This eponymous release from two alternative giants – Reid Paley and Black Francis – likely should have caused some sort of stir amongst music nerds, but it came as some surprise to open it up in the Stylus office. I’ve been a big fan of Francis since I discovered his solo stuff and his work with the Pixies back in middle school. His first two albums with The Catholics are solid gold, and still set the standard as far as alternative bar band rock goes. This album finds the two collaborators – Francis has produced Paley’s recent solo output – playing musical ping pong over the course of a lost weekend in Nashville. Backed by a sick, sick band including Muscle Shoals legends Spooner Oldham and David Hood (who provided back up for classic recordings by Percy Sledge, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Aretha Franklin to name but a few) and Nashville jack of all trades Harry Stinson (Steve Earle, Corb Lund, George Jones, etc, etc), the tunes are tight alright. Lyrically, a couple of the tunes are catchy, but I found most just didn’t cut the mustard. Paley’s “Ugly Life” and Francis’ “Magic Cup” are nice, but nothing on the disc blows me away. Enjoyable if you’re a Francis die hard, and not a bad listen by any means, but nothing much to write home about. (Sonic Unyon, sonicunyon.com) Sheldon Birnie