:: Show Me Your Tears

Frank Black

Inspiration comes in many forms. For bands such as Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins, it was in the form of the Pixies, and the band’s masterful front man Frank Black. Now an established solo artist, Black takes another step forward with the release of the diverse ‘Show Me Your Tears’. The album contains elements of rock, country, blues and just a touch of folk. Musically it is a very hard album to describe, as it has been mixed superbly in equal parts of many different styles. Black is clearly not afraid to experiment with a variety of music, and what’s more impressive is that he manages to take a style and make it his own. Black writes with stark honesty, sparing nothing in the process of revealing his feelings. With lyrics such as, ‘when she said she did not love me, that’s when I lost all hope’, it can be a touch sorrowful. Many will find this off-putting, but it is in this sorrow that the songs find their strength. Tracks such as ‘When Will Happiness Find Me Again?’ and the outstanding ‘Horrible Day’, and perfect examples of the depth and talent with which this album has been created. ‘Show Me Your Tears’ is not going to be an instant hit, nor is it meant to be. As Black says, ‘you’re never going to like one of my damn records if you only listen to it once’. This is an album you need to swim around in for a while, get the feeling of, and grow to love. If at the end of it all you find you still yearn for the sounds of the Pixies, there is hope. Black has recently revealed that the band still gets together to jam, and has not ruled out the possibility of a reunion tour.