Frank Black - 'Frank Black 93-03' (Cooking Vinyl) Released 18/06/07

Despite 'All My Ghosts' and 'I Gotta Move' the album fell to mixed reviews and Black was accused by some of turning his back on his signature sound and ingenuity, instead opting for an easier uncomplicated approach to making music. A critical return to form however came about in 1999 with 'Pistolero' (What Are Records?) featuring 'Bad Harmony' and 'Western Star' and led to 2001's 'Dog In The Sand' ('Robert Onion' and 'Hermaphroditos')  which many consider to be the high point of Black's already extensive career. Despite ruling out a Pixies reunion (the band would eventually tour and record together again in 1994) Black was beginning to recognize the importance of his former band (largely all his work) and came to include more and more of the Pixies work in The Catholics live sets. Not only that but original Pixies member Joey Santiago would become increasingly involved in both the live shows and the recording of new material.

2002 saw the simultaneous release of 'Black Letter Days' (SpinArt / Cooking Vinyl) and 'Devils Workshop' (SpinArt / Cooking Vinyl). The latter including 'Velvety', a version of the Pixies song 'Velvety Instrumental Version' (penned by a teenage Black) with lyrics. The penultimate two tracks are both taken from 'Show Me Your Tears' (2003, SpinArt / Cooking Vinyl). The albums title and its subject matter centre on and are heavily inspired by his recent divorce and subsequent entry into therapy, the result being a notable intimacy and more personal side to Frank Black as illustrated here with 'Massif Centrale' and 'Manitoba'. Concluding 'Frank Black 93-03' is the new Black Francis track, 'Threshold Apprehension' taken from the September's forthcoming 'Bluefinger'. It may have been written 22 years after Black first entered into music, an industry he has since made his own, but like the rest of the album it fits right in and is well placed in this epic journey through Frank Black's extensive back catalogue. It also serves to demonstrate the beauty of Frank Black's consistent ability to produce not only good but valid songs and justifies his eminent position in alternative rocks glorious heritage.

CD2 features 9 tracks recorded live throughout Europe in 2006 including 'Bullet', 'Burnt Out Rock 'n' Roll', 'Six Sixty Six' and 'Horrible Day'; and is the perfect compliment to an already comprehensive look at one mans stunning, awe inspiring and hugely influential career. Whether you're a long standing fan, or just interested in scrubbing up on your music history, 'Frank Black 93-03' is a pleasure to listen to, does a first rate job of introducing just part of this extremely talented musicians back catalogue and is an album that should be owned by any self respecting music fan.