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Herald Rating: * * *
Imagine being Charles Thompson IV (aka Black Francis and Frank Black). What a job. The former Pixies leader has gone back to his old stage name for his latest solo album (he recorded six albums with his band the Catholics and eight as Frank Black), but no matter what he calls himself he will forever be the front man of those beautifully temperamental indie-rock super heroes. Music legends should be allowed to move on. However, when you've written songs like Where is My Mind?, Debaser and Monkey Gone to Heaven, you can't help but be constantly compared to your earlier work.
In terms of solo albums he hasn't had a scorcher of a record since his first two releases in the early 90s. Since then he's been solid and Blue Finger, a tribute to controversial and outspoken Dutch artist and musician Herman Brood, is yet another one. There's the berserk holler and churn of Threshold Apprehension ("I will be the whore and you'll be my suicide") and his reckless take on Brood's You Can't Break a Heart and Have It is the highlight.
However, Lolita is telling. It's a great song with a romantic jaunt but not exactly like Francis' other songs about girls - Velouria or Allison from the Pixies' 1990 album Bossanova. Still, he'll always be a legend.
Label: Cooking Vinyl
Verdict: Pixies frontman is back in black
