Black Francis – Bluefinger

Here to Stay

Put yourself at ease, Front man Charles Thompson of the Pixies is back! Thompson, better known by his stage names Black Francis and Frank Black, has released a new record. Bluefinger, with its familiar psychotic freak out sessions and angry surf guitar riffs is forty minutes of thunderous indie rock magnificence.Thompson’s influences range from Black Flag and The Cars to 1960s folk and Christian Rock. In addition to the record’s wide musical breadth, Bluefinger is a unique concept album based on the life of Dutch singer/songwriter and artist, Herman Brood. Because of Thompson’s fanatical relationship with Brood, the most rocked out song on the album is indeed a Brood cover, “”You Can’t Break A Heart And Have It.”” The heartwarming effect on this album comes not only from the tribute paid to Brood, but also the nursery rhymes sung by Thompson’s wife (Violet Clarke) on backup vocals.

With songs like “”Threshold Apprehension”” and “”Tight Black Rubber””, dancing around suicide and heroin, one wonders whether Thompson empathized with Brood or saw him as a hero. In keeping with his familiar style, Thompson’s lyrics don’t make much sense but if you enjoy songs that dance around sex, drugs and rock n’ roll, this is the perfect bedroom album.

ame Charles Thompson remains a contemporary artist but still reflects on his country-tinged past on Bluefinger. As long as Thompson continues to produce solo records, fans can rest easy, assured that his retirement is still a long way off. Apparently, Thompson isn’t fretting over the Pixie’s demise or the criticism of it.