CD Review

Like Iggy Pop before him, Frank Black went from being the leader of a highly influential rock band, to landing a successful solo career. As a result, the Pixies front-man has been in a position to call his own shots in more ways than one. This liberty came to light before last year’s Pixies reunion tour when Black took four days to head to Nashville and record with veterans Steve Cropper, Bruce Hood, Anton Fig and Spooner Oldham to mold a roots/country flavored album which would later become Honeycomb.

Although Black’s backing band is top notch, Honeycomb comes off as a "vanity" project, where the Pixies front-man mishmashes his mellow voice with melodies made for the rugged voice of a rebel like Waylon Jennings. The happy go lucky opening melodies of "I Burn Today" and "Selkie Bride" give the album a karaoke start, providing more shock than awe. Fortunately, the songs that dip in darker territory like "Lone Child" and "Honeycomb" together with their ominous vibe, give this Nashville recording a flash of outlaw bad-ass. Black’s ex-wife Jean lends lead vocals to "Strange Goodbye," which reflects their soon to be divorce, proving Black never paints fake over the truth.

Of the cover songs included, Dan Penn &Chips Moman's "Dark End of the Street" and Doug Sahm's "Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day" allows Black to toy with familiar melodies, although he often appears to shift into overdrive to sing on key. But it’s this loose open mike deal that gives Honeycomb a sure-fire candid portrait of Frank Black.