Pixies fans were still drying their tears after the beloved band's demise in 1993 when frontman Black Francis (aka Charles Thompson) swiftly unveiled his first solo album--and his new semi-inverted moniker, Frank Black. While Black's self-titled debut proved to be largely an extension of the Pixies' swan song, TROMPE LE MONDE, and featured Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago and sideman Eric Drew Feldman, it may have been issued too soon for some listeners to fully embrace. His audience waned over the years, even as the prolific singer/guitarist's output remained steady.

This well-selected collection cherry-picks from Black's first decade on his own, including some of the finest songs from his lauded first two records (see the propulsive "Los Angeles" and the pop-perfect "Headache"), as well as unjustly overlooked later albums such as DOG IN THE SAND (the rollicking "Robert Onion"), essentially getting listeners up to speed on his pre-Pixies-reunion material. The collection reinforces his reputation as both a fierce performer and a surprisingly nuanced songwriter, and proves that Black never stopped being an intriguing artist, he just stopped being a Pixie for awhile.

Frank Black's solo career took more than a few sonic detours over the years, ranging from synth-heavy new wave homages to rootsy nods to Nashville's glory days. However, 93-03 focuses on the crunchy, quirky rock that has made up the heart of Black's music since the Pixies' breakup. This approach makes for a consistent listening experience, showing that there's less musical distance between songs like Teenager of the Year's "Calistan" and Black Letter Days' "California Bound" than previously imagined. On the other hand, this collection might be almost too straightforward, especially for hardcore fans, who might very well wonder why inspired tangents like Frank Black's wonderful instrumental "Tossed" or Dog in the Sand's epics "Blast Off" and "St. Francis Dam Disaster" aren't represented here. Quibbling aside, 93-03 does a fine job of pointing out the brightest highlights of Black's solo work, from the sci-fi rock of "Los Angeles," "Freedom Rock" and "Men in Black" to more confessional, thoughtfully written songs like "Manitoba," "Western Star" and "Speedy Marie." Even if it doesn't capture everything that makes Frank Black's music great, 93-03 is a good starting point -- anyone intrigued by these songs will love discovering the wilder territory of Black's discography later on. ~ Heather Phares