Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Top, didn't know Frank Black is Pixies front man!
One of my favorite new-to-me albums I've gotten on this list. Sometimes double albums can feel like a drag, but this one could've kept going and I wouldn't have been upset. I enjoyed every last song, zero skips on this album for me. There are times where a song sounds like it's going to be a generic pop/indie song, but then he puts his own little twists in there that make it utterly unique and just plain cool. It's a super fun album, but it always maintains a little edge to it which I just love. I've been a Pixies fan for a very long time and am ashamed that I haven't listened to Frank Black's records sooner. I'm going on a short road trip next weekend and already can't wait to play this during my drive. Perfect spring time drive music. Finding albums like this makes this whole experience so worthwhile.
loved!
great thalassocracy (i wanna live on an) abstract plain calistan the vanishing spies speedy marie headache freedom rock fiddle riddle ole mulholland the hostess with the mostest superabound big red space is gonna do me good white noise maker pure denizen of the citizens band bad, wicked world
Weird stuff. Loved it.
I felt like I was in the 90’s
inesperadamente incrível! cheio de camadas, super fun!
Eu tinha tentado ouvir com a Flora, sem prestar muita atenção, mas não deu, foi incômodo. Tentando novamente, agora com atenção e acompanhando as letras.... Uau. Tem melodias deliciosas e tem bastante mudanças. Foi muito bom ficar esperando para ver como ele iria trabalhar com a voz, cada verso era uma surpresa!! O toque punk de algumas é lovely.
Song: Headache This is the second coincidence of the project—the Pixies today and their lead singer today. This isn't the type of music I usually listen to, but something about it just really hit me. I really enjoyed this song, the lyrics, the instrumentals (that keyboard, for some reason). I would absolutely listen to that again.
Another album that I already know well and love . It’s been a minute tho and I’m overdo for a visit. Some great recommendations here Thankyu
This album is good but long. Frank’s voice sounds as good as a Pixies album here, and it feels like he made a Pixies album under his own name. What a genius. 5/5 Fav: “Calistan”, “Headache”, “Whatever Happened to Pong?” Least Fav: None
One of the very best albums of all time. Amazing songs. Wonderful delivery. Great artist. As near perfection as you can get. Immediate, punchy, weird, a high octane window into the quirky world of Frank Black/Black Francis.
This is class! Like the Pixies meets Rocket from the Crypt, with great melodies and catchy little hooks. I didnt connect the name to Pixies to begin with, and I’m not sure why Ive never listened to Frank Black’s solo stuff given Ive been a longtime fan of Pixies. It is long, but bar a couple of tracks they are all excellent. And it doesnt really outstay its welcome especially given there’s over 20 tracks on this. Will be back.
When this was good it was brilliant, particularly when it was more punky which was the case for the first few songs. Reminded me of Weezer and I thought this album would be exactly what I always wanted from the Pixies. For the album as a whole there was a lot of pixies-sounding tracks, which while still great didn't stand up to the heavier stuff for me. Album was a little bloated too, could have trimmed about 25% of just okay tracks to end up with a better album. Saying all this, some class songs on this, 4.5.
Wasn't aware this was the guy from pixies initially. The album art gave me the complete wrong impression! Didn't know he had a solo career. It's not as good as the pixies, but I really like his voice and enjoyed this mostly. Bit long, but songs were short so kept my attention. Some similar to the pixies, some not so much. Felt very much of that 90s American scene which I grew up with so felt familiar although I haven't heard it before. Some perhaps like the magnetic numbers? I thought "pure denizen of the citizens band" sounded like the Rollins band. Anyway, I think there was a lot here to enjoy, quite eclectic. He's talented, not sure about his more reggae sounding offering (freedom rock). Highlights: Thallasocracy Abstract pain Calistan Headache Big red Pure denizen of the citizens band Bad, wicked world I'll be back. Somewhere around the 3.5 or 4 mark but I reckon it could be higher. Changing to 5 as I've listened to this lots since reviewing
Superchulo.
Superchulo.
I loved this, which was unexpected.
6 stars. This was my bible, my shield, my parents, and my best friend. A lot of Pixies fans couldn't bridge the gap between that band and this (and his first solo one, for that matter), but it all made sense to me. Where I think a lot of his musical ideas fell into ruts as time went on, this is one where every song and every diversion in every song was still paying off big time. 10 stars. This was way cooler than anything on the radio - we were swimming in a real sea of shit with the copy-of-a-copy grunge and mass-produced R&B. This was the only album with songs about video games, going to malls, visits from aliens, and The Three Stooges - sung with all the passion of Celine Dion singing about the power of love or whatever. A million stars.
There are so many odd things here that I've loved for almost 30 years. TIL that Two Reelers is about The Three Stooges. What an odd dude.
Superchulo
Album 155 of 1001 Frank Black - Teenager of the Year Rating : 4 / 5 Favorite Track : Freedom Rock Great album. Rock, Punk. Ballad...dude hit on everything and in an impressive manner, I might add. Really enjoyed this. Will be on my list to revisit. Give it a listen.
had pretty low expectations for this because 1, I forgot who Frank Black was (frontman of Pixies), and 2, the album cover, title, and seeing that it was a 90s alternative album, I was expecting some mediocre grunge-metal so glad that this is actually fucking fantastic although now that I know who Frank Black is, it makes sense that the guy who wrote the songs for Surfer Rosa and Doolittle would write an album like this - 10/10
Ondanks dat ik het idee heb dat ome Frank graag de mensen ook een beetje wil irriteren kan ik z'n muziek altijd heel goed hebben. Album is een tikkeltje aan de lange kant (ruim een uur), maar blijft best interessant. Ik geef een hele lichte 5 sterren. Ik vind het te goed voor 4, maar de andere 5 sterren albums zijn vrijwel allemaal nog net iets beter.
this rips, can always use more heyday pixies
((Totally new for me. Excellent and different. a relief it isn't crap. This is a wretched list)) Adventurous? ...you like it non-standard sometimes? Or maybe you are bored and need something edgier to meet your mood ? Take one of these then. It might work.... Excellently chaotic music, suited well to almost any mood, but perhaps best suited driving top down along Mulholland at some crepuscular dawn after an all night pool party, half open Hawaiian shirt, RayBans and a 52mm girth Cuban between the lips. Haven't you heard of this band? Me either. He played with the Pixies. This description from Wikipedia makes help to make sense of what is going on, and why the guitar sounds are pressing familiar buttons you can't put you're finger on: "His vocal style has varied from a screaming, yowling delivery as lead vocalist of Pixies to a more measured and melodic style in his solo career.[4] His cryptic lyrics mostly explore unconventional subjects, such as surrealism, UFOs, and biblical violence, along with science fiction and surf culture.[5] His use of atypical meter signatures, loud–quiet dynamics, and distinct preference for live-to-two-track recording during his time with the Catholics, give him a distinct style within alternative rock.[6] Source: Wikipedia, obviously.
Looks like we have Pixies here before Pixies. And as with that band, I really liked Black Francis' album. Very diverse, you can never know what is going to happen next in the song. Just a very solid record, I'm actually surprised I haven't heard about it more. Over 20 songs with many diamonds in there, I'm looking forward to listen to them more often.
Absolutely love this album. I have no idea how many times I've listen to this. So happy to see it on the list!
I love Frank Black/Black Francis/Pixies/etc. While his solo stuff is a little more hit and miss compared to some of the Pixies pre-breakup albums, this is probably my favorite of his solo albums and I really love it.
Wow this was fantastic. I’d heard Calistan before but there were so many bops. He managed to keep his craziness while also churning out some really catchy stuff. Lot of heft here. Secures the 5.
Very impressed! What a great surprise!
Because of Pixies
Неожиданно круто
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.
Love Frank, Love This
Un clasico
4.5/5. Very consistent for so many songs. Can definitely see it influencing Toadies, POTUS, etc.
Loved it. Loved the Pixies.
One of my top 20 albums of all time.
Love this album overall. Freedom Rock lives in my head rent free.
I like Pixies. I like Frank Black. I See FB and I upvote
awesome!! Pixies
What lovely off the beaten path subversive alt pop
This was a pleasant surprise. It definitely wasn't the Pixies, but it was its own thing, so that's pretty cool. This album didn't need to be 18 songs long....8 would have been more than enough. "Abstract Plain" had a great bass line that made the whole song better. "Pong" was a bizarre way to start everything off, but it had a nice hook to it. "Sir Rockaby, "Superabound" and "Big Red" also really stuck with me. The rest of the tracks didn't really stand out from each other.
7/10
I really like this album, 4.
This is another very hard album for me to rate. It has so many really great songs, and I honestly wasn't expecting that, but it's also way too long and not cohesive, which makes it feel bloated - or just like a compilation - which is how I had to approach it, in the end, to make it make any sense to rate. I settled on a 4 due to the fact that I still find it so impressive that Frank Black can just put out 22 songs of this caliber that may have been more under The Pixies but still are, in their current state, better and more creative than so many songs by other rock bands/artists.
Surprisingly fun and versatile good work Frank
This album was a surprise. Never heard of Frank Black, so, naturally I wasn't expecting much. There wasn't one cut I didn't like. This one would be worth adding to the collection.
ok
Another one I missed out on and now must listen to repeatedly to make up for lost time.
muitas bangers
Thoroughly enjoyed this. The opening more frenetic tracks kinda reminded me of something Mike Patton might do. Some of the more Pixiesh tracks such as “…Abstract Plain” felt as though Kim Deal was missing. The whole thing was a bit long and some tracks in the middle lost me a bit, but overall it’s a cool record.
Never heard this before but damn fine!
Low-key really liked it- will return later with favs and such, im busy!
Like the bastard offspring of Lou Reed and The Fall. Knocked my socks off from the get go, even though it's quite a lot to swallow. Sadly, the wife's socks remained very firmly on so it's a headphone listening day for me. An on-rotation-of-the-best-bits 4*
As an album, this is too many songs. I prefer it broken down into 4 EPs of 5 or 6 songs each. I think the album starts off pretty good with some rock'n songs. I loose interest in the middle. They aren't horrible but they don't especially grab me. Then it gets good again at the end. I like Pixies and I like Frank Black. As a Pixies fan it's hard not to compare it so I try not to do that. As a solo artist, he still has good songwriting and I like his lyrics. The guitar work is pretty cool and I like what he's done with keys.
There's a lot going on with this album but I thought it was pretty cool and creative and a rockin' good time.
Terrible album cover but good album
i like it. perhaps a bit too long, but maybe not. the variety is good. interesting from the perspective that you can really here what the other members of the pixies were bringing to the band - it wasn’t just francis.
Excellent energy. Never even heard if them before. Thinking the Cramps meets Ramones at the start. Will be back for more.
I'm a fan of the Pixies but I've never listened to Frank Black's solo work. Quite enjoyed it.
This one was always featured in the BMG catalog. 3.5
I'm aware of Frank Black, and recognize this album cover, but I don't think I recognize any of these tracks by title, and this is my first time listening to this album. Yeah, this is some really enjoyable 90s garage rock. I think I'll add this to my listen of albums to listen to again.
Well, I really like this. Double albums are hard. This one had a lot of variety but still maintained a level of quality across all songs. I really only know one Pixies album, Doolittle, and Nothing by Frank Black alone. That was happily surprising and will definitely listen again.
Thoughts I had while listening to this: 1) it's very loud; 2) it's very Nirvana-y; 3) shouldn't this be over by now?; 4) do I...like this? Yes, I think I do. Probably because I like the Pixies. I knew some of these songs, but never listened to the whole damn thing. Anyway....this is a roundabout way to say it's messy but I like it.
I was prepared to dislike this album, but ended up tapping along to most every song.
Not bad
I pretty much love this version of Frank. Catchy, poppy even, laid back when it should be but never sentimentalizing or predictable. Leads when you ought to have a lead to wake things up. This is smart.
There's a lot to take in here, and I didn't fully have the time or the attention span for it. Still, there was a lot to like. This is another album where I'm unsure why I never checked it out before—especially since I dig the Pixies. It gets to be a bit much, since every song is loaded to the gills with kooky slacker irony and droll wit, but at the same time, I didn't hear any duds. So, I guess if you're into this kind of thing, the fact that there's a lot of it isn't a bad thing. It's just a lot to absorb in one listening session and be able to form a coherent take. I dig this more than the final two Pixies albums, so that's cool. I guess I go with a 4, though I could see that rising or falling upon further listens.
So far, this is my favorite album I’ve gotten. Long as hell tho. Good 90s alt
Songwriting chops are top notch. Lots of fun ideas, both musically and in terms of concepts for lyrics. Overall, a very good record, though I prefer some of his other solo work and all of the early Pixies records.
This is kind of space out and kind of cool at the same time. Not sure I absolulely love this, but it's definitely good. Probably worth another listen. 4/5.
1994 was the greatest year in music. There are probably 1001 albums from that year that could be on this list This is my favorite album mentioning Parcheesi and now would probably benefit from being shorter but back then, you were getting more bang for your buck with a 22 song album. Not as great as the classic Pixies, but this is was the last great think Frank Black did. Cult of Ray disappointed and its been downhill from there.
Loved the bratty, playful nature of it with the surfer punk vibes.
good loud sound
Headache is a great song. I had completely forgotten about that one. I remember enjoying the music video for it back in the day.
Pixies are one of my favorite bands. I really enjoyed this and am disappointed I had never listened to it before.
Released in May 1994, *Teenager of the Year* is Frank Black's second solo album following the dissolution of the Pixies. What began as an unfocused project born from writer's block evolved into one of the most sprawling, idiosyncratic, and ultimately beloved records of the 1990s alternative rock era. ## The Backstory: An Accidental Masterpiece The album's creation is almost as legendary as the music itself. According to Black, he and his collaborators—core band members Eric Drew Feldman (keyboards/bass/production), Nick Vincent (drums), and guitarist Lyle Workman, with occasional contributions from Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago—kept generating instrumental tracks while Black struggled with lyrics. Producers Feldman and Al Clay, watching the budget drain, wrote their own sci-fi parody lyrics to one piece to horrify Black into action. It worked: Black finally found his motivation and finished the songs rapidly . The result is a 22-track, hour-long album that feels like "browsing a cool book collection"—eclectic, overstuffed, and endlessly rewarding . --- ## Lyrics: The Mind of a Cultural Omnivore Black's lyrics on *Teenager of the Year* are a kaleidoscope of obsessions, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous: **Lowbrow Culture & Nostalgia** - **"Whatever Happened to Pong?"** opens the album with furious punk energy and harmonica, treating the primitive video game with the same intensity Black once reserved for surrealist cinema . - **"Two Reelers"** is a violent punk thrash about the rise and fall of The Three Stooges, celebrating "the freedom of being ridiculous" at a time when alternative rock had grown dour and self-serious . **California as Character** - **"Calistan"** is arguably the album's centerpiece—a song existing simultaneously in past, present, and future Los Angeles. Black cruises through streets that "used to be dirt," imagining a future where California is renamed "Calistan" and the narrator reminisces about "the valley of tar that once was L.A." . - **"Ole Mulholland"** salutes William Mulholland, the early 1900s superintendent who built the Los Angeles Aqueduct, transforming a "sleepy monster in the sand" into a metropolis . **Sci-Fi & Existential Escape** The album doubles down on Black's reputation as "rock's weird sci-fi UFO futuristic dude" : - **"The Vanishing Spies"** mourns the lost Russian space probe Phobos 2. - **"Big Red"** imagines terraforming Mars, complete with bees for pollination, because "we fucked it all up anyway" on Earth. - **"Space is Gonna Do Me Good"** treats interplanetary relocation like choosing a retirement home in Florida. - **"Fiddle Riddle"** adopts reggae rhythms to tell of humanity's extinction from Earth's perspective: "Once stood a man on my face / Gobbled him up 'cause my taste / Leaves nothing to waste" . **Emotional Directness** Amid the weirdness, Black delivers genuine vulnerability: - **"Speedy Marie"** is a straightforward love song to his girlfriend, complete with an acrostic spelling her name in the last two verses . - **"Headache"** distills modern malaise into pop perfection: "Well, I found you / Maybe you can help me / And I can help you." The "you" remains deliberately ambiguous—a person, a project, an idea . --- ## Music & Production: Restless and Refined The sonic palette is extraordinarily diverse. While Black's 1993 self-titled debut established his solo template, *Teenager of the Year* explodes it: **Genre Hopping** The album careens between punk blasts ("Whatever Happened to Pong?", "Thalassocracy"), indie pop ("Calistan", "Speedy Marie"), reggae experiments ("Fiddle Riddle"), country-tinged lullabies ("Sir Rockaby"), synth-pop ("White Noise Maker"), surf-rock, doo-wop, and Dylan-esque enigmas ("Superabound", "Headache") . **The Pixies DNA vs. Solo Evolution** The rhythm section maintains some Pixies propulsion, but Lyle Workman's guitar work differs from Joey Santiago's signature style. Eric Drew Feldman emerges as a "co-conspirator rather than a supporting player," adding spacey synthesizers that connect to his work with Captain Beefheart and Pere Ubu . The result is music that "digs deeper into traditional rock & roll than would be possible with a 'punk' band," with explicit nods to Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan . **Production Approach** Unlike the Steve Albini-engineered violence of *Surfer Rosa*, the production here is polished and expansive—befitting the CD-era budget boom that allowed cult artists to indulge in posh L.A. studios . The sound is "grounded" rather than "manic," letting things breathe instead of summoning "nuclear energy out of every note" . Yet it retains bite: the opening one-two punch of "Whatever Happened to Pong?" and "Thalassocracy" hits like "a twin-barrel explosion" . --- ## Themes: Escape, Identity, and the Weight of Modernity **Escape as Organizing Principle** Nearly every song grapples with getting away—from "Abstract Plain" (where the narrator flees to a destination so undefined it changes daily) to "White Noise Maker" (using synthesized nature sounds to shut out the world) to the Mars colonization fantasies. As one critic notes, "We've fucked up the planet, made it noisy, stupid, corrupt and polluted. We've got to get away, even if it's just in our minds" . **The Teenager as Metaphor** The title references an actual accolade Black earned as a youth, and the album embodies teenage restlessness—trying on different personalities and styles, uncertain which will stick . This explains the stylistic whiplash: it's an artist "trying on different styles to see which one stuck best as a solo artist" . **Silliness as Rebellion** In 1994, when grunge dominated with flannel-clad angst, Black aligned himself with They Might Be Giants and celebrated Larry, Curly, and Moe. "What we need is more silly men," he declares, positioning absurdity as a political act against alternative rock's "decidedly dour aura" . --- ## Influence & Legacy **Critical Reappraisal** Initially greeted with a "curiously icy reception"—critics seemed eager to punish Black for leaving the Pixies—the album has undergone a dramatic reassessment. Black himself noted, "I don't think that in general, I make records that are immediately likable... You just need to listen to it a few times before you can feel the wavelength of it" . Decades later, it's "rightfully recognized as one of the great rock albums of the 1990s" , earning spots on Rolling Stone's top alternative albums of 1994 and Pitchfork's top 100 albums of the '90s . **Cultural Impact** The album's influence radiates outward: - **Geordie Greep** (Black Midi) has cited the opening track as an inspiration . - The album's kitchen-sink approach prefigured later solo projects by band frontmen stretching beyond their original templates (comparisons have been made to Jeff Tweedy's work) . - It remains a touchstone for indie artists embracing eclecticism and cultural obsessions without irony. **The 30th Anniversary** In 2024-2025, Black toured the album in its entirety, including a celebrated Paris show (where "Headache" had been an unexpected hit). The 30th anniversary vinyl reissue on gold double-LP at 45rpm confirmed its status as a physical artifact worth celebrating . --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Pros** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Sheer Volume of Ideas** | 22 tracks that rarely overstay their welcome; over half run under three minutes yet pack full arrangements and quick solos | | **Genre Diversity** | Reggae, country, synth-pop, punk, surf-rock, and Dylan-esque folk coexist without feeling forced | | **Lyricism** | Black's cultural references—Three Stooges, Pong, LA water history, Russian space probes—create a unique worldview that's intellectual without being pretentious | | **Pop Craft** | "Headache," "Calistan," and "Speedy Marie" prove Black could write accessible, emotionally resonant songs without sacrificing idiosyncrasy | | **Production Detail** | The arrangements reward repeated listens; new elements emerge with each spin | | **Historical Snapshot** | A perfect time capsule of mid-'90s concerns—shopping malls, record stores, CB radios, Mars optimism—rendered with personality | ### **Cons** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Excessive Length** | At 22 tracks and over an hour, it can feel exhausting. Many critics and listeners note it "drags on far too long" and could have benefited from trimming | | **Inconsistent Quality** | Not every experiment works. "Big Red" has been singled out as a weaker track, and some listeners find "Fiddle Riddle" or "Ole Mulholland" cullable | | **Fragmented Cohesion** | The stylistic whiplash, while intentional, can feel "all over the place" or "scattered" rather than coherently eclectic | | **Vocal Limitations** | Black's voice—rasping, unconventional—remains divisive. Some find it charismatic; others hear "a guy who can't sing but won't let that stop him" | | **Accessibility** | The density of references and rapid-fire shifts demand patience. It's "not immediately likable" and can puzzle first-time listeners | | **Pixies Comparison** | For some Pixies fans, it feels like "a fading carbon copy" lacking the "power or biting edge" of the original band | --- ## Verdict *Teenager of the Year* is a glorious mess—a double album's worth of ideas crammed into a single CD, reflecting both the excess of the '90s music industry and the uncompromising vision of an artist unleashed from band constraints. It's the sound of Frank Black refusing to be just "the guy from the Pixies," instead embracing every weird obsession that crossed his mind. While its length and inconsistency are legitimate flaws, they also contribute to its charm: this is an album that feels *lived-in*, like a cluttered apartment filled with fascinating artifacts. For listeners willing to meet it on its own terms, it remains, as one critic put it, "an inspiration"—proof that rock music can be smart, silly, sophisticated, and stupid all at once .
Pretty good
Nice
Very nice. Reminds me Meat Loaf. I don't know why.
Veldig bra album. Likte variasjonen og kretiviteten
great record, great sound, great all.
4.9
Very cool.
me gustó el álbum, ninguna canciones decepciona es buen alt rock, algunos temas destacan pero no me acuerdo el nombre. la verdad me esperaba menos
Yep. Decent Finally some consistent days of decent music. All hope isn’t lost
Rock muy noventoso, me dio vibes a Elvis. Me gustó pero igual muy largo flaco ya está callate
En un inicio me aburrió un poco, sentí que estaba muy arriba y viendo la duración del álbum pensé "es demasiado tiempo para mantener esta energía". Sobre la mitad, a partir de Headache, empecé a disfrutar más el álbum. De todas formas sigo creyendo que no debería durar TANTO, siendo que en un punto puede volverse un poco repetitivo. Me gustó, no me encantó.
It's almost as if this guy took a lot of inspiration from the 80s Collage Rock scene (especially this unknown band by the name of The Pixies)... Guess he will go down in history as a One Hit Wonder. *This is sarcasm
Hellllllllll yeah, the sort of album that makes me want to write more albums. It’s weird and engaging, emotive and loud. Chord and key changes that just keep coming at you. Lyrics that stay in your ear, in your mind. A great album, Frank Black really is a standout artist. 4.8/5.0 Best Song: Freedom Rock
Good stuff, he has always been such a weird and important force in music, this album really is the best of what he can do. It maybe could be a couple of song shorter? But generally its a great listen. Best song: Headache
Really great double album. Second half not quite as strong as the first maybe, but still has tracks like White Noise Maker buried in there, sounding like the Pixies all over again. I hear a bit of The Fall from time to time too, but with some tighter tunes. 4.5*
I had somehow managed to never listen to any of Frank Black’s solo offering but within the first few seconds I fell in love with this. I’m already looking forward to another listen and to exploring more of his back catalogue.
classic sound, so ehghties
'Well, it isn't so great / Since you learned karate / Chop-chop-chop-chop-chop.' Why I'd be surprised that Black Francis/Frank Black could pull it off as a solo act doesn't quite figure since the Pixies are a generationally great band, but boy does he make it happen on his second solo release. Kookier & yet more sensible than anything he did w/ the Pixies, he at times sounds like C. Beefheart meets Lou Reed meets America, at others like a far more impressive Knopfler, especially on 'Calistan.' But mostly this is just a really fucking good collection of pop-rock songs: whacky b/c that's what it can mean to be happy, to be upbeat, to be optimistic, to be in a good-for-you mood. 'I'm Sir Rockaby / And rockin' I am.' Rockin' he is, & rockin' is right.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Takes what the Pixies did and makes it just a little bit more musical which, for me, really works. Slightly overstays its welcome and not all the songs are my favorites, but overall a great listen. Fave tracks: - (I Want to Live on an) Abstract Plain - Calistan - The Vanishing Spies - Speedy Marie - Headache - Sir Rockaby - Freedom Rock -Two Reelers - I Could Stay Here Forever - The Hostess with the Mostest - Big Red - Space is Gonna do me Good - White Noise Maker - Pure Denizen of the Citizens Band - Pie in the Sky
favorites: calistan; headache; ole mulholland;
Fun, Clever, and Witty. They Might Be Giants meets the Pixies.
Rock solid rock and roll. I don't know enough music to understand why but there's something I really like about the rhythm section on this.
Neat
I always avoided listening to this one for some reason but it rips. Much different from the Pixies, the band is much tighter and the songs are structurally pretty straight forward. Love seeing what a music omnivore Frank is/was. He influece is infinite.
Fantastic album. I am ashamed to admit that I was a huge HUGE Pixies fan in the late 80s and wore out Doolittle, Surfer Rosa, Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde CDs. Absolutely loved this band. And then....Frank Black went solo and I just lost a little touch and lost a little interest. I left college and started working. And almost like a good friend who we stop connecting with, the friendship slowly disappears. So when this one popped up yesterday I approached this with some excitement, some fond memories but also a little...regret maybe? For having strayed and given up. Anyway, once I gave it a spin and it started rolling I immediately regretted losing touch. This album really hits in all the right ways. It is solid, yes long, but chock a block full of great tunes. Probably about a 4.3 for me - very solid!
3.8 I prefer the songwriting output of Frank Black during the Catholics phase but solid collection.
I didn't have any expectations on this album and... I've truly enjoyed it, and so so much. It has some great songs, and, overall, it's a very varied and funny album to listen to. It has songs that I didn't like that much, but, considering how many there are in this record, it's amazing to find so much great stuff. So, well, I'm very surprised.
Good album! Never listened to Frank black but I enjoyed it!
(77/100)
Very enjoyable. Much more mainstream than expected - I like the Pixies and this is similar, but enough different to give it an edge.
Frank Black just knows how to write a good tune. There's loads of great songs on here, and a good array of instruments and styles. I love his energy. I’d always been daunted by dipping into his solo career outside of a few tracks, and I don’t know why. This is excellent and consistent across the whole thing pretty much, which is saying something given the number of tracks. It IS long though. I think it would be more digestible if it were shorter. 4.5 rounded down.
one of my absolute favorite 90s albums. let's hear how it held up for me. six songs into this twenty-two song epic and, yep, still love it. "speedy marie" is still my favorite track. there are sixteen songs remaining to change my mind "sir rockaby" is also still a fav. man and then "freedom rock". it's just bangers one after the other "ole mulholland" starting out like a new order song. love it.
this album really fucks around, reaches a lot of corners of the alt rock sphere. worst thing i can say about it is that it doesn't spend a lot of time developing most of its wacky ideas, and at the same time it runs a little long with a decent amount of fluff. but there's enough pretty dope nuggets of music scattered around that the whole thing was pretty enjoyable. soft 4
I loved the cover art and album name. I also really liked about a dozen songs on this album. Unfortunately that still leaves a full album's worth of material I wasn't fond of. Regardless the good outweighs the extraneous. I wish I had gotten a Pixies album before getting this one.
More pixies adjacent stuff? Yes please, though curiously it is less experimental than the band. Considering who we're dealing with I expected the opposite.
Never heard of this dude before and he is a instant add to my playlist. Amazing album with all songs differnt sounding yet integrated perfectly the album order was perfect the transitions are golden.
I’m honestly floored by how much of that classic Pixies DNA is preserved here while being pushed into weird, brilliant new directions. It feels like a fever dream of 90s indie rock, bursting with frantic energy, surf-rock guitars, and those signature off-kilter lyrics that jump from California aqueducts to classic sci-fi. While it’s a massive 22-track haul, the sheer density of ideas is what makes it special... it’s an album where even the shortest tracks like "Whatever Happened to Pong?" or the melodic heights of "Headache" feel essential. It’s easily the high point of his solo career and a mandatory listen for anyone who wants to hear a creative genius totally unleashed.
I have an endless appetite for Frank Black’s weirdness, so I don’t mind that this is a double album. I appreciate the way it takes Los Angeles/Hollywood/California as its backdrop without letting it dominate the album… “Calistan” and “Ole Mulholland” in particular make you think about the crazy and beautiful Golden State. “Pixies go to the beach” is an apt descriptor, though it doesn’t quite reach the transcendent madness of the best Pixies albums. “Used to be sixteen lanes / Used to be Nuevo Spain / Used to be Juan Wayne / Used to be Mexico / Used to be Navajo / Used to be yippy-ay-i-I don’t know”
I was ready for some overly self-indulgent milestone-band-frontman solo album schlock, but I was immediately excited for it just from the opening track. Just some great alt-rock all round on this record, with no particular song or songs I can point to as a weak link, it just suffers from its length. There really is no need for this to be a double LP. I could see myself giving this 5 stars if it were more concise, but here we are. Fav Track: 1 - Whatever Happened To Pong? Best Three Track Run: Just pick any three and it'll be good
First track made me say aloud: what on earth is this?! Kinda liked it. Not bad this. Not life changing nor mind blowing, but decent enough.
He cool. Songs are all over the place. Like Franky Black but him and Kim Deal together is magic. This album is classic though and raw. If you want a fun Frank black album this is great. Him workshopping pixie songs. https://youtu.be/1wAjHLJlszo?si=N-g0TcaiehTU1Ouy
This was a good album. It just feels a little overstuffed. I’m sure there is a 5:5 album in here if you cut 15-20 minutes of material. A lot poppier than his work with Pixies. Favorite songs were Abstract Plain, Calistan, Headache, Freedom Rock, Two Reelers, and Psace Is Gonna Do Me Good.
good times all around. If you have lots of critters to look at under the scope all day this is a good soundtrack to do it to.
I was already a Pixies fan and thoroughly enjoyed Frank’s first solo record. I purchased the CD upon release. I have listened to this a few times in the past 30 years. This time, like the prior listens, I find some new angle upon which to enjoy this record. I Wanna Live on an Abstract Plane has Frank’s terrific falsetto and a catchy chorus. Calistan could be a Pixies outtake. I can hear Kim Deal’s voice on certain parts that would be awesome to see performed by that original Pixies lineup. Headache is a classic song - Frank’s vocal is perfect in both tone and performance. Honestly, the song sounds like something Pavement would have released but with Frank’s vocals. In hindsight, this may be the best song on any of Frank’s non-Pixies work. If the record has any issues, there are a couple of mid-tempo songs that just make the record a little long. So, with that in mind, there are several very strong tunes, a few middle tier songs and a couple of skips. (Sir Rockabye immediately comes to mind) Overall a solid effort. With a little editing for length, this would be outstanding. In my opinion, Headache alone makes the album top shelf! 4/5
Headache was a highlight.
Good for when you have a headache
Sprawling. Nothing I like as much as the Pixies but could absolutely be a grower.
Really fun album with a lot of variety. Really dig the punkier songs. The album is very long, but all of the songs are short. 3.5/5.0: Very Good
Seemed like there was some filler, the second half wasn’t as interesting as the first half.
Day 61. Best tracks: (I Want to Live on an) Abstract Plain, The Vanishing Spies, Speedy Marie, Frank Black throws caution to the wind and unleashes every idea he has, no matter their state of readiness. "Headache" is perhaps the most unheralded song of the 90s (plus an equally brilliant music video). "Freedom Rock" sounds like every good Muse song before changing into something akin to something to a reggae-infused Clash song. This album's Side A is a smorgesboard of alt rock. “What we need is more silly men.” Maybe not true now, but still a hell of a lyric.
Interesting and fun
Defining sound of the era
Complicated and bright. Just like teenage Frank
Very unique sound. I can see jamming this on a regular basis. I definitely hear some of the randomness I associate with the Pixies.
This was better than I expected. The first few songs sound quite Pixies like but after that it's a lot more varied. Headache is a brilliant single and there's plenty of other good tracks. If anything the length and number of ideas count against this album a bit as it's a lot to take in on a single listen. I liked it though
This is a blast; bit of a mess and overlong but always interesting. Not as good as the Pixies but not much is.
Not bad!
I play some pachinko, I plaaay Parcheesi.
Pretty solid! SInger from the Pixies. Enjoyed this one - despite it being really long.
Frank black was always the highlight of the Pixies. This still holds true!
After listening to this intently, I think I need to check out the Pixies. The songwriting was very good. I'm not completely into the vocals but we'll see. However....this album is much too long. I'm a purist in that 45 mins is the perfectly album length unless you have a convincing double album - this could have shaved a few tracks.
Vielseitig, verrückt und gut. Noch nie davon gehört gehabt aber auf so "versteckte Juwele" hatte ich bei der 1001Alben-Übung gehofft.
i eat dissonance for breakfast Teenager of the Year is better than the last two Pixies album (before the break-up) and better than any Pixies album (since the reunion) while not as good as the first two Pixies albums Teenager of the Year stands with Pixies best work.
Don’t come after me…but I think I liked this more than The Pixies? It’s a tad long, but I really enjoyed this sound and some of these songs were genuinely fantastic and almost refreshing. Best Track: Headache
Kinda rocks tbh
I always thought this was so much later, but it was 1994. I am a huge Pixies fan, and this was great.
Favorite tracks: Headache, I Could Stay Here Forever, Superabound. Love Frank Black, loved this. Might have gone on a little too long for a weekday listen, but man I dig his style. Headache ripsssss.
Black Francis reminds me of our dutch national hero Frans Bauer: https://www.wablieft.be/sites/default/files/styles/max_size/public/media/images/6%20Frans%20Bauer%20copy%20universal%20music%20I%20DeGreef.png?itok=fC-uYtPQ Very high intensity album that lasts more then an hour, overall the album is very strong! The bassline on "Freedom Rock" really stood out to me, very fast, dirty and heavy. The mix of slower songs and out of nowhere a speedy rock song is great. Why does "Big Red" have a score below an 8.0, in my opinion it's one of the most fun songs of the album. Overall an 8.5/10.
I liked it as much as any Pixies album I've ever listened to. The first handful of songs were especially good and very different from each other. I think it does go on a little long, feels like it should be a sub-40 minute sub-12 song album.
Cool stuff! Punky, rickin', energy!
At 22 songs and 62 minutes, this feels like too much of a good thing. I enjoy Frank Black, but leave us wanting more, you know? (That said, closing song "Pie in the Sky" may be my favorite.) There's a lot to enjoy on here, but it starts to blur together. And I've always found Black's music—solo and in the Pixies—a little too detached emotionally to really grab me. It still works and is fun, but never really goes beyond that for me.
Falls under 'not necessarily memorable' upon first listen, but I still really enjoyed it?
On paper this is a tough sell for me: ❌not a grunge fan ❌don't enjoy the Pixie's music ❌double album. Leave people wanting more! ✔️best album cover But this album zipped through, and held my attention much more that I expected it to. Not in love with it, but it was more varied in style than I had anticipated. Also, I find it hilarious that this album with *this* cover was released a month after Hole's Live Through This, given their history. What a weird coincidence
Was very skeptical about this album. Had never heard of Frank Black and the cover does not look very appealing. However, enjoyed listening and the music is enjoyable, very upbeat and very 90’s rock. Pleasantly surprised.
Rigtig fedt album der ikke føles så lang som den er, den er dog banger-wise lidt top-heavy. De sidste 3-4 numre begyndte jeg at tjekke hvor lang tid der var tilbage
Doesn't have Los Angeles on it but Francis is cool
i think this is what the grandparents of the 90s were worried about, right before everything else.
Solid stuff. A tad overlong but he had plenty of ideas and most of them worked. This will get a re-listen down the road.
What are you doing to me random album generator? In the past week I've had two records, this and Crowded House, that I used to argue about with a now deceased pal. I didn't like either, especially Crowded House, while he loved both, especially Crowded House. Melancholic listens both because I miss those arguments. Of course time and the context has dulled my ire and I've enjoyed both, especially Frank Black ;)
one of the nineties
C'était bon, mais un peu long.
Found this weird for sure. Not sure if I’m not a fan of the first couple songs or if it just takes me those couple songs to get used to the version of weird this one is. Once I’m past those two I really like it. Definitely something I would listen to again. Fav song: Space is Gonna do me Good - there were a lot I liked so not sure if this is the favourite but it’s the one standing out to me atm Least fav: Whatever Happened to Pong?
Frank Black has a polished quality that Pixies (and his front man alter ego Black Francis) doesn't and that really suits the poppier songs on this album but it makes the songs where he's trying to be more punk sound a bit too empty. It is a lot of songs- but I never got bored. Favourite song: I Could Stay Here Forever Least: Freedom Rock
Perhaps not as good as the best Pixies material, but pretty damn good nonetheless. 4/5
i love this guy's work with Pixies, but haven't listened to his solo work yet Whatever Happened to Pong? - 3/5 Thalassocracy - 4/5 (I Want to Live on An) Abstract Plain - 5/5 Calistan - 5/5 The Vanishing Spies - 5/5 Speedy Marie - 5/5 Headache - 3/5 Sir Rockaby - 4/5 Freedom Rock - 5/5 Two Reelers - 5/5 Fiddle Riddle - 4/5 Olé Mulholland - 5/5 Fazer Eyes - 4/5 I Could Stay Here Forever - 5/5 The Hostess With the Mostest - 3/5 Superabound - 5/5 Big Red - 4/5 Space Is Gonna Do Me Good - 4/5 White Noise Maker - 5/5 Pure Denizen of the Citizens Band - 4/5 Bad, Wicked World - 3/5 Pie in the Sky - 4/5 Average score: 4.3/5 (rounding down) i'll be honest, this took me a while to find the time to sit through this from beginning to end, which already had my mood soured. this album is pretty damn long thankfully, there are quite a few gems within this release, and i'm glad i could enjoy the majority of this. even the tracks that started with odd and even disorienting chords (like White Noise Maker) ended up being quite refreshing in my opinion my only real gripe is that the length of this album is a little overindulgent. if at least 1/4 of the tracks were cut, this would be among my fav albums off this list
Pretty fun, a little weird sometimes tho
The first half of this record is damn near perfect. I don’t know why it needed to be so jam packed with songs though. This could have been broken up into two albums. The latter half is not as impressive, but it’s by no means bad.
Good
Big fan of basically anything Pixies or Frank Black related
goed... een van de betere solo's van Frank.. vergeleken met Pixies is het heel wat minder, vergeleken met heel wat platen van tegenwoordig is het een meesterwerk
This album is so cool. A bit messy, yes, but the originality makes that okay in my book. Sure, a couple of songs could've been cut, but I think the length and disarray actually add to the overall energy. Albums don't always need to be clean and concise, especially when they're made by someone with the skill of Frank Black (more commonly known as Black Francis). This really was just an hour of unfiltered musical self-expression. Albums like this one are rare, and I really enjoyed my listen. I'm sure this will be an album I'll return to, and even with its flaws, it's one of my recent favorites.
Pas pire !
Bij de opening denk ik, 'o nee, gaat dit zo twee cd's door?', maar uiteindelijk is het best een aangenaam geheel. Die Lou Reed-achtige stem en het begin jaren 90 grungegeluid gaan op elk nummer wel goed samen. Weinig uitschieters naar boven, maar ook weinig naar beneden.
got some highs I like a lot Will I listen to again: 99%
Blind spot in the 90s rock cannon for me. not too shabby. fav tracks: "Freedom Rock", "Space is Gonna do me Good"
Confession time, big Pixies fan (well original run)… pretty much ignored Frank’s solo career, it was too eclectic for me back in the day and the first few songs of this make for a jarring listen… however it eventually settles into itself despite it genre hopping around and with repeated listens, you start to see the genius of his songwriting in sharper clarity. Still not the same has the hey day of his most famous band, but pretty good stuff.
Not as good as Pixies but a few bamgers
First track in I was quite sceptical, but this album really grew on me as it went on! Prior to the suggestion I didn't know anything about Frank Black or his past with Pixies, but I can definitely see the progression to his solo stuff.
The album is far better than the cover, so that's a good start. It is too long, but there are plenty of good tracks here. Obviously, there's a lot of The Pixies sound to be found, but I found quite a bit of The Velvet Underground, too. It's well worth a listen, just slightly bloated.
Very solid album. It’s essentially the Pixies without the rest of the band, which is not a bad then when you’re a Pixies fan. Ole Mullholland was a fun song
this is an amazing album! the lyrics are good, a little punk, a little pop, a little rock. i really liked this album
A slightly meandering album with some great songs.
I wasn't sure what this was - a bit Springsteen maybe but not as tired? I quite enjoyed it
J - 4/5 Best Track - "Ole Mulholland"
Interesting, lots of tracks. Varied genres. Creative.
Enjoyable
Pixies-esque sound
Love this album, great vibes listening to it. Shows the range of "Frank" different from his Pixies career.
Good album.
Me gustó pero es la primera vez que tal vez no le termine de dar bolilla al disco, me lo guarde para escucharlo nuevamente. Un rocksito con onda alter que va bien de fondo para jugar algo o estar haciendo cosas en lac asa
This one took me a couple of listens and it's actually a very impressive solo album. I've always liked the FB style and he always puts cool intricate details in every song--none of them feel tacked on. I still think 5 or 6 songs could be jettisoned here, but probably from the middle. The start and end are very strong. Going 4, but could get to 4.5 for me.
I've already heard Headache and it's sooo good. It's the best thing on here but there's plenty of other strong material. It's a bit too long but the songs are mostly short two and half minute efforts or under so there's another good song just around the corner if the current one doesn't click with you.
I should listen to this again.
Am okay album, I liked Speedy Marie the most
No songs that I would consider certified bangers. But the album holds a solid quality for an hour+. That's something to be commended, even if I won't be carrying any of these songs through life with me.
My kind of thing - quite fun
Pleasant surprise, really good 4/5
This is a really impressive effort It's too long But everything has a certain quality You think you have an idea of where the melody is going and then he changes it up The Vanishing Spies is the highlight, happy, lovely solo, just good vibes Fiddle Riddle has a nice ska feel Speedy Marie is good. I prefer this to a few of the pixies albums, but 22 songs is overkill. Very good though 4
Lo escuchare mas veces
I've never actively listened to Frank Black before but this album cover was buried somewhere deep in my memories. Pretty good overall
I enjoyed this album listen! I feel like this was a good departure from The Pixies for Black while still having alternative rock elements that were very reminiscent of the Pixies iconic sound. I would definitely listen to this album again and recommend it for other folks to check out if they like the Pixies and want to listen to something similar!
Great alt-rock that has pop hooks at its heart and an occasional hardcore edge. Every song offers up something a little different. All of it is confident and assured. I would recommend this to anyone who likes their alt-rock with plenty of personality in addition to musical chops. Frank Black is a great performer. I listened to about half of this before learning he was the frontman for Pixies. This album has a similar mix of of melodicism and punk chaos that Pixies albums have. It’s a big, ambitious album though. The kind of double album you need to listen to a lot before you can fully absorb it all. But it made a great first impression on me!
starting out strong – as a big Pixies fan, I guess I easily fall for what Black Francis has to offer. the middle however is drawn out – the album is too long and could have used some tougher editing. it also does sound a bit derivative and like it could be Pixies' b-sides at times. nevertheless, I do like it and there are some very enjoyable songs on this record, mostly at the beginning and the end. 3.5
Brings me back. I was there maaaan.
This is Black Francis after the (temporary) split of the Pixies. It’s so tempting to keep spotting influences (MC5, Stooges etc etc) and miss that this record is a thing unto itself. It’s got attitude, of course, but it’s got great inventiveness and even playfulness. It might be an embarrassment to punk purism but there’s no denying that the man can write a catchy tune. The presence of Pixies co-conspirator Joey Santiago on guitar is a huge help too. Great record.
Even better than his self titled, which I also love! Solo Frank Black is great
I've always like Frank Black's non-Pixies works more. Teenager of the Year highlights his outstanding work. 4/5
Wow! Really liked this. Gives me more of an appreciation for the Pixies too. Wayyyy too long for what it needed to be but thats ok Song: Two Reelers Rating: 7/10 (Good) Stars: 4/5
Big fan of the Pixies here. Great songwriting and musicianship on this one too.
I've heard of the Pixies, but I don't know a giant amount of their music and I wouldn't have been able to tell you that Frank Black is/was their front man. As a result, this ends up being another totally new album and artist for me, though this comes from an era of alternative rock that I love. First thing that struck me is that he is a pretty adept vocalist. It seems like he has toned down his voice a bit vs. what I think I remember of the Pixies, so kudos to him. There’s lots he can do with his voice, and he does a cool job of adjusting to the tone of the song. Interestingly, at certain points (e.g. I Could Stay Here Forever) he sounded like Julian Lennon to me. At others, he has a refined Bob Dylan feel (The Hostest with the Mostest). And then in other songs, he felt a like Mark Knopfler type of signer (e.g. Calistan). Bottom line is that I liked how he moved around his style. Beyond this, has a penchant for rhyming strange words with each other. I could see how people might find annoying, but I thought it really worked for this album. The album is only just over an hour, but with 22 songs, there’s a lot of variety on it. Some highlights for me were White Noise Maker, Pure Denizen of the Citizens Band, Headache and Calistan. A really solid album which I unexpectedly liked a lot.
Great thing about this site ... reveals artists I SHOULD have listened to but have yet to do so.
I feel is Frank would’ve bill this down to a ~45 minute lp, it might have been absolutely amazing, but it dragged in several places. But I really enjoyed the record. I know the Pixies, might basically the hits but never was aware of Frank Black. This album came out when I was 11, and if 13 would’ve been aware of this record I would've been absolutely in love with it and probably would be giving it a 5/5, but I heard it 30 years later and there are parts that seemed dated. I’m glad I heard this, and believe it belongs on the list because of the mashup of punk, prog, art rock, alternative, ska, and a bunch of others melds so well from track to track. 7.4/10 74/1001
Nice variety of rock styles, all performed well and produced well. Longer album, but at no point was I thinking that it was too long.
Cool album, nothing groundbreaking
Skemmtilegt að uppgötva þessa plötu. Hrátt og mikil tilraunastarfsemi hjá Charles. Allt öðruvísi sound en Pixies.
Mjög góð plata sem ég hafði ekki hlustað á áður. Vann mikið á, stutt skemmtileg lög. Mjög ólíkt Pixies.
Good album, could’ve died without hearing it
Rating: 7.5/10 Slow start but picks up after the fourth song. Sounds like Pixies but with cleaner vocals, very interesting songwriting structures and pretty damn catchy throughout.
Frank is new to me and getting acquainted was a pleasure - I don't like everything on this, but I like a lot of it - interesting vocalist; flashes of Neal Young, echoes of David Bowie, but mostly just Frank.
I didn't realize this was the singer from The Pixies side thing until halfway through. Was good
Fav: Headache Least Fav: Sir Rockaby I think individually these are all great songs, but there’s not enough variety to justify it being a double album. Album length is all that’s stopping me giving this a 5, and I’m surprised that I like this more than his work as part of Pixies
Decent listen.
Retro punk. Got some DK feel on the first 2 tracks. The rest is very frank black/pixies, which is a good thing
This one surprised me! I really enjoyed it! Album starts out guns a blazing..then takes a very nice turn and is quite different and dynamic throughout…Good listen! Need to go back and listen to more Pixies! Good stuff!
El letic and melodic. Definitely was suprised how much I enjoyed this 22 song collection.
Very familiar with this one and always a fan of the Pixies and Frank Black's other projects. This is my favorite of his solo albums. But it's a shame that the Breeders are nowhere to be found in this list. At least I don't think they are. 4/5 Album 51/1001
Teenager of the Year is sprawling, strange, and stuffed with ideas in the best way possible. Frank Black throws genre rules out the window, hopping between punk, surf rock, college radio pop, and spacey weirdness, all held together by his unmistakable voice and offbeat charm. It’s an album that feels like flipping through a brilliantly unhinged comic book, with standout tracks like Headache, I Want to Live on an Abstract Plain, and Thalassocracy showcasing both his pop instincts and his knack for the bizarre. It’s not always easy to follow.22 tracks is a lot, and not everything lands. but even the weaker moments have a certain eccentric appeal. The sheer range of styles and tones on display is impressive, and somehow it never completely falls apart. It’s messy, creative, and packed with personality, exactly what you’d want from a post-Pixies solo record.
It was pretty good. A little chaotic sounding sometimes!
A lot to like here in the realm of kinetic and (only somewhat) eclectic but thoroughly off-kilter indie-rock world. It's Pixies-oriented – with a larky, tossed-off feel, if not fully Pixies-centric. The heart of the records is the run of "Calistan" and "Vanishing Spies" and “Speedy Marie” and “Headache." "Superabound" and “Big Red” are also good. On the one hand, this should be better know. On the other, it does go on too long, with 22 tracks practically inviting unevenness (very Pixies-like) with several disposable cuts late on underscoring that less would have been more (as it so often in pop music). An as fun as the overall ride is, generally, it lands fairly close to "for fans only" territory.
Never heard of frank black but this album was a lot for fun. Immediately enjoyed it.
Quite a nice surprise. Never heard of Frank Black before, and to be honest I judged the album cover and title too soon. Playing the album and being hit with some very nice 90s alternative rock. Went to google Frank immediately just to find out he was the pixies frontman so it explains the sound very well. I would definitely listen to this album again
Never forget the power of Frank the Black in the 90s (but please forget about his milking legacy now).
Judged this prematurely and think I actually really like this. Some songs yes sound like I'm hungover at a festival laying down listening to whatever inane indie-rock band is on but not really paying attention and can't be arsed to scout out other stages. However, truncated then by a lot of songs which are really up my street and I actually love. It does itself a disservice by including a lot of weaker songs, could have been a much tighter album. Alas. Very happy to have discovered this, it'll be in my rotation. Annoyed by the 5 star system as this doesn't quite warrant a 4, but due to my own personal enjoyment I'm giving it a 4.
Strong dynamic songwriting. Frank Black was on his shit then.
Removing a few tracks would make it a 5 for me
It's my top post-Pixies pick, see? There's 22 songs and they're all good.
What a record! I probably never would have listened to this on my own, despite loving multiple Pixies records, because I find Francis kinda obnoxious. (Like, I've never heard a solo Morrisey album either.) This is definitely weird, and neurotic, but not in the way I would have expected? It's somehow both self-effacing and completely void of any self-consciousness. This is a guy born Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV who decided to call himself Black Francis, and then he's a founding member of Pixies, and then he makes -this-? I need more time with it than the two listens and a few extra plays of a few songs, but my instinct is that this is an all-time great power pop album.
Never listened for some reason to his solo stuff. This was excellent.
I was not expecting to like this album as I don't like punk rock, only somewhat like the Pixies, don't like long drawn out albums that go nowhere, and don't like a lot of 90's music. This was surprisingly good. I might even throw this on sometime.
Kedvenc/Favourite: Freedom Rock Néha kicsit elvesztem benne, de igazából nem bántam annyira. Olyasmi érzés volt hallgatni, mint belenézni egy másik ember fejébe, és rácsodálkozni, mennyi mindenben hasonlítunk, mennyi másban meg különbözünk. Sok jó szám volt rajta, de egy idő után elfáradtam az egészben egy picit, néha túl is volt húzva. Nem a legkönnyebben emészthető így egyben, de szerintem fogom még hallgatni. Sometimes I got a little lost in it, but I didn't really mind it that much. It was kind of like looking inside another person's head and wondering how much we were alike and how much we were different. There were a lot of good songs on it, but after a while I got a bit tired of it all, sometimes it was a bit drawn out. Not the easiest to digest in one sitting, but I think I'll listen to it again.
Like many debut solo albums from people in great bands, this one is good, but also too long and filled with indulgences that the other band members would have put the kibosh on. Enjoyed it, but it was missing the other Pixies.
It's finally Teenager of the Year day! No, this isn't a favorite album of mine, in fact I have no idea what to expect from this album. I saw this cover on the visual list a while ago, and looked it up on Wikipedia to see that it was a solo album from a member of The Pixies. Alternative rock album covers in the nineties were their own unique art form (I'm talking to you, Clumsy by Our Lady Peace), and I guess when I first saw this album, I was surprised I never saw it in any of my friends' CD binders when I was growing up. The Pixies are one of those bands that I want so desperately to love, but while I appreciate their influence and talent, they're just not for me. Maybe this solo effort from Frank Black will be the thing that breaks through to me! I really enjoyed listening to this album. Teenager of the Year was just a solid rock album, with great guitar playing, some good synthesizer and piano arrangements, and some really weird lyrics and themes. There was a lot of variation in sound on this album, which really helped this album justify its hour-plus runtime. Even with a lot of variation in sound, this album still felt really cohesive, and I liked that the songs weren’t terribly long, because it helped the album move along at a really good pace. There weren’t really any individual songs that jumped out to me, and nothing from this album is going to be bouncing around my head the rest of the day, but I still had fun listening to this, and I thought it was really well made. I might actually start referring to this as my favorite Pixies album from now on…
Kinda like a mix between the national and the Pixies
Had no idea who Frank Blank was. Pleasantly surprised...thoroughly enjoyed it and would listen to it again.
When I saw 22 songs, I was like oh no, but they were short and to the point and overall, a fun album full of punk, garage and that classic Pixies sound.
Sounds great, just like the pixies stuff. I gave the pixies album a 4 and this was more of the same. Mid 4.
Vermakelijk om Frank Black solo te horen spelen. De nummers zijn er niet minder om geworden, eerder toegankelijker. Het klinkt best vrolijk vaak. Ik hoor er elementen van de early 90s alternative rock in als Weezer, soms ook nog wat 80s als Pixies zelf, maar ook Dinosaur Jr. Het is zeker muziek die ik elke dag op zou kunnen zetten. Maar tegelijk roept het bij mij de vraag op: wat voegt dit toe aan de lijst der 1001? Ach, die vraag stel ik me al genoeg. Het is vrijdag en ook al is het baggerweer buiten, het is bijna weekend. Wederom deze week 4 sterretjes.
I'd never heard of Frank Black, but was happy to find out he is the Pixies frontman. I really enjoyed this album and will definitely relisten. Standout tracks on first listen: - Headache - Freedom Rock
Fav song: Headache Good production, great lyrics, proper punk vibes. Love Frank Black’s apathetic attitude in his vocals. Most of this album just reminded me of Scott Pilgrim Vs The World OST.
7/10
3.5
4.0
Thoughts before listening: I love the Pixies but have never really dove very heavily into Frank Black's solo work. I believe there were a couple songs that made the playlists on alt-rock radio and 120 Minutes back in the day so I look forward to reminiscing about those during this first listen. Review: Man I've been missing out on this album. I don't actually recognize any of these songs (I guess the ones I know are from his first solo album) but they're great. This album definitely has a bit of the Pixies sound: Frank's distinctive voice immediately makes you think of his main gig and there is a similar rhythm to most of the songs as well. There is however more variation here (keyboard solos, ballads, etc) than on the Pixies' albums. Listening to this I can understand why people have often classified the Pixies final (original run) album Trompe le Monde as a Frank Black solo album since this one has a similar sound. It just so happens that Trompe le Monde is my favorite Pixies album so this is right up my alley. 4-stars
Favourite tracks: headache; thalossacracy; calistan
Headache alone is worth five stars, and the rest of the album gets close, but (at this point) isn’t quite perfect. I should probably listen to this a dozen times before rating, but I guess I’m not doing that.
With or without Frank, no Pixies. Without or with the Pixies, no Frank. Still, this is a worthwhile listen. Album is long good listen with a great title.
I do really like Frank Black. Because there is no filler I don't mind that this album is too long. But it is too long. Maybe he only needed 15 songs. 16.
More hinged that the pixies, honestly I think headache was the single because it was one of the more pixies adjacent songs without sounding too strange for the mainstream. Honestly though the album is too long I found white noise maker, speedy Marie and freedom rock to stand out a bit more and you can appreciate tracks like fiddle fiddle for what they are. But there’s just too much of it, I enjoy the pixies but I couldn’t stand an hour of that kinda music. Still a 4/5 though
did not expect to love this....couldn't have been more wrong
Really solid album...but not quite as good as Pixies. Headache is an alltime classic though. 4/5
really enjoyed
Second day on a road trip. Another good album to enjoy the view from the road! I won't be reviewing it today, just like yesterday, but I will express my curiosity about Frank Black. I had no idea he had a solo career (I'm not a regular Pixies listener) and his voice sounds great on this album.
This one has been in my rotation for a long time. I love the pacing of the songs. I love that it goes to different places throughout.
This album ranged from good to great to for me. My favorite moments were admittedly the ones which most reminded me of the Pixies. Lots of Trompe Le Monde adjacent dissonance scattered around the album, and the occasional twanged out not-country-but-not-rock-either guitar solos. 4/5
Listened to this a lot when I was 20, and I have a strong fondness for it after being obsessed with the Pixies. It's not as strong as good Pixies albums, but I keep it about the same tier as Trompe Le Monde. 3.75/5
very good
Alright this like
I enjoyed this album but he is way better with the pixes! Kim's vocals help so much!
sorry im late, kendrick dropped. anyway, great album
rock alternativo noventista é bão demais, num tem jeito. é um album longo, mas num me perdeu em momento nenhum. gostei bastante do pixie sem os pixies.
Considering it's literally a solo album by the Pixies' frontman, while having a similar feel to that band's discography, it definitely leans on the lighter side of alternative than something like Surfer Rosa or Doolittle. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
You can hear how significant he is in the writing and overall style of the pixies. I liked the album a lot and there's plenty of variety. Two reelers has Sam McK vibes. I don't like the synth sounds much; they sound cheap. Deserves further listens. Weird cover art, which I like.
This album is a small masterpiece that easily stands out against the works of the Pixies and is vastly superior to his debut album. While Black Francis released several subpar projects after the Pixies—his solo work will always be compared to that iconic band—this album is filled with clever and outstanding songs. It's difficult to highlight specific tracks because there are hardly any misses among the many songs. Unfortunately, he has not been able to match or surpass this album with his later releases. In essence, "Teenager Of The Year" is the best album that the Pixies never made.
I've never listened to this before, and I was always kinda luke-warm on the Pixies - but I like this one. It's like the Pixies meets Neil Young.
Love Pixies but never spent too much time with Frank's solo stuff. I really liked this record.
Frank Black - Teenager of the Year I enjoy the Pixies but never took time to delve into any of their solo projects. If not for this challenge I don't know if I would have listened to this album. This album was released in 1994, when I was heavy into grunge and would be mourning the death of Kurt Cobain. At that time there would be no way this album would have found it's way to me. I like to think that music finds us when we're ready. Something we may not of enjoyed when we were 20 hits when we're 50. That's why it's important to step out of our comfort zones when it comes to music. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed this album in 1994, but 30 years later it speaks to me. This album has a lot of different styles. There's a Dire Straits feel, a punk feel, alternative feel, and Franks voice handles it all. I would definitely recommend this album. 4/5
Album oozing with creativity and unfinished ideas. For garage rock/ indie rock of the era, there are several songs that are really unique and don't sound like anything else, in the best way. I liked Speedy Marie, Fiddle Riddle, Ole Mulholland, and several others. Cool sounds, shredding guitar nonchalantly in the background. I think some of it is rather unfinished sounding, but overall, it's quite good. As expected from a member of the Pixies, it's ahead of it's time.
This is more, my taste in music. Fun, angsty, high energy punk vibe. Adding to my collection.
The Good: ‘90s indie rock! The Bad: that I did not, for whatever reason, listen to this during the ‘90s The Ugly: the album cover as Frank Black looks a lot like Frans Bauer… This album substantiates my rule that all albums need to be listened to at least twice before I can rate them, as I did not like it at all during first spin. However, by the end of the second spin I was already Bogart in Casablanca… Play it again Sam. I am no big fan of the Pixies, something that many friends of mine don’t understand due to my massive appreciation of ‘90s college radio music, so maybe I need to listen to several Pixies albums after I am done listening to Teenager Of The Year for the 5th time in 24 hours… 4* well deserved!
Polish up the production a bit, give it a less bizarre cover artwork and title, lop off about 8 tracks and 20 minutes and you have a certified masterpiece on your hands. However, you also lose a lot of the chaotic charm. It took me a few days to digest this fully as it is all over the place but I have enjoyed it more and more the more I've got to know it. It reminds me a lot of Stephen Malkmus, who I already considered a true lo-fi genius. The changes of tempo and raw bursts of furious melody are fantastic and for someone I'd never heard of or seen before (although of course I know the Pixies somewhat), I am really really glad to have met Frank Black this week.
I used to sit by this guy named Tim at work who liked the same music as I and we got to be great friends. One time he took a picture of my grandma and photocopied her face onto a bunch of different album covers including this one which was very cute. I forgot how cool Teenager of the Year is, and I wonder what Tim is up to these days.
Good energy. Some really good tunes on here tbf
The beginning is the strongest portion of this album, and aside from slightly tapering off in the midsection, this is a great LP. Never heard of this guy before he came up on the generator, now I kinda wanna dig into his discography.
I actually listened to most, but not all of this when it was first recommended a few months back, and I remember enjoying what I heard. Returning to it as I plug through the final half dozen or so, I have enjoyed it again. Even more so when I discover quite how early it was. Sure, it is a hair too long, and sure, it isn't the most cohesive album of all time. But it's an interesting, if not mesmerising listen.
Although I'm very familiar with the Pixies, I wasn't aware that Frank Black had a solo project. After listening to the first few tracks on the album, I wanted to abandon the whole thing in frustration. I couldn't cope with the music. But the album kept playing at first. The music reminded me a little of Nirwana, mixed with something else interesting. So I let the album play and my interest in Frank Black grew. I'm not a fan, but that could still happen. 4/5
I can't put a finger on why I like this as much as I do. The first couple songs made me dread how long this album was but after that for the most part I really enjoyed the vibe of this album. It somehow feels both ahead of it's time and of it's time at the same time to me. I'll look forward to a relisten of this to dig into the lyrics more.
Good stuff.
Depending on the day, like if it was today, my third genie wish might be that every human had a compulsion to produce at least one album. The goal of which was just fun and expression. Somehow Teenager Of The Year makes me feel a sort of happiness for Frank Black. Always feels kinda stressful knowing the interpersonal tension within the Pixies. But maybe if Frank's just able to be Frank, it's a little more enjoyable? I have no way of knowing, but I bet he had fun making this. At least I had fun listening.
Great Pixies record! Ok that's not exactly true but this is the next best thing to even the worst Pixies record!
This is a pretty cool listen despite the high number of songs and it’s a lot to take in. I like some Pixies more but not a bad solo effort at all! Highlight: “I Could Stay Here Forever”. 3.5 stars.
I prefer a couple of Pixies abums to this, Doolittle and Basanova for sure. On par maybe a bit better than Surfer Rosa. Still a great album overall (8.6) ★★★★
Some really great material here that rivals Charles Thompson's best work with the Pixies, unfortunately at 22 tracks, there's also a lot of unnecessary filler. Highlights include "Headache", "Thallassocracy", and "Superabound". 4 stars.
My only knowledge of Frank Black prior to listening to this was from Fire Water Burn by The Bloodhound Gang which contained the lyrics “I’m not blank like Barry White. No, I am white like Frank Black is.” I’m happy to hear that Frank is nice and dirty alt rock. This album had me interested throughout, never fading into becoming background music. And can we mention that album cover? It is fantastic! I’m really happy to consider myself a fan of Frank Black now. I should have listened to him ages ago.
4 out of 5. I like the energetic melodies this album has, with Headache being a standout for me.
I played this a lot when it was new. I liked the album before and the album after better, but this is better than I remembered. It's more versatile. Not all of it is good. I'd rather have a more consistent good record. And shorter too. Favorite song: Two Reelers
I do own this album, and I am fond of it, but truth be known, it's not a patch on the pixies stuff.
Would probably grow on me. Good musicianship. The fuzzy drums are not my favorite sound.
Some great songs and some average songs. Long album with a bit of padding. Heard it before as I'm a massive pixies fan. First 4 albums anyway. Good to hear it again. 7/10
It's long but the songs vary enough that its not fatiguing. An icon of alternative rock releasing a record in 1994 was a risk but 30 years later it sounds right at home among contemporary albums.
the soundtrack to a 30-something homeless guy rider mowing his way across america for quarters and soda-pop. not conceptually of course -- the record lacks concept (and a lot of cohesion) but it does have the feeling of trying to recapture a forever lost youth. the songs kinda melt together into a big hunk of pop, like leaving a box of Mike n Ikes in your car overnight. yeah, i like Mike n Ikes, and i don't think i'd feel sick or whatever, but eating the whole block kinda gives you (heh) a headache. maybe it hits harder on a long drive, but i honestly think this is one of the few cases of "too much good music brings the whole experience down". (this is why im not much of a fan of "the best of" albums. it can't ALL be pop chart darlings all the time.) i like it, but i don't like THAT much of it. despite this glut of hook and fuzz, i still don't think i hated a single song on the record. except "fiddle riddle". what the fuck was that, frank
Muy bueno. Un poco largo, pero bastante bien.