Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Frank Black has developed an irritating habit of following up a half-decent album with a lacklustre one - in this case, a dreary double album that seems to slouch along for an eternity and a half, with only the faintest regard for the listener's pleasure. It's quite some indictment that by far the best tune among these 27 tracks is Ewan MacColl's "Dirty Old Town", which Frank turns into a draggy boogie; but what's really astonishing is how many genuine rock legends were required to realise such modest returns. Session veterans like Carol Kaye, Bob Babbitt, Steve Ferrone, Jim Keltner, David Hood, Reggie Young and Lyle Workman are joined by icons such as Levon Helm, Ian McLagan, Steve Cropper, Billy Swan, Spooner Oldham and PF ("Eve Of Destruction") Sloan, but between them they can't raise more than a passing interest in Frank's material, which just flops there, lifeless and unengaging. It's not helped by Black's singing, which eschews the caterwauling of his Pixies period for a delivery that sound variously like a country-rock Mose Allison, or Bobby "Boris" Pickett (of "The Monster Mash" fame) reading the phone directory.
DOWNLOAD THIS: 'Dirty Old Town', 'Raider Man'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments