Nuclear Beef

Legendary Frontmen Gone Solo Audio Beef Today. Frank Black and Morrissey memorialize the drowning.

---

'The Swimmer' by Frank Black from his 2001 album Dog In The Sand
'Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning' by Morrissey from his 1994 album Vauxhall And I

---

When artists from classic acts go solo, there's always a question.. do they still have the magic?

How much of that magic was them and how much of it was the other guys, the scene, the moment in time? If the new material is different, they risk losing the old fans. If it's the same, they're washed up retreads, vastly inferior to past glories. Today's Beef are testament to the way Frank Black and Morrissey have battled the tide. And both songs are about people drowning to death!

'The Swimmer' shows Frank Black in classic form. Catchy melodies, a cold groove and tight structure. Pedal guitar and piano fade into the mix while Frank sells his poignant (often cryptic) lyrics with a full-tilt vocal performance. He rides the beat like a MC, punctuating the words perfectly to the instrumental flurishes.

Though it's complexly arranged, it still plays like a simple rock ditty. Most of all, it leaves me with a vivid mental picture of The Swimmer. I want her to never drown.

If someone has an opinion as to why this doesn't measure up to The Pixies, I'd like to hear it. All of Dog In The Sand isn't this good, but it has more than a few songs of this quality. Recommended.

The scene was so tragic
But that was the magic..

Morrissey, unlike Frank Black, lost a lot of respect (and fans) as a result of his post-breakup solo work. I used to think it was well deserved.

After I heard The Killers cover of 'Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself?" and some surprisingly good tunes on 2004's You Are The Quarry, I decided he deserved another listen. I scrounged up a copy of Vauxhall And I and it won me over.

I decided that the real problem with this album is that the music is Smiths-like but just simply not as good. His sound on You Are The Quarry is something a bit new, rocking and different, but whoever was doing his music in 1994 sounds a bit like the Muzak version of The Smiths.

Morrissey, however, is the same as always. Melodrama, breathy, dramatic crooning, desperate romanticism. I like that kind of stuff, so I like The Smiths, and I like Morrissey solo. I ain't ashamed.

'Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning' is a tragic tale about, well.. yeah. What I particularly enjoy about this song is the way that Morrissey is almost anti-sympathetic.

Don't worry, they'll be no fuss
She was.. nobody's nothing

Morrissey being Morrissey, such clever turns of phrase abound on Vauxhall and I. Another favorite line is from 'Now My Heart Is Full,' where he sings "I'm tired again, I tried again." I'm one emo-ass word nerd, huh? I better end this post before I further ruin my rep. Oh wait... I'm only 16, I don't have a rep yet. *

(Shouts out to Cinnacism who likes Morrissey too. * note : I'm quoting 'Parents Just Don't Understand' by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. I'm not really 16.)