Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
1994
Album Summary
Teenager of the Year is the second solo studio album by American musician Frank Black. The album was released in 1994 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and Elektra Records in the United States. It was co-produced by former Pere Ubu member Eric Drew Feldman, who also played keyboards on the album. Teenager also features work by several backing musicians, including Lyle Workman, Moris Tepper and Black's Pixies bandmate Joey Santiago. The album reached No. 2 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart and No. 131 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1994. The single "Headache" reached No. 10 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart that year.Although not originally well-received, the record is now widely praised by both critics and fans. The album is often cited as the high-point of Francis' post-Pixies catalogue, and was ranked No. 94 on Pitchfork's "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s".
WikipediaI was voted teenager of the year in 1997. Incredible that I won it really, having only been a teenager for 14 days, but there you go. I remember Scott Kelly being particularly upset by this as he'd been a teenager for longer. He now goes by the username of spackers, so that's the kind of guy he is and shows you that he never stood a chance. Spackers. I mean, come on. Anyway, this album was good.
I had a feeling as soon as I mentioned the hot streak we'd lose it. This isn't bad though. Apparently Frank Black is part of the Pixies, I do like what I've heard from them. Sometimes his singing reminds me of Lou Reed and Mark Kozelek. Many of the songs feel like fragments, but there's a good force of rock driving throughout. This seems like a really creative guy who felt repressed by being in a band, so he's letting it all out in a solo project. I respect that, even though I don't love the final product. There are a few good tracks sprinkled throughout, but as a whole it's nothing too impressive. Favorite tracks: Calistan, Headache, Abstract Plain. Album art: This made me laugh when I saw it last night. It's a cool cover, but what? Why was this big adult man coronated "teenager of the year"? Why is his free hand aimed to roast someone with a "what are thoooose"? 3/5
I really enjoyed this, it was a chaotic mess that reminded me of a more grungy They Might Be Giants at times? Need to look into more Frank Black and The Pixies. "Headache" was the best track, but there were a lot of tracks I was fond of. "Ole Mulholland", "Space is Gonna Do Me Good", "Thalassocracy".
If anyone is familiar with Jeff Tweedy's (Wilco frontman) first band Uncle Tupelo, this album has a few songs that sound just like it and I love them. Never explored the Pixies much further than the hits, and always thought they were just eh. But I was really digging this guys style. Alternative with a slight country influence at times. Made for some earnest songwriting.
You'd be forgiven for not realizing this is the main dude from the Pixies, when he went by the stage name Black Francis. Apparently this thing came out in May, 1994, but this is my first time ever hearing of it. In fact, my only familiarity with Black Francis/Frank Black's solo work is a great cover he did of The Beach Boys' "Hang On To Your Ego". There's a very good chance that if I had more than 24-hours to sit with this album, it would warrant a beloved 5 rating.
Fitting that the most popular song on the album is called Headache. Did not like it very much. Not worth a listen to me. 1
Everything is not good, but there are plenty of good songs, some even reminding me of Dire Straits.
You’re like wtf is this? Then it grows on you. Is it good you ask? Idk I listen to the whole thing and I’m still puzzled.
I LOVE this album cover and title. I also read that Frank Black was legitimately named Teenager of the Year. So I really wanted to love this. I didn’t think I had heard Frank Black before, but I did have in my library his cover of “Sugar Daddy” from the Wig In A Box album celebrating the music from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The Pixies are also a band I feel like I should know but don’t. So I’m jazzed to listen to this… I started off wondering if this was a punk album, but while the influences are strong it’s not that... “(I Want To Live On An) Abstract Plain” and “Calistan” are amazing! The guitar solo is awesome in “The Vanishing Spies”. “Speedy Marie” is fantastic and introduced me to the word ‘romaunt’. This is a smart album! Then comes “Headache” - another incredible song. Wow wow wow! A song about the aqueducts built by Mulholland?! Holy shit! This album is officially off the hook incredible. How many times can I keep saying how great a song is? How many songs are on this album…? A song about ‘pong’?! ‘Pachinko’ and ‘Parcheesi’?! Rhyming ‘potlatch’ with ‘Sasquatch’?! ‘Chateaubriand’ in the lyrics?! Photon powered spacecraft?! The 60s sci fi show The Invaders?! Not to mention I now know the word ‘thalassocracy’! Throw in catchy as hell music and… LOVE LOVE LOVE! You know an album is great when you keep saying ‘oh THIS is the best song on the album’ over and over as you listen. TEENAGER OF THE YEAR has that. It is a fantastic album that I can’t wait to listen to again. So much going on and so much still to discover!
4.5/5. Very consistent for so many songs. Can definitely see it influencing Toadies, POTUS, etc.
I love that Charles Thompson IV took his initial stage name of Black Francis and flipped it to Frank Black as he set off on his solo career. But as a big Pixies fan who never listened to Black's solo work, I started "Teenager of the Year" with unreasonable expectations. I liked a few songs on the first half of this double album, but somehow I got to track 10, "Two Reelers," before I got the Pixies feel I was hoping for. Then I really liked most of the rest of the album. And I kept thinking, what was going on with the first half - were there just too many songs that should have been cut from an overstuffed album? So I had to give it another listen. And not only is the first half better than I initially gave it credit for, but the whole album is fantastic. You're gonna have some misses among 22 tracks, but the overall quality and variety while still maintaining much more Black Francis-ness than I first gave it credit for is a joy. The Pixies were never a big commercial hit, and Black's solo stuff even less so. But this album definitely deserved to be held among the best of its time. Though I'm sure part of the problem was that this came out in 1994, a year with an absolute glut of completely amazing rock music. It's probably generational, but for me it might be rock's greatest year.
There is something really quite special when an album you love but never imagined would make it on the list comes up. And so, here we are, with Frank Black’s second solo album (his first is also pretty good). Unleashed from the now split Pixies (temporarily split, as it turns out) although still working with Joey Santiago who delivers some fine guitar solos, Black indulges his love of space, aliens, conspiracies, sci fi, deserts and his and the water supply to California. Most tracks are short, snappy and punchy, (The Hostess with the Mostest is a nifty slice of diner pie clocking in at 1m 56s) alongside some extended surf rock and ska tracks. At the time, many called this ‘Pixies on the Beach’ and whilst there is light and sunshine here, Black’s oddities and obsession never quite put the listener at ease. But he’s clearly enjoying creating some pop rock tunes, singing not screaming and it makes for a fun, quirky, terrific record.
Quintessential Frank Black. A very solid effort in which the listener can cleay hear both its infuences and what it went on to inspire.
A lot of the stronger songs are in the middle and are sandwiched between some underdeveloped sketches (brilliant ones by a Michelangelo-level artist but still, sketches). Great album regardless and this Aussie gives Teenager of the Year four meat pies while watching some footy with your mates out of five.
I enjoyed it a lot, it's a lot better in the middle, I really liked the speedy something song? I should listen to this one again.
On the fence about this one, good or great. Overlong, and could certainly have been tightened up, but a lot of it rocks pretty hard
Wasn't sure about this at first but then really got into it. Now I know he is the lead singer of Pixies, it makes a lot more sense. Listened twice - was good
This album totally escaped my radar, but it's quintessentially 90's alt-rock. Fun to listen, ejoyable melodies, round compositions, memorable. Like it!
1994, Alternative Rock, Frontmann von Pixies, sind banger dabei, stabiles Album, hard, seichte 4
Going by the album cover and the fact I’d never heard of the band before let alone their music I was not entirely sure what I was in for, but I didn’t have great vibes. The saying goes ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover...’ and its entirely applicable in this example. I was pleased to hear the sweet sound of distorted guitar instead of the doof of bass when the first track started and I found it enjoyable from then on. The songs are all unique enough from each other but still hold a comparative southern rock grit that holds them all together. Vocals are a mix of Curt Cobain crossed with Chris Ballew (Pres USA), which sometimes sound as though they are going to stretch the bounds of listenability, but are actually well controlled and at times even tender. They are dirty and strained yet also compassionate and haunting at all the right times. While the music does have a 90’s feel to it, you wouldn’t immediately guess the album was from that decade. This album is guaranteed to win you over the more and more you listen. It’s a creeper in that sense. So put your prejudices aside and settle in...you’re in for a good time ride. Four stars!
A very fun and well written punky/alt rock record, but it really didn’t need to be a whole hour long. Takes away from the energy and sustainability of the record.
A fabulous stand-in for a true Pixies album, though the double-album length certainly seems to wear a little thin towards the end (the last 2 songs seems throwaway). Still, enough angst and energy to thoroughly enjoy.
Love the Pixies, and this is more of the same. I guess I just like the dominating base lines and escalating guitars.
So, Frank Black , aka Black Frances, aka Charles Thompson IV is the lead singer of the Pixies! Didn't know that. I enjoyed this and really did get some Dire Straits vibes on a couple songs. References a Wrinkle in Time in Headache, so its got to be good. 4
No sabía quién era Frank Black y luego de escuchar un par de canciones y decirme "esto me suena a Pixies", vi por qué. Y es un álbum que siento que sonó fresco en su momento, menos "ruidoso" que lo que hacía con la banda, pero igual de enérgico, mis favoritas fueron "Thalassocracy", "Big Red", "Headache" y "I Could Stay Here Forever" 8/10.
-I like the heavy start in "Whatever Happened To Pong?" -The intro to "Freedom Rock" definitely sounds like a riff I've heard before. Also the drums are great -I like the scream/jam in "Pie In The Sky" -Generally solid
I always assumed I loved the Pixies, but it turns out I like the Pixies greatest hits album mostly. The big studio records seemd to have a lot of filler to me the last time I listened to them. (As always I reserve the right to completely 180 any and all of my opinions at whim). This solo album though seems much more my speed. Fiddle Riddle is a highlight for sure.
Halfway through and this album sounds like a descent into madness. Starts really punky and turns into this weird synthy jam band. I dug it though
pop punk with some Beefheart overtones - short sharp songs packed with hooks and tunes.
Quirky pop/rock aplenty. I love this guy's brain. Dude writes about anything and everything, and gives zero fucks about current musical trends.
Solid alt rock, if a little long for an album. I like that the songs are all pretty short and I could get more into this if I was like 10-15 years older than I am. 7/10
7/10. Forgot to leave a review while this was fresh in my mind, but this was solid. Should return to it at some point.
7/10 really catchy post-grunge stuff. good songs but way too many of them, would've made a great 40 minute album.
I really enjoyed listening to this album! I knew ‘Headache’ but not the other songs. I’ll definitely return to this one.
I listened to this twice and loved it, but don't have much to say about it for some reason. Except that I think it's interesting that he was the front man of the Pixies and I wonder if he thinks that those were his better years or not!
First time of listening to this one, I love the Pixies and this is relatable to them. I liked "Whatever Happened to Pong?" full of fast, quick songs that are exhilarating. "(I Want To live On An) Abstract Plain" is great and Frank at his tuneful best I think. Links to Lou Reed and Velvet underground can be heard throughout. Great album and rightfully on the list in my opinion.
þetta var bara frekar decent shit to be perfectly honest, henti þessu í gegn einu sinni og fannst nokkur lögin bara mjög skemmtileg, get alveg ímyndað mér að hlusta oftar á þetta, þetta eru amk 3.5 stjörnur, veit ekki alveg hvort þetta fljúgi upp í 4, segjum 4 bara til að vera góður.
Really nice! I haven’t listened to Pixies very much (or his solo work), but I will definitely return to this record.
Ex Vocalista do Pixies em seu trabalho solo. Legal, gostei, meio alternativo, meio rock. Melhores músicas: Two Reelers e Space gonna do me good
Gutes Album mit einigen starken Tracks, was aber irgendwann etwas "dahinplätschert". Irgendwas zwischen 3 und 4, aber eher eine 4 als eine 3.
Неожиданный альбом Естественно тем, что хорош Тем более в такой момент. В который раз убеждаюсь - Открытия могут быть всегда Йогурт или альбом - это не важно На самом деле как желанное дитя Если бы гранж и инди его имели!
Better than expected. Heard the Pixies decades ago and wasn't keen. Varied influences from the 50s through the 90s. Great songwriting and some lovely guitar. Maybe a bit manic in parts.
Frank Black, Black Francis, Charles, whoever you are on any given day, I love listening to you! I'll always love your work with the Pixies best, but this is a great fucking album. Even though we still get the maximum amount of bizarreness and grime in every track, it feels a bit more refined than Pixies albums do. Like all that bizarreness and grime has been passed through a fine mesh strainer. I do think the runtime is a little long, it could have benefited from some streamlining, but I love it.
Very good. A bit rambling at points, but pleasantly rambling. Sounded more like Dylan than I had expected, and lots of influence from The Clash too. Clear distinction from his work with the Pixies, which I was kind of not really thinking it would be. Oddly, it made me want to listen to Pixies rather than more of his solo stuff though - just cos I know it better.
As a Pixies fan, I was excited, but at it's best this is only mid-level Pixies. I guess it's an album to make me appreciate Kim Deal and Joey Santiago more (though apparently Santiago did contribute some guitar work). Not bad though, just, not as good as his other work. So...the above is my draft from listening to the first half or so of this yesterday...but listening to the second half it grew on me...not sure if I changed or the songs, but I can hear the Pixies-ishness more and I really dug it. Gonna bounce this up to a 4.
This was an... odd album. It's a rock-pop mix of mostly short songs, few of which stand out in any way. Many of the songs have a certain humorous vibe to them which gives the album as a whole a sorta cynical-funny mix of looking at things which is quite fun, especially tracks like "Abstract Plain", "Sir Rockaby" and "White Noise Maker". I think the one big standout track of the album is "Freedom Rock", where the instrumental work is given a bit more focus, especially in the song's intro. Overall a good listen, but not really something I'd particularly recommend.
New to me, as a Pixies fan. Exactly what I would want from his solo work. Has those never ending guitar chords that spiral up to a climax that never comes. May have been a better album experience if truncated to a single LP. (3.75)
Very dull album, there's a lot of songs that didn't seem very interesting, pretty boring, however it starts to sounds good and it ends pretty good
I’ll admit I didn’t get through the whole thing. I enjoyed some tracks more than others. I heard some Jeff Rosenstock-esque ska and punk on a couple songs. I wish it had been half as long, even though the songs were short. Generally enjoyable and I liked it more than I thought, given I didn’t know anything about it.
This album was also surprisingly good. This list is killing it right now. I just don't know if I can give it a 4 though.
It definitely feels like a Pixies album, with all their surf-influenced punk sound to it. Whether that's a good thing or not will depend on your taste. To my ears, it's just fine and it's way too long.
I had a review for this at one point but it got eaten up and deleted. Overall, just wasn't my vibe. A few good tunes, but nothing too special. My favorite part was the album cover and title, which made me expect some different sounds.
This was pretty good. I will definitely listen again. Quite a bit a variety and some cool tunes along the way.
Frank sure knows how to crank out the songs! After the first two, I didn't know if I was going to be able to handle it, but then he started mixing things up, with a few that reminded me of the Pixies hits and I enjoyed. I like his song-writing, he keeps things within a defined parameter but the songs are catchy and diverse enough to make it interesting. He modifies his singing style too, so you can listen to him for 22 songs. I couldn't find my Monkey Gone to Heaven but this will get better with repeated listening.
The album was too long and not as good as his albums with Pixies. It did have some good songs on it, though.
Meh, nothing stands out really but its a decent sound throughout. Nothing too great nothing too bad. The lots of short tracks at least keeps it interesting
I like the energy of this album. I knew the Pixies but not well enough to know the band members' names. 22 songs is a lot. Having guest lead guitarists on almost all of tracks 15 - 22 gives badly needed wild cards to make the length more manageable and makes the second half of the album more interesting musically. The lead work on Pie in the Sky is reminiscent of Earl Slick. I quite like this LP musically. I might have got to a four but on the few tracks I paid attention to the lyrics, the lyrics were shall we say juvenile.
I like this fine. Sounds VERY 90s to me. I mean it is from the 90s, but the whole time I was listening it felt like I was being hit over the head with the 90s, if that makes sense.
All very enjoyable but bloated and suffers for it - some tracks ahead of anything the pixies did
better than i expected, but there was far too much of it. if it was cut down to 10 songs this would have been a really very good album, but instead my ears got a bit deaf to it after a while and i couldn't be arsed to pay any attention to it. the very nature of a solo album from someone in a good band is more often than not a vanity project and it loses its way as they feel their self importance about how they have to explore their inner feelings goes into overdrive. with no creative assistance they shit out a load of substandard stuff that to them is important and it ends up being recorded because no one told them it was a bit bobbins and that their efforts would be better used refining the good stuff. shame, potentially this was really good but i'm a bit let down.
Decent album. Enjoyable. A few different styles. Seemed to be doing impressions of different artists. Spot the Neil Young and New Order.
Slowly grew on me but just way too many tracks and ultimately ends up feeling baggy. Best track: Fiddle Riddle
A lot of good melodies and some upbeat boys. The song lengths felt a bit short and underdeveloped, but it was fun to listen to. Fav Song: Thalassocracy
One of the early solo efforts from the lead singer of the Pixies. This album blends rock, punk, and singer-songwriter musings and angst.
Another album that doesn’t ping my buttons, some ‘good’ tunes but another one that isn’t gonna have me running around to buy. Bang average.
So I had pixies earlier this week. I didn't hate that album but didn't love it either. Exact same reaction to this. It's fine, highlight track is headache
A good listen. Nothing earth shattering. Just a master at the helm enjoying his craft.
Expected it to be like Pixies and it was but maybe subconsciously or not, can’t get away from it not being pixies. Some good tracks here nothing blew me away. The album cover is creepy as fuck.
Although not originally well-received, the record is now widely praised by both critics and fans.[15] This album is often cited as the high-point of Francis' post-Pixies catalogue,[15][11][1] and was named on Pitchfork's "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s".
In a decade where grunge and alternative rock dominated the scene, Frank Black keeps to his roots and delivers an album that is full on punk. Sure, it's got some dated sounds from the time, but it is full of energy, gnarly sounding guitars, and manic singing. Honestly, this was my first listen of a solo Frank Black album, and I'm not totally engrossed in The Pixies to know how this holds up, but I know I liked it. The production is pretty consistent, if sometimes bare, and it could have been trimmed up a little bit to make the track list a little more tight, but it's still a great hour of fun. Favorite Songs: Headache, Fiddle Riddle Least Favorite: Thalassocracy
Nastolatek roku chyba nie mogl gorzej trafic, bo bezposrednio po doorsach i nowhere od ride, bo w porownaniu do poprzednich albumow strasznie wynudzony material, nawet nie wynudzony, ale zbyt rozciagniety, teenager of the year to drugi album w solowej dyskografii franka blacka, ktory bardziej jest chyba znany jako frontmen pixies, wiec sam pan frank byl jednym z sztandarowych pionierow alternatywnego rocka, jego surrealistyczne teksty polaczone z jeszcze dziwniejszymi zachowaniami na wokalu byly jednymi z najwazniejszych rzeczy wyrozniajacych pixies, a co z tego zostalo na teenagerze, ktorego slysze pierwszy raz, z pewnoscia teksty tak niezrozumiale, ze jedynie z geniusem ma sens proba ich interpretacji, dziwne wokale rowniez zostaly jak byly, ale wydaje mi sie, ze tutaj jest o wiele wiecej spiewania lub prob spiewania, a u pixiesow to bylo raczej na zasadzie pan franciszko wyje morde, a pani kim robi za spiewaka bandy, tego aspektu mi tutaj najbardziej brakowalo, material nie jest az tak bardzo eksperymentalny jesli chodzi o wykorzystanie overdrivow czy przestrojen, a slychac bardziej indyjskie granie w ktorym slychac inspumenty i mozna powiedziec, tutaj jest elektryk, tam akustyk, tutaj jakis bongos, najwiekszym problemem jest tu jednak natlok trakow, bo na ponad godzinnym materiale jest ich 22, co nie daje zbyt duzego czasu na kompozycje, a daje okazje do stworzenia 22 kawalkow o wszystkim i niczym, ktorych wspolnym mianownikiem jest sci fi, moze do tego sie odnosi sie tytul albumu nastolatek roku, bo jednak fantastyka naukowa to jeden z najpopularniejszych gatunkow tej kategorii wiekowej wsrod czytaczy, a zeby pokazac jak plyta jest bardzo o wszystkim i niczym wystarczy spojrzec na pierwszy kawalek, ktory traktuje o pongu, czyli gierce w komputr z czasow starozytnych, lata 70, drugi utwor z listy trakowej thalassocracy czyli dyskus na temat morskich stworow, no i nastepny (I want to live on an) abstract plain, ktorego tytul juz wystarczajaco zdradza kontent liryczny, czwarty calistan, a wiec hymn poswiecony kalifornii, opowiadajacy o jej brudach i pieknosciach, fajowe slowotworstwo, jesli chodzi o tytul kawalka, jak na pana blacka przystalo, no i tak by mozna wymieniac do 22 traka, a nie bedzie kawalka takiego samego, tylko ze brakuje spojnosci, nie pomaga w tym z pewnoscia 15 osobowa grupa inzynierow i 3 leadowe gitarki na roznych trakach, czuje jakby jedynym elementem ktory gra wystarczajaco dobrze na kazdym traku sa klawisze, czasem dosc mocno snthowe, ale nie rozumiem o co chodzi z tym tlumem na produkcji, dobre kawalki z ktorych powstal sredni album, na plejke wrzuce juz opisanego calistana i headache za referencje do space oddity bowiego
Ich bin positiv überrascht. Ihm fällt songschreiberisch und was die Arrangements angeht immer was ein.
pretty damn punky. Abstract Pain sounds kinda familiar. Overall this sounds harder than Pixies.
Pretty good, although too long. Some judicious editing of tracks would have created a tighter, more powerful album. That said, none of the tracks are bad, it's just that there are only a minority that are very good/excellent/essential.
Strange ride. The first couple songs were pretty fun. Then it settled into a bunch of songs that made me think he was trying to be Lou Reed -- but not very successfully. Then he was trying to be Lou Reed -- rather successfully! Finally he settled into some more poppy punk from 18-21 that was fun. Ultimately, I can't shake the impression that this is a too-long album made by a guy who's convinced everything he writes is great stuff. And he's right only part of the time.
This was fine. I didn't love it. Some lyrics popped out and at best I mildly enjoyed some of the songs.
I remember having friends that were fans of Frank Black back in the 90s...but this is my first exposure to the music. It was not what I expected...it was punkish then I had imagined. The album was fine. It started to grow on me after a couple of listens, but not enough to want the entire album. I did love a couple of the songs though. In particular, Fiddle Riddle really pleased me.
Twenty-two songs made it a little hard to get to know this as an album in one day. There are definitely some songs I would have enjoyed lingering over, but also ones that I wouldn't have minded skipping. I liked "(I Want to Live On An) Abstract Plain" and "Calistan." There are definitely some fun things going on with lyrics. "Speedy Marie" was my initial favorite. "Freedom Rock" is a super fun look at musical taste...(I think?). I liked the sound of "Big Red." I'm fairly sure that more time here would make this rating go up.
This is the 46th album I’ve listened to on this project. Of which, two have been Pixies (and I expect may be at least one more) and now this. This was ok - definitely too long - but it doesn’t feel essential, especially given the amount of representation FB already has on this list.
Ei nyt noussut omille soittolistoille mutta kivutta kuunteli läpi. Välistä oli ihan hauskaakin menoa.
I hate to judge solo artists too much by their previous work in a band. But I'm not really feeling this one from Frank Black. It's not bad per se, but musically it's just not particularly compelling. And Black's bona fides from his work in the Pixies are huge. Their sound was huge, intense, urgent. You can't help but have some expectations of him moving forward. On Teenager of the Year, Black's vocals in particular are weak. What's missing in him is the intensity we’re used to hearing. Like did he have a cold that day? You can see where Black is experimenting with some different sounds, applying his vocal in different ways. But unfortunately Black isn't a strong enough singer to pull off a subtler vocal. It’s a nice attempt that lands flat about half of the time. There are several solid tracks that keep the album from being a wash. My favorite track is probably “Superabound,” which shows a bit of the old Black spark, elevated by some excellent keyboard and guitar work. “Headache” is probably the other can’t miss track. The second half of the album for sure is pretty listenable. This is one of those albums that would have benefited from some decisive editing. Drop 4 or 5 of these songs and you would have had a much better album. Fave Songs: Superabound, Headache, Thalassocracy, Sir Rockaby, Bad Wicked World
Frank Black delves in the alternative and soft rock genre, with mixed success. 'Teenager Of The Year' features a questionable vocal style and barricades of drum and guitar combo that make it a muddy presentation of an album. A 22-track album with good tracks you can count on one finger, Black's album is a miss for the most part.
Sounds like all the other Frank Black albums... it's good but it's just shy of really good. He clearly was a HUGE influence in the pixies, but his solo albums always serve as proof that any band is greater than the sum of its parts.
I listened to this several times to try to wrap my head around what he was going for. My conclusion is that he needs an editor. There's too much here, and it's so painfully 90s alt-rock. That's a plus on some songs, but a huge negative on others. Best track: Freedom Rock
Frank Black en plena efervescència de llibertat. Té espai per tot, des del punk més hardcore al pop més melòdic. Més de 20 temes on hi ha de molt bó i de més prescindible, però en un moment que encara no havia perdut la flama, tot i que és lluny dels mèrits aconseguits amb Pixies
I enjoy Frank Black immensely. No one song stood out but I would relisten to this as an album
Starts out really strong, gets boring and samey in the middle. An hour long, but the songs are all only around 2 minutes, so a lot of them feel like throwaways. Didn't pay attention to the lyrics at all, but I feel like I didn't miss out on anything. That being said, I didn't dislike this, probably like a 6/10 - I enjoyed the grungier songs.
Hahaha I remember the Pong song from one of my college roommates playing it. Now I know from whence it came. A double album is hard. Too many chances for a lapse or let down. There are ups and downs here. Franks’s voice isn’t great. It’s not terrible and works better here than it would with another artist’s music. The music is quite interesting for most of this album. Frank has a unique, offbeat sound that intrigues. However, it’s not enough to pull this album up further.
As a kid of the early 90's, I grew up listening to The Pixies and I liked them, but didn't love them. What I did love about them was Kim Deal, I could listen to her voice all day and it wouldn't matter what she said. Alternatively, Frank Black / Black Frank put a lot of meanings into what he said and what he sang about and for me it was easy to gravitate to KD's work and neglect FB/BF's solo career. And that's the difference, music vs. lyrics. I do remember listening to this in the store when they were promoting it on one of those 'CD listening stations' - where you could try before you buy... and I remember it not being exciting by it ... because again, I wasn't listening to the poetry, only the music. Nothing much has changed since then, I was still hearing the music, not the lyrics. I wasn't impressed. However, after hearing this album, Spotify launched me into his self-titled album which was more enjoyable than Teenager of the Year. For me, TOTY isn't musically balanced. Yes, there is something here, but just seems like too much work for me to fully appreciate.
I really liked this kind of 90s alt sound, but honestly this album goes on 20-30 minutes too long for it to be rated higher
I really like Pixies but never heard much of Frank Black (Black Francis) outside of that band. I was really interested in hearing this and I neither disappointed nor enthralled. There's a mix of good and not that good to be found here. There's a lot of genre hopping. Some works better than others to be sure. The biggest con to me is that the album is an hour long. Some of those less interesting songs could've been cut to make a leaner, more enjoyable experience. Overall, not bad. Just a bit bloated.
I'm not sure quite how to review this. The songs have a lot of energy, there are a lot of them, with most being quite short, but they kind of passed through me without making an impact. Maybe I just wasn't focused enough listening to it, but I just didn't hear much that stood out. I'm giving it 3 stars, although I will try to listen again and may revise that.
Moderately interesting and entertaining, but not much to get truly excited about. “Speedy Marie” and “Headache” and “Big Red” are solid+, but fall far short of Pixies at their best. Probably about even with the band’s replacement-level output. It all feels average (or above average if you like FB and the P’s) but not much stands out to any great degree (even accounting for high expectations). Also, the decent amount of dreck seems inevitable on a 22-track effort – with the net result being that we barely clear the forgettability threshold. I suspect inclusion of this record to be a personal project (pet peeve) of one of the editors. 2.8 for 3.
I love the Frank Black and the Catholics albums. This album had some fun tracks, and from what I read, looks to be the foundation for forming the Catholics and their sound. But in comparison to the later stuff, I wasn't as into this.
Je crois que j'avais déjà entendu Headache sur cet album. Ça s'écoute bien, mais c'est vraiment trop long. C'est définitivement un essentiel à écouter à cause de l'importance des Pixies, mais ça ne passe pas à l'histoire et n'est pas un essentiel dans une collection. La voix du début de Freedom Rock est vraiment dans la veine de Iggy Pop. J'aurais pris plus de pièces dans ce genre.
Teenager of the Year is too much long for it's own good. There are songs strewn throughout the album where there are moments that stick long enough to be memorable and where songs can be utterly forgettable. If this were split into two albums, maybe it could be a better overall achievement by Frank Black but, as one whole, it's okay. Favorites: Whatever Happened to Pong?, (I Want to Live on an) Abstract Plain, Calistan, Freedom Rock, Fiddle Riddle, Olé Mulholland, I Could Stay Here Forever, Pure Denizens of the Citizens Band.
Pixies vind ik geweldig. Maar Frank Black solo is nooit echt helemaal mijn ding geworden. Ook deze plaat is veelal meer van hetzelfde, niet heel spannende rocknummers. Het mist het spannende scherpe Pixies randje.
The first two songs are the worst thing I've ever heard. Third song ("Abstract Plain") is better, but so far the album is not great. Okay, it picked up as the album went along, coming in at a solid 3. But I will never forgive this album for putting me through the first 5 minutes.
Pretty good, but could of been shorter. Favorites: "Whatever Happened to Pong?", "Calistan", "Headache"
Strange ride. The first couple songs were pretty fun. Then it settled into a bunch of songs that made me think he was trying to be Lou Reed -- but not very successfully. Then he was trying to be Lou Reed -- rather successfully! Finally he settled into some more poppy punk from 18-21 that was fun. Ultimately, I can't shake the impression that this is a too-long album made by a guy who's convinced everything he writes is great stuff. And he's right only part of the time.
This album had so much energy and originality I feel bad not giving it a 4 or even 5, but I couldn’t emotionally connect and I don’t expect to listen again (but who knows), so alas a three.
It took me 5 songs to realize this is the guy from the Pixies. Overall enjoyable, but super long. Not my taste for all of it but some of it really jams.
I was nominated for Teenager of the Year back in '92, but lost out to some baby face called George Dawes from the Upper Floors. Baked potato! 2.5
Massive massive fan of the pixies surprised at myself for never listening to this. It doesn't quite hit the sweet spots of Surfer Rosa or troupe le monde, however enjoy his vocals and idiosyncratic lyrics. Might need to spend some time with it.
There was some interesting lyrics and some good guitar, plus a lot of the songs were short. It's not bad, but I'm not really a fan of punk so I can't say I particularly enjoyed it that much.
I was surprisingly impressed by this. I heard some Pixies in there but also a melange of other early 90s stuff - Madchester maybe? Pop? Grunge? Good fun overall.
interesting album with some songs with more rough edges than others overal a decent album
Didn't realize Frank Black was the dude from the Pixies. I was thinking this sounded a ton like the Pixies...unfortunately it sounds like the more chaotic Pixies songs that aren't my favorite.
Each song is an individual shard in a mosaic of this album, reminding me of GBV. These are all full length though which pushes the album over hour in length. I was surprised how well it holds up and the lyrics are witty. It's not a bad album but it doesn't feel like something I had to listen. It is not transcending it's timeframe well, lot of songs feel like soundtrack for teenage movies or sports videogames from it's period.
I'll be honest, I skipped some songs. Technically I did start them all though. But it's a lot and whiny so 👎 objectively not bad though.
Enjoyable, but nothing stand-out great. I hope there’s some Pixies later in the list. Music is good, but fairly same-same for the whole album
Sir Rockaby , Fiddle Riddle were my toe tapping favorites. Many of the others were too much too fast to enjoy. Black’s guitar skills are to be commended and again this was an album where I thought the drummer was phenomenal. I am not an alternative rock fan which is the only reason for a mediocre score. Wouldn’t purchase this for myself.
A collection of side project songs that done coalesce into a complete album thematically. Some good stuff but won't re-visit.
A sprawl of styles but nothing sticks. The more albums we get through the more I want a theme or mood to run through the album and connect the songs together.