The Severed Cortex

I wish. I saw the Pixies in late 2004 (holy crap was it that long ago) and it was quite evident from seeing that show that as a band they won't be getting back together seriously any time soon. Joey, Frank, and David stayed on one side of the stage. Kim stood on the other. She still sang beautifully and played as expected and I could listen to her forever. But, even though my favorite all time band will not be getting back together, I can still enjoy their new stuff in separate bands. Kim leads The Breeders and Frank still makes records under a variety of pseudonyms.

Mountain Battles by The Breeders

Title TK was a bit of a critics darling but I skipped it. I probably would have skipped this one too if not for the fact that my friend Nancy gifted it to me on iTunes. Besides, nothing could top their Last Splash release right? Actually, that is right. I've listened to Title TK since then and it's, well, OK. Mountain Battles sort of follows suit. You'd think that in the 15 years since their breakthrough album was released that The Breeders would be decent musicians by now, but sadly they are not. I knew that Kelly Deal was basically drafted into the band back then without really knowing how to play. I don't know how much she really played on this release but if the show I saw earlier this year at Pops is any indication, Kim handled most of the recording. Kelly is still not very good, and for the most part musically neither are The Breeders as a whole.
I guess it is sort of hypocritical of me to say they suck as musicians. I suck as a guitar player. I like to see bands grow, but at the same time I still believe that simple is best. Somehow the simpleness of The Breeders is not translating for me in 2008. This release is loaded with simple, two and a half minute songs and still most of them miss. That doesn't mean there isn't some merit to the release. It was produced by the legendary Steve Albini, and he puts the typical Albini stamp on it by making sure that not too many people like it. There is really nothing that stands out. They do a pretty decent cover of The Tasties It's The Love, a minor hit from an almost unheard of band. They also make a decent effort of Walk It Off which has a Pixies-ish sound circa Doolittle. No Way is reminiscent of the Last Splash days, but even then it isn't great. If you ask me, the whole thing is for the die hard Breeders fan only. I guess that still means me, but you can bet I'll be real skeptical of their next venture. I definitely will be skipping any tour dates in the area.

Svn Fngrs by Black Francis

You didn't think Frank Black would let Kim Deal upstage him did you? Hell no. Not only did he release a new EP a scant week before The Breeders released the aforementioned compilation of songs, he did so under the old Pixies pseudonym Black Francis. Some of you probably skipped right past the Black Francis thing and instead focused on the fact that I bought an EP. You're probably asking yourself, "Did you really buy an EP"? The answer is yes. Yes I did. I knew the no EP rule, I made the no EP rule, I followed the no EP rule, and then I broke it with no warning at all. C'mon. It's the brains of The Pixies. I had no choice. So, is this new release really an attempt to steal Kim Deal's thunder? Could be. He's also said that he'd like to be making a new Pixies album. Is that why he did it? Maybe. I certainly don't know what Frank Black's motives are, but I doubt he's serious about getting the old band back together for another spin around the block.
What he is serious about is putting out new music. I've listened to some of the relatively recent Frank Black stuff, both with and without the Catholics, and for the most part it has mostly been decent. I'm sure I'm biased on this, but I will admit it has grown a bit typical. This release is not typical by any measure. This is pure Pixies Black Francis. From the unbelievable wall of sound that is The Seus, to When They Come To Murder Me which sounds like it could have fit on side two on Trompe Le Monde maybe instead of The Navajo Know. Every song on here is brilliant and it leaves me with only two conclusions. Either there should be more songs on this and he should have waited to do a full length, or Frank Black just likes to taunt me with the fact the Pixies are never getting back together. I guess if that's the case then I should be happy to have this. I am.