears, Honeycomb finds Black encroaching on the territory of everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Chris Rea. If Show Me Your Tears was his break-up album, Honeycomb finds Black still rueing over the fallout, with the rambling, drunken keyboards of Another Velvet Nightmare backing up a lyrics dealing with thoughts of the ex copping off with another man.
As with previous Black solo material, minimal production on most of these songs reveals the singer's clean yet subdued vocals backed by an often sprightly guitar. While tunes such as Dark End Of The Street sound like a meld of early 1970s Neil Young and Van Morrison (even the title is redolent of such a link), there's still a taste of Black's quirky lyric on Song Of The Shrimp, where talking crustaceans take the spotlight for the cover of the track once recorded by Elvis Presley. Although Honeycomb finds Frank earning a helping hand from Booker T & The MG's guitarist Steve Cropper, it is Black's wife Jean who helps out on vocals for Honeycomb's finest track, Strange Goodbye.
Settle down Pixies fans, you're getting a new album next year from the acclaimed quartet. For now, this DIY production from Frank is a perfect stop-gap that offers far more interest than the dull brown album cover would have you believe.

Lull me, Frank. You da man!.......2006-02-08

Like pretty much all other output from this man, Honeycomb is heartfelt and true. It does readers a tremendous disservice to ever refer to his music as "country." That notion is plain ridiculous. Just as he mastered -- along with the rest of the Pixies -- the art of uniquely conveying youthful angst, he has come to master the folky twang of plucking on heart strings... and once given a chance, you simply have no choice but to believe his every verse and musing. That said, I must admit that, for me, Honeycomb simply fits in the middle there, somewhere among the rest of his folkier solo work. For my money, it doesn't get any better than Teenager Of The Year. Still, Honeycomb is a wonderful album, even blowing away lesser works like "The Cult Of Ray." I just wish he would leave cutesy li'l ditties like "Song Of The Shrimp" off his albums. They don't help to garner respect from the fickle listener.

"John Wesley Harding" meets "The Circle Game" .......2006-02-03

This thing surprised the hell out of me. I loved the Pixies but had not enjoyed Black's solo output nearly as much. This sounds nothing like the Pixies, but it's awesome. It comes across like, of all things, a cross between Dylan's "John Wesley Harding" and Tom Rush's "The Circle Game." The songs are full of humor and bile and wacky (but, for Black, typical) imagery. Black sings in a deep, soulful voice atop one of the greatest bands ever recorded. It's soulful and folksy and a little punky and country, but entirely successful. It's rare that a CD stays in my CD player more than a day. This thing's been there for two weeks now.

the verdict is still out on this one.......2006-01-30

Honeycomb is a tough album for me to write about because i have not made up my mind on whether or not i like it. overall, it's a fine record, full of generally well-written songs that stradle an acoustic sound with Frank's oddball lyrics and unusual meter. but for every track that is a winner ("I Burn Today", "My Life In Storage") there are plenty of other songs that are merely "okay." not that bad...but not that good. a general feeling of a lazy, sunbaked afternoon is heavy on these recordings and that is really nice, but it can't help cover up some of the lackluster tunes. i'm still listening to it and trying to soak it in and hoping that it will grow on me a bit more. because i want to enjoy it more than i do right now. hmmm....unfortunately, there's really no hope in getting past the lifeless graphic design job that this compact disc comes encased in. somebody find Mister Black proper artist, please!

Average customer rating: A band of "gathered" fine artists! Sorry for Anneke's departure! I tied but can't connect with this one the weakest of the anneke-era not any good Home, dificil definir esta pieza maestra

Home The Gathering Manufacturer: The End Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Souvenirs Karmacode A Sound Relief Accessories: Rarities & B-Sides How to Measure a Planet? ASIN: B000EQ5QA4 Release Date: 2006-04-25

Tracks:

1. Shortest Day
2. In Between
3. Alone
4. Waking Hour
5. Fatigue
6. A Noise Sever
7. Forgotten
8. Solace
9. You Troubles Are Over
10. Box
11. The Quiet One
12. Home
13. Forgotten Reprise

Customer Reviews:

A band of "gathered" fine artists! Sorry for Anneke's departure!.......2007-07-16

I am relatively new as a fan of The Gathering, it was last year that I bought my first album of theirs, following the advice of Amazon Alerts: "How to measure a planet", and I was blown away for the ambitious and experimental effort comprised in two cds full of high quality instrumentation, dense soundscapes that reminded me of Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree, a long instrumental-experimental suite, and crowning all of this, the superb voice of their female vocalist: Anneke van Giersbergen, with no doubt one of the most powerful and beautiful female voices in the current rock scenario. Then I purchased "Home", their latest work, and definitely this has been enough for me to declare this Dutch band as one of my favorites. "Home" is mature album, it contains a sophisticated sound that the band have been improving since their album "Mandylion", and definetly, it places this band among the finest "progressive-experimental-sublime-atmospheric" bands today. To clasify them with those words is just a necessary action, one has to name things and persons to identifying them, but let me tell you something: The Gathering's music really defies categorization, it is very creative and makes it very difficult to find one precise adjective to qualify it. Having said that, it is sad to know that their vocalist, Anneke, with whom they have rounded up their musical formula, is leaving and will deliver her final concert in Finland, in August. Will this represent a fallout for the band, or a renaissance? Time will tell.

I tied but can't connect with this one.......2007-02-18

I recently purchased this CD after hearing Anneke van Giersbergen do guest vocals on the John Wetton/Geoff Downes collaboration Rubicon II. I am always on the lookout for new music. Anneke had outstanding vocals on that CD as she does with the Gathering on Home. However, besides the quality of her vocals, I just have not been able to connect with the music on this CD. I like a wide range of styles and genres of music, but the problem here is that the songs are not catchy in any way, and pretty much all sound alike. You can have all the talent in the world, but if the songs themselves and the delivery are marginal, you are not going to sell a lot of records. Maybe I should have started with another release by the Gathering, but this one doesn't move me in any way. I give it two stars for the talent of the vocalist.

the weakest of the anneke-era.......2007-01-25

It is no accident that this release has only been out for less than a year and it is now available from Amazon for less than $4.00. Had this been my first experience with the Gathering, and had I believed from all of the mostly rave reviews of this CD that this is about as good as it gets, I certainly would have never purchased anything else from the band.

I tried at first to listen to Home and compare it to other offerings from the Gathering. Honestly, it sounds like a completely different band. The vocals are less passionate and completely forgettable, and the music could not stand alone without the vocals.

Then I tried to listen to Home as though it was a different band and to appreciate it on its own merits. I found myself imagining I could be listening to a Sarah Mclaughlin record. It nearly put me to sleep.

If this is the first Gathering CD you've heard and you give it 5 stars, don't bothering buying anything else from the band. Everything else they have put out is so much better than this, it will probably make your head explode.

If this is not the first thing you have heard from the Gathering and you liked everything else up to this point, I hope you aren't one of the ones that gave this a great review, because that would just be an example of blind adulation.

Want something heavy? Get Mandylion. Want something catchy? Get If_then_else or Nighttime Birds. Want something different? Get How to Measure a Planet or Rarities (the Dead Can Dance and Slowdrive covers are incredible.)

not any good.......2007-01-20

i don't understand some reviewers on here its like did we here the same cd or something.

Home, dificil definir esta pieza maestra.......2006-12-13

Una nueva entrega de esta banda holandesa. Quienes esperen un album metal-gotico-epico-pesado, no esperen encontrar algo semejante. Quienes buscan innovacion tanto de instrumentos como de grados en la voz, es un excelente album:

1. Shortest Day (5.0)
Escuchen la guitarra que reitera en casi toda la cancion. Anneke sigue mejorando con esa voz que anteriormente nos ha encandilado. Es una cancion muy pop, pero es un pop que no se ha escuchado antes.
2. In Between (5.0)
Combinacion de ritmo mas dureza. Nuevamente, Anneke nos brinda esa calidez vocal en esta cancion. Sobre el ritmo tengo poco que comentar, pues el aporte es minimo, disculpando a los demas musicos de The Gathering.
3. Alone (5.0)
Otra balada dentro de los exitos de Travel y Leaves. Cuenta con tres partes claramente diferenciadas, contando el puente con una piadosa voz de Anneke. "I will be there, for you to care, and you will find, peace of -your mind". Es una corta-venas que nos atrapa justo al finalizar la cancion. Gracias a Alone y a Home, es que este album vale la pena ser escuchado sin cansancio.
4. Waking Hour (4.0)
Otra "balada" del album. No es de mi agrado, pero el teclado favorece a que no obtenga una puntuacion menor. Bueno, es innegable que el teclado es lo mejor de este grupo, junto con la voz de Anneke.
5. Fatigue (5.0)
El inicio es dificil de entender, pero mejora luego de los 90 segundos. Bueno: mejora, para dar paso a la siguiente cancion. Fatigue se asemeja mucho a los "intro" de algunos album.
6. A Noise Sever (4.0)
Tiene un ritmo lento, es atractivo, pero no de los mejores. Aun asi, se deja escuchar.
7. Forgotten (4.0)
Buen ritmo. Pero no para hacer un comentario extenso del mismo.
8. Solace (5.0)
Quien diria que Anneke hablara en castellano. Pues, en esta cancion lo hace. Es algo sombria, muy de susurro, pero escuchenla. Me ha llamado mucho la atencion que una cancion pueda combinar diferentes idiomas y seguir siendo buena.
9. You Troubles Are Over (5.0)
El inicio de la cancion es llamativo. Luego, con el acompañamiento de la bateria que no cansa de tocar el mismo ritmo en casi todo momento, mientras que Anneke suaviza con su voz cualquier efecto de sonido fuerte. Quiza el final es muy pronto y esperamos otro descenlace, pero no podria darle menos calificacion. Es una buena cancion pop.
10. Box (4.0)
Una balada sin sentido en este album. Quiza debio salir en un rarities. Es una opinion pesonal.
11. The Quiet One (4.0)
Es una extraña cancion. Son solo murmullos y quejidos.
12. Home (5.0)
Madre mia. Que cancion. Es una acida cancion con una voz que pretende tumbarnos emocionalmente. Os digo: escuchen el final de la cancion cuando canta Anneke. Es una original corta-venas.Me encanto esta cancion desde el primer ritmo. Luego del puente, la cancion se torna tenebrosa, misteriosa, y Anneke ayuda en ello.
13. Forgotten Reprise (4.5)
Es la ultima cancion de este album. Luego de "Home", necesitamos una tonada que nos tranquilice el espiritu. Y lo consigue gracias a una suave melodia
***
Ironico que un grupo pesado cambie tan rapido a estos ritmos pop, pero no el clasico pop para la multitud. Este album sirve para ser escuchado en casa, apreciarlo y visualizar los nuevos ritmos que The Gathering nos presenta en cada nuevo album.

Average customer rating: didn't work for rehearsals Big for folks doing the Musical It's Awesome, It's Amazing, It's BIG!!!! a lost gem Ungodly awful

Big: The Musical (1996 Original Broadway Cast) Richard Maltby Jr. Manufacturer: Decca U.S. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Big: The Musical Baby (1983 Original Broadway Cast) Little Women The Musical (2005 Original Broadway Cast) Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000005AY0 Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

1. Overture/Can't Wait
2. Talk To Her/Carnival/Zoltar Speaks
3. This Isn't Me
4. I Want To Go Home
5. The Time Of Your Life/Fun
6. Josh's Welcome/Here We Go Again
7. Do You Want To Play Games?/Stars, Stars, Stars
8. Cross The Line
9. It's Time
10. Stop, Time
11. The Nightmare
12. Dancing All The Time/I Want To Know
13. Coffee, Black
14. The Real Thing
15. One Special Man
16. When You're Big/Skateboard Ballet
17. I Want To Go Home/Stars, Stars, Stars (Reprise)/Finale

Customer Reviews:

didn't work for rehearsals.......2007-03-22

I used this CD to help me rehearse for the BIG production I was in, but it didn't match the libretto at all. I think there was one song on there that I could use.

Big for folks doing the Musical.......2006-03-20

If you're getting this CD to help prepare for your school or community group doing the musical, there are a lot of changes from the CD to the book. Aside from finding the book in a new key and some chunks added/deleted, Here We Go Again and When You're Big aren't included anymore.

Overall, the music's a little trite, but there are some nice moments -- mostly the stuff sung by the female leads.

It's Awesome, It's Amazing, It's BIG!!!!.......2006-01-22

My high school did "Big" my sophomore year, and oh my god, it was such a fun musical to do. I kind of forgot about it until my senior year, when I suddenly craved some of that music again. So I purchased this CD and I've been loving it since. They got rid of a couple of the songs and replaced them with others as the show progressed on Broadway, so I was suprised to hear new material (to me anyways), and for the most part, I actually enjoyed these original songs over their replacements that my production contained. This cast is phenomenal and the guy who plays Josh Baskin sounds so much like Tom Hanks at points, its crazy. It's a simple, yet a bit fantastic musical about growing up, and it's funny and romantic, and a lot of fun. I love all the songs, and it's a shame it didn't do too well on B-way. At least this recording will keep the music alive.

"This Isn't Me" is one of my favorite tracks, as it's a lot of fun and has a great beat, but suprisingly it was replaced with "Good Morning to Mom", which was only so-so. "I Want To Go Home" is a great ballad that Josh sings, and its simple, a bit funny, and the ending is the best, as its cute and sad. Another song they got rid of, "Here We Go Again", is a song Susan sings, and again, I like it alot. It has a quirky melody that I like. "Stars, Stars, Stars" is another great song, and is quite cute. One of the more popular songs. "Cross The Line" is the finale to Act I and is also very excellent and up beat, and makes you want to dance. "Stop, Time" is my favorite song on the album by far. Sung by Josh's mom, it is one of the more poignant moments of the show. Heartfelt, sad, and truly beautiful, it defiantely makes you appreciate your mom. Barbara Walsh sounds superb on this: she has a great voice. I love this one. "Dancing all the Time" is another good Susan song, and it leads into "I Want To Know" by Young Josh, which is another good ballad. "Coffee, Black" is another showstopper, fun ensemble song, and again, very comedic. "One Special Man" is Susan's ballad to Josh, and it is very beatiful. My only regret is that its only 2:21 so its a short one, and I just want her to start belting at the end, but no, its a quiet ending. Still, I love this one too. The finale is great too, and features an amazing duet between Josh and Susan. I love the harmonies they do.

All in all, this is a great album. Sample the songs and give it a try. This is a must have!!

a lost gem.......2004-10-14

i saw this musical at the local high school in 2001 and was plesently suprised i of course saw the movie and the only thing i knew about this musical was it didnt stay long on broadway, so when i saw it was i shocked this is a delight cross the line still resenates in my head 5 years later.

Ungodly awful.......2004-06-19

BEWARE. This musical is perhaps one of the five worst pieces of music I have ever experienced. I began to wonder if the composer was attempting to make the world's worst musical. Listen for yourself and enjoy the disjunct vocal lines, the desperate attempt at "fun music", and - worst of all - how the highlight of the entire show both dramatically and musically is the insipidly awful "Heart and Soul". Stick to the movie because this baby is horrendous.

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