Using the "backing band" from his 1996 solo album, The Cult of Ray, Thompson dubbed his new band "Frank Black and the Catholics", and recorded their eponymous first album in 1997. His band consisted of Lyle Workman on lead guitar, bassist David McCaffrey and Scott Boutier on drums.
Frank Black and the Catholics became the first album to be posted to the eMusic service; they claim it is "the first album ever made legally available for commercial download". Having eschewed multi-track recording for his later solo material, Thompson continued the live-to-two-track technique for all subsequent releases under the Catholics. Live-to-two-track recording precludes the use of overdubs to correct errors or add texture; all takes are recorded continuously, and mixing is done "on the fly". On later albums, he incorporated more musicians into the sessions to allow for more varied instrumental textures. Explaining his rationale behind the method, he commented:
"Well, it's real. It's a recording of a performance, of a real performance between a group of people, an entourage, a band, as opposed to a facsimile of that, which is frequently what people do with multi-track recording ... I prefer it. It's a little more real. It's got a little more heart."
Workman left the Catholics in 1998 to pursue session work with Rich Gilbert replacing him. Frank Black and the Catholics released Pistolero in 1999 and Dog in the Sand in 2001. Dog in the Sand added Dave Philips on pedal steel guitar and lead guitar, with Joey Santiago and Eric Drew Feldman making appearances with the group live and on record.
By this time, while dismissing the possibility of a Pixies reunion, Thompson had begun to incorporate an increasing number of the band's songs into Catholics concerts, as well as including Santiago in his solo work again. Black and the Catholics continued to release records; two separate albums, Black Letter Days and Devil's Workshop, were released simultaneously in 2002. Devil's Workshop included the song "Velvety", a version of the Pixies' song "Velvety Instrumental Version" (written by Black as a teenager) with lyrics. The song was one of the first signs that he had acknowledged his past work with the Pixies in his solo output. A sixth album with the Catholics, Show Me Your Tears, was released in 2003. Show Me Your Tears' title and many of the songs in it were inspired by Thompson's recent divorce and entry into therapy.
Bad Harmony
Frank Black and the Catholics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's just words in our libretto
I don't know if the some of our stretto
Will end up a terrible shout
We left the ground and we floated above this town
That never got better
We got drowned in the sea of love
Bad harmony
We're like bad harmony
We're a couple wannabe's
Who do not know what they are doing
We're like bad harmony
We're like bad harmony
We are good company
Going down that road to ruin
I hope we will better
I hope we will better
We don't know what we're talking about
That's just words in our libretto
I don't know if the some of our stretto
Will end up a terrible shout
Bad harmony
We're like bad harmony
We're a couple wannabe's
Who do not know what they are doing
We're like bad harmony
We're like bad harmony
We are good company
Going down that road to ruin
I hope we will better
I hope we will better
I hope we will better
The lyrics of "Bad Harmony" by Frank Black and the Catholics describe a sense of uncertainty and lack of direction in a relationship. The singer admits that they don't know what they're talking about, and that the words in their "libretto" (a reference to an opera script or written score) may not make sense or lead to a successful outcome. The use of terms like "stretto" (a musical term for a passage played in quick succession) and "terrible shout" suggest that the relationship may be chaotic and lack cohesion.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "bad harmony," which portrays the couple as being at odds with each other and struggling to find a way to make their relationship work. The repeated use of "we're like bad harmony" emphasizes their lack of compatibility and suggests that they may not have a future together, but the line "we are good company" implies that they still care for each other despite their difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
We don't know what we're talking about
We lack knowledge on what we are discussing.
That's just words in our libretto
Our thoughts and opinions are merely written words in a script.
I don't know if the some of our stretto
I am uncertain if any of our musical compositions
Will end up a terrible shout
Will result in an awful, discordant sound.
We left the ground and we floated above this town
We rose above the physical world and its problems.
That never got better
But unfortunately, our situation did not improve.
We got drowned in the sea of love
We became entirely overwhelmed by our romantic feelings.
And I know that it's gonna get wetter
And I am certain that our situation will become even more difficult.
Bad harmony
Our musical arrangements are off-key and out of sync.
We're like bad harmony
Our overall situation is similarly disharmonious and dysfunctional.
We're a couple wannabe's
We are amateurs, attempting to be something we are not.
Who do not know what they are doing
We lack the proper knowledge, skills and direction to succeed.
We are good company
Despite our faults and shortcomings, we are still good companions to one another.
Going down that road to ruin
However, we are headed towards destruction and failure.
I hope we will better
I hope that we will eventually improve our situation.
I hope we will better
I hope that we will eventually improve our situation.
We don't know what we're talking about
We lack knowledge on what we are discussing.
That's just words in our libretto
Our thoughts and opinions are merely written words in a script.
I don't know if the some of our stretto
I am uncertain if any of our musical compositions.
Will end up a terrible shout
Will result in an awful, discordant sound.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind