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"Dog Sleep," from Frank Black's "Fast Man Raider Man"

Now that Frank Black’s career as an alt-country musician is cemented by the imminent release of a second album in that genre—a double CD, no less—it is time to draw a definitive line between Black and his alias/alter-ego, the Pixies’ Black Francis. Though Francis is still making indescribable music with the Pixies (a tour is scheduled for later this year), Black, who is rumored to begin touring with the Foo Fighters when they reach the East Coast this August, is busy pushing a persona that is, if anything, straight-up alt-country. It’s not really even that “alternative,” with songs like “Dirty Old Town” loaded with steel guitar, honky-tonk charms and a decidedly Southern drawl coming from Black. The majority of the songs on this 27-track album seem to be channeling other noteworthy musicians, from Van Morrison to Jim Croce, Leon Redbone, Dire Straits, Smog, Johnny Cash, Vic Chestnutt, the Boss, John Lennon and even Neil Diamond. The list goes on to include less surprising influences like Pere Ubu and Captain Beefheart—both of whom Black has worked with before, in one persona or another—but the possible derivations are so numerous I began to wonder, “Is this some kind of respectful sendup of the great male vocalists of our time?” Some of this may be explained by the album’s featured guest players, namely the Band’s Levon Helm, Cheap Trick’s Tom Peterson and Bad Company's Simon Kirke—though, of these, only the Band’s influence really makes a mark; actually I wish this album had more of Cheap Trick's influence on it. Another explanation is that Pixies fans are simply getting old (though legions of new, younger fans were born when Fight Club ended, I know). Is this what happened to devoted Genesis fans, now saddled with a store of Phil Collins records? Or to lovers of the Police, who are still conflicted about Sting? These comparisons are probably unfair—especially the Phil Collins one—for this is by no means a bad album, nor is it likely to offend anyone, but it may disappoint and confuse. Should this happen, Pixies fans take heart and pop in Surfer Rosa; it is the perfect antidote to Fast Man Raider Man.