The obvious move would have been to release a batch of volatile, jagged rockers to capitalize on the overwhelming success of the recent Pixies reunion. So, of course, that's exactly what Frank Black [ tickets ] didn't do.

In fact, Black's "Honeycomb" is his most un-Pixies-like solo offering to date. It's also arguably his best.

Eschewing just about every Pixies' trademark--the roaring electric guitar, the wailing vocal and the dramatic start-stop dynamics--Black draws up a new winning formula on "Honeycomb" with the help of some of the greatest names in the music business. The stellar lineup includes guitarists Steve Cropper, Buddy Miller and Reggie Young; drummers Chester Thompson, Anton Fig, Billy Block and Akil Thompson; bassist David Hood; and keyboardist Spooner Oldham.

The CD, which is Black's first effort to not feature his usual backup band, The Catholics, since 1996's "The Cult of Ray," was recorded in a smoking, four-day period in April 2004, just days before the Pixies kicked off the first leg of their reunion tour. Despite the relatively tight recording schedule, or, perhaps, because of it, "Honeycomb" feels loose and relaxed. Black sounds like he's having a great time on such breezy tracks as "Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day" and "Atom in My Heart."

The pleasures to be found on the album are many and varied. There are convincing trips through country ("I Burn Today," "Atom in My Heart") and bits of the blues ("Song of the Shrimp"). Black is likely to blow some minds with his gorgeous take on the old Percy Sledge chestnut "Dark End of the Street." The disc ends in triumphant fashion with the uplifting "Sing for Joy," which is exactly what fans will want to do after listening to "Honeycomb."