Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I always struggle a bit with these albums that have like 20+ songs that are mostly under 3 minutes. That seems like such an odd choice to make when writing an album. Part of the problem with these kinds of albums is that it's hard to write 20+ distinct sounding songs in a short time for one record. This album definitely fell prey to that trap. I found myself kind of checking out about halfway through. It's fine, nothing remarkable or terrible to report. He should stick with the Pixies. 2.5/5
it insists upon itself
some fun stuff! i will admit that by the second half i was getting pretty tired of it. there’s some fun tongue in cheek stuff, and then there’s some things that could’ve stayed in the drafts. some good geeeetar though
Thought it was very Pixies, didn't realise it was the frontman. It's ok but I prefer the Pixies
Pre-listening thoughts: well I heard this guy was in the Pixies so that doesn't bode well for me Post/during listening thoughts: jesus guys can we stop the talk singing PLEASE!! Also why is every song like ringtone length. Literally that episode of Zach Stone that I'm 90% sure I've referenced in a review on here before and I'm 100% sure I will end up referencing again. But 22 songs is absurd actually. There were some good ones in here but I would be a lot more enticed to listen to this if it were shorter. Also this man looks too grown to be a teenager. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: NO!! Fav tracks: Calistan, Headache, Superabound, Space is Gonna Do Me Good Least fav tracks: idk there were a lot of songs man. Not gonna take time to comb back thru 22 songs sorry!
ganz nicer 90s record aber nit so special
I was surprised to see a solo album from Black Francis under his alias, Frank Black, alongside the early Pixies records on this list. People must have been hungry for more of his work after the Pixies' initial breakup. I've certainly come to enjoy Francis's nonsensical songwriting, and I remember enjoying "Calistan" two months ago when it came up on my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist. With that all in mind, how did Teenager of the Year stack up? I'd say it's a good record, but it's not quite a great one. Francis continued his venture into the surf-rock-adjacent songwriting and construction, where at times, tracks like "Speedy Marie" and single "Headache" fit a more laid-back on the beach vibe. That's not to say there aren't bursts of chaotic energy like with the old Pixies sound; the opening onslaught of tracks from "Whatever Happened to Pong?" to "Calistan", and occasional tracks in the middle such as "Two Reelers", "Bad, Wicked World" and closer "Pie in the Sky" capture some of that wild spark Francis had been known for, the backing band was able to match his style decently and it's produced well. That said, we have reached the point where I have to draw attention to my two hangups with this album - it is longer and less energetic than those earlier Pixies records. Clocking in at over an hour, there is a sense purveying this record that Francis wanted to put as many songs together to distinguish himself from his earlier work. The problem is that with such a long runtime and some songs starting to run together in sound and style, there's only so much that could be reasonably accomplished without the album feeling bloated. I was starting to feel fatigued at the piano-driven reggae track "Fiddle Riddle", which at that point would have been the length of a Pixies record. Needless to say, some tracks should have been cut. I still enjoyed Teenager of the Year and continue to appreciate Francis as a songwriter. There are some good tracks in between the filler here. Cherry-pick your favorites and go from there.
Hadn’t heard any Frank outside of the Pixies. Wasn’t interested. But I like this and I’d listen again. Different sound from those days: less manic screeching (which I love, don’t misunderstand), more grounded, melodic and even a little countryfied. “Headache” stands out, but several tracks are repeatable. Sexy!
First impressions, is he the creepy looking guy on the cover? Started out just like something someone had put together on the type of get up you can sort out at home nowadays. But then his voice started to get to me. Very familiar, but can't place it. At times very like Neil Young, Iggy Pop and someone else who I now can't remember (I had this all typed out and saved, but they've deleted it. Grrrrrrrr!!!!!). Anyway it turned into a passable album. 3
I’d pretty much written this off before I started listening, so had it on in the background whilst doing other stuff. Found myself unconsciously enjoying it, so had to give it another listen with a bit of attention! I like this incarnation of Francis. The songs are varied and interesting, and his vocal style a lot more palatable.
This was a bit of a mixed bag, as in styles not quality. As with most artists I do tend to lose interest in them after 1, 2, 3 or if they are lucky 4 albums. Poor old Black Francis or whatever he chose to call himself on his solo albums fell into this category. I was impressed,as some of it was better than late Pixies work. I shall have to give it a few more listens though.
Black Francis from the Pixies. Solid album, voice is really on forefront here.
I hated this to start out but it did grow on me. Definitely too long for its own good, cut 1/3 of songs and runtime and this would be much better. 3/5
Dragged second half was better I liked it
pretty good. previously wouldn't have recognized Pixies' singer even though I've listened to them a lot. Favorite song: Headache
I got bad vibes from the album cover, so hopefully the music is decent. I would say this is similar to the last album we had. Not in style of music obviously, but just my general feeling of the songs. Some were good, some were meh. I thought the music itself was decent throughout but sometimes the vocals made the songs worse. However, there wasn't many songs that I particularly loved, so I would say this was a low 3.
Well that is some of the most unexpected and aggressive harmonica I have ever exposed my ears to -- and I say this having two young children. Whatever Happened to Pong is a weird tone setter of an opener. Almost feels like a less possessed Mr. Bungle. Two Reelers is a frantic, wonderful mess. Ole Mulholland is another standout -- plays a bit like a Modest Mouse song in the best of ways. General feeling is that this is a kooky album that is sometimes awesome, and sometimes just in the background. I'd say it runs long for its own good, but it'll take a few listens before I can give a score. Idk I keep losing focus during this one. Could be that I've got other shit going on, but more likely this just isn't doing it for me fully. I'm going with a soft 3 here, but I think this has the rare potential to swing from 2 to 4 depending on my mood.
Some good songs, some bad songs. Switched back and forth a lot from alternative to punk. Nothing more I can really say, low 3.
Interesting this is the lead man of the Pixies. What a terrible album cover. Really hated one of the earlier songs, only to go into some absolute jams, only to go into some more I wasn't really feeling. His voice doesn't really do it for me most of the time. Really fucking loving Freedom Rock. Kinda sounds like some old Strokes at certain points. Honestly if my dude could've whittled this down to a solid 35-40 minutes it was a possible 4, but the length just got me a bit bored.
enjoyable album, lot of songs but not long ones, would listen again
Sänger der Pixies
Mostly light hearted post punk frolic through a well constructed album. Fun but not groundbreaking
Wow the first 3 songs are bad. Next 3 are much better. Headache was a bit overhyped, not too bad tho. I like the Pixies, so I’m surprised I don’t like this that much (3)
Took me a couple of songs before I realized it was black Francis. Pixies are better
I had no idea Frank Black was the lead singer of the Pixies, but knowing that now makes this album click a bit more. Teenager of the Year is packed with quirky lyrics, off-kilter melodies, and that signature rawness you'd expect from someone with Pixies roots. There are definitely some solid moments scattered throughout, but it’s a long album and not everything lands. Some songs feel a bit like filler, while others are surprisingly catchy and fun. It’s worth a listen for fans of alt-rock weirdness, but it didn’t quite blow me away.
Yeah not bad, second half much better
Not bad, standard sorta frank black pixies type stuff
A little long but solid album
Although it did sound decent nothing really stood out to me. It's also a really long album and felt like some songs could have been cut. Definitely good moments but overall a little dull.
Not sure I really needed to hear this before I die, but not a bad way to spend an hour.
Hectic and upbeat. You can hear some Pixies in there still, and it's fun if you're in the right mood.
Some very good songs on here I thought although as double albums often do it goes on a bit
Never listened to Frank Black before other than his stuff with The Pixies. It was listenable. Halfway through and I have not really been moved by the music. Music was decent enough just did not move me.
Absolutely loved Pixies until they reunited and decided to make new music without Kim Deal, but I've never fully explored Frank Black's solo work. I saw him at least once when it was him and The Catholics, and maybe one other time without them, but unsure on that. And while I've known of this album since 1994, I never picked it up. Listening to it today, just over 30 years later, I've got mixed feelings on it. There are some truly excellent songs on here, and I appreciate that he's just making whatever music he wants without being limited to a single style. That yields some interesting results. On the other hand, the quality of the songs doesn't feel consistent across the album, a fact not helped by how long this thing is. If you cut it down to the best songs, it'd be less than 45 minutes instead of over an hour, and you'd have a far more engaging and rewarding album experience. Maybe I'll figure out which songs specifically and make a playlist of them so I can enjoy them without the weaker songs that feel like filler. Or maybe not. Anyway, glad I've finally given this a listen even if I didn't love it.
meh 3/5
Fun album, Black Francis is great, some gems on here. Still got it, post pixies.
This was kinda cool, didn't quote live up to my expectations.
Felt a bit different than any rock album I've listened to previously, but it's still just rock.
An interesting one! I can definitely tell it's not the best thing since sliced bread, but does it deserve an entry on this list? Probably, yeah. It's just rock, but it feels both accessible and different. It goes on too long for my taste. Somewhere in the middle of those 22 tracks is something that I really like, but it's hidden, and I'm unsure if I want to search for it too long. And I think I'd like to find it, but over an hour of songs? Really? Somewhere between 3 and 4 for me.
Like a lot of music of this type, I didn’t want to turn it off halfway through, but I’m not sure I’d seek it out again. It’s like my interest in the Pixies begins and ends at Monkey Gone To Heaven - I don’t mind their stuff, but more than one track at a time becomes a chore.
Could not get into the vocals. His voice was too annoying for me. But the songs are fun and effective. "Calistan" and "Two Reelers" are my personal favorites on that record
I was disappointed: a diverse collection of songs but it was very hit and miss with lots of misses.
I was a huge fan of the Pixies but somehow never listened to this album before. There were some great songs buried in here like Calistan, Freedom Rock, Two Reelers, Superbound. Some that were different styles but not as effective, like Fiddle Riddle. White Noise Maker actually made me LOL. Need one of those to drown out today's news. Overall the album was a bit inconsistent despite the gems.
Not a style I typically listen to, and not quite as strong as the Pixies work, but clearly part of the same arc. Not sure I'll be adding this to my listening list, and somewhat erratic in quality, but overall decent.
Never heard any FB solo stuff but this is better than Kim-less Pixies. Decent though too long. 22 songs jeez.
This sounds like the natural extension of where the Pixies were headed before they disbanded. That's not a compliment by the way. For me, each Pixies album was slightly worse than the one before it. They started at an extreme high, with Surfa Rosa, Dolittle was also superb, Bossanova wasn't so great, and Trompe le Monde was a bit shit. Having said that, even though this album is twice as long as it needs to be, and half of it could be cut with no loss whatsoever, the other half isn't bad at all. I'm going with 3 stars.
'I'm not black like Barry White, I am white like Frank Black is'.... Anders dan deze poëtische tekstregel van de Bloodhound Gang had ik nog nooit van deze gast gehoord. Ik begrijp ook wel een beetje waarom. Hij probeert wat te rocken, maar het gaat meer ernaast dan precies goed. Anderen hebben dit beter gedaan. (Het scoort wel wat hoger dat die rommel van de Pixies waar hij eerder bij zat. Ach ja.)
Of course it doesn't really come close to the big Pixies Records, but still very enjoyable. If it wasn't for the loong tracklist I think it would get a 4 star rating, but as it is I think a 3 is more like it.
Sounds like the pixies singer LOL!
Not bad, but nowhere near Pixies material
Such a 3. Generic and whatever idk I dont wanna listen to it anymore.
Better than 2, not quite a 3 but feeling generous today.
enjoyable but unmemorable
It’s curious to ponder what if the Pixies kept making music in the early 90s. This albums has its moments, probably “Headache” the best among them
Never recognised the name Frank Black but knew I recognised the voice. Really catchy tunes and now I know who he is I realised why I liked him.
ahh, never heard this but after reading he's from the Pixies, got me interested. not really for me. very cool though.
Own a couple of Pixie albums from back when they came out, but never a big enough fan to have gone into Franks solo work. It’s what I expected, I enjoyed it as still have soft spot for 80s early 90s US indie/college rock, it possibly suffers from that cd age of being overlong which was a general thing back then. Great cover.
I was never really a Pixies fan, which is weird because they were theoretically right up my street back in the day. Anyhoo, for this album Black Francis became Frank Black and released this mish-mash of post punk, surf-guitar, garage and reggae infused songs. It clicked into place for me on the track Ole Mulholland where I realised that he was channelling the spirit of Lou Reed on a song about the LA water system of the 1920s. Infrastructure-tastic!
The least we can say is that Black Francis was cheap on this one. It's all over the place and (too much) full of ideas. It changes genre in every song or so, sometimes sounding like the Pixies, sometimes almost like country, sometimes almost like soft rock or jazzy... It's sometimes brilliant, it's sometimes a bit WTF -- but let's say he's trying -- he lost me more than a couple of times but then I'm hooked again. Cut the thing in half, and it would have been a banger. Still worth the listen.
solid but just makes me want to listen to the pixies could i write poetry to this? n
A fine album from Frank Black/Black Francis, only surpassed by all of the (original lineup) Pixies and his first solo record. Additionally, this recording suffers from an affliction common to many of the time. As CD technology afforded more space for music than a typical LP record, too many artists felt the need to fill the added 20-some minutes with unworthy tracks.
Wish it was the Pixies
It's good but not great. Too many songs are too similar to each other.
Rather longwinded and doesn't have the same 'in-your-face' energy as most of the Pixies stuff I've heard from this list. 5/10
Kept me entertained but I don’t think I’ll be returning
Pretty noisy for me. 2.5
Not bad. Songs were enjoyable
There's quite a lot going on here but it doesn't add up to a whole heap of coherence. Couple of minor indie hits, a handful of other goodies, a lot of sketches and experiments.
Fallacy of composition in action. Frank Black is a vital component of the Pixies, and the Pixies punched far above their weight to produce something vastly better than the sum of its parts. The fallacy is that, because Black was a part of something amazing, by himself he will be amazing. Sadly, this is not the case. I still enjoy this album, but I like the Pixies better.
Everything about this album feels too pretentious. And I can’t tell if he’s doing it ironically or not.
Solo album by former Pixies member Frank Black - it's very 90s alternative rock, with some good tunes and interesting sounds, but it isn't really memorable overall and it is too long - perhaps because the songs are fast and energetic is seems ever longer. Does it really belong on this list?
I mean, I like this album, but I wouldn't *ever* tell someone that you need to hear his before you die. Just give anyone Pixies' first three albums and you're sorted with Frank Black. Best Tracks: Whatever Happened to Pong?; Headache; Two Reelers
I don’t really like his voice but the guitars very good
Quintessential early 90's Rock, punk sound from someone I thought I hadn't heard of. This album predates Marcy Playground, but reminded me a lot of Marcy Playground specifically.
é até legalzinho, mas me pegou num dia meio ruim
Well, I'm annoyed that this album makes the list and The Breeders didn't, Last Splash is a five star effort. This is good not gold. Frank is a crusty fella but talent still shines out on this.
La première toune était vraiment bonne, mais sur un album de plus d’une heure, l’énergie n’était plus là
I haven’t listened to this in years. It’s a solid album, but would I choose to put this on instead of the Pixies?
22 SONGS>????
Second double album in a row and I’m tired, boss. This isn’t bad, but it’s too long. Very few, if any, double albums are worth the time investment and this isn’t one of them. That said, there’s some really good stuff here, but you have to cut through the chaff to get there. This would have definitely benefitted by cutting about 15-20 minutes of fluff out of it.
Interesting. I expected something closer to the Pixies. This is not that. It’s good. It’s fine. It’s alright
General impression: raw, playful, energetic alt-rock Detailed review: While it’s missing some of the fiery weirdo energy from the Pixies material I know, it still has this sort of playful, off-the-cuff urgency to it, like the songs had to be written and recorded before they faded or curdled into something lame. Some are really short, some are a more traditional length, and they all sound like they were made in the heat of rock ‘n roll inspiration. There’s like, some Elvis Costello to these songs, something a little more rooted in straightforward structures. The wacky energy comes mostly from Black’s vocals, which are sometimes sweet and measured and freaked out at other times. Admittedly none of the songs really stand out from the others, nor are they on the level of Pixies best tunes, but it’s still a good energy. Deeper thoughts (context): I’m underrating this, honestly, because I enjoy it more than a 3. But I just don’t think it’s good enough for a 4, and it’s probably not a must-listen like Pixies albums are. Score: 3.4 Number of albums left to review: 955 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 26 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 20 (including this one)
It feels quicker than it's 66 minutes but its quite uneventful. sounds a bit better than some Pixies stuff
This was long. Not terrible, just long. Actually enjoyed the general vibe of this although it’s not normally my thing. But why was it so long??!
3/5
Cool album Standout songs: Calistan Two Reelers Pure Denizen of the Citizens Band
Did not love this, but some songs were ok.
3.5/5
I expected to not enjoy this, this list has a lot of throwaway alt/indie albums that I have not liked. But this one is not too bad. Eclectic but still a mostly grounded alternative rock avoids being indulgently weird for the sake of it, except it’s a bit long. Pretty good songwriting.
A bit underwhelming and forgettable, but fairly solid
fun start with some lulls in the middle, enjoyable
As much as I love The Pixies, I've never listened to any of Frank Black's solo stuff. Really fun Pixies adjacent record. My only complaint is that it's 22 songs. They start to blend together after a while but there are super interesting parts all through this.
Cool album, but just not my jam
I had a thought last night. I’ve written reviews for over 400 albums, and there are nearly 600 more to go. At what point will I run out of things to say? There is only so much to write about the two dozen albums that all sound the same. I worry that one day I may hit a brick wall and be left with nothing left to speak about. I feared that today might be that day, in all honesty. I looked at this album and its cover and assumed it might be a rough one. Thankfully there was more to this than I initially expected. As I was listening to this, I kept thinking to myself, “What seems so oddly familiar about this singer’s voice?” I couldn’t put my finger on it. I just decided to put the name Frank Black into Google. Immediately I saw that this was Francis Black, the lead singer of the fucking Pixies. And then everything I had been hearing made sense. I actually wasn’t aware Francis had any solo records. But it was an interesting experience exploring the creative endeavors of one of rock’s most influential figures, without the presence of his fellow band mates. Truth is, this is not comparable to really anything the Pixies made in their prime. It doesn’t really come close in the level of quality. This is due in part to both Francis himself, and the lack of his cohorts. I love the guy, and I think that by the time this released, he had done more than enough to prove himself. But it’s clear no matter how genius he is, the rest of the band is needed. Interestingly enough, the lead guitarist Joey Santiago actually worked on this record. But I don’t think what you hear on this is comparable to the work of the Pixies. Bossanova maybe, but still. It feels much less manic and dark, and contains some pretty bright sounding power pop songs. The guitar work from Joey and Francis is not bad at all. Pretty consistent throughout. But the rhythm section as a whole is significantly weaker than anything from something like Doolittle. Aside from a few drumming moments here and there, it leaves something to be desired. This also falls off dramatically around the half way mark, and doesn’t really recover until the last two songs. It’s not a bad record by any means, but not as essential or important as this icons other works. Rating: 5/10
Sorprendente, desconocido
There were like 2 songs I didn't like but other than that none of the individual songs were that bad. Feel like there was an energy shift midway through the album. Couldve been better if it was split into 2 but as a whole it wore on me.
6/10 - I feel like the cover art does not give the energy that the album actually has. The album overall was decent but not fantastic. Some fo the songs like Ole Mulholland and Speedy Marie were weird but other songs like the Vanishing spies I liked.
A little too similar sounding for how long it was
33% leftover sketches of songs not good enough to put on a Pixies record, 33% tinkering with whatever cool instrument was within arms length, and 33% ‘50s rock ’n’ roll pastiche. When he splits the difference between the three, Frank Black is able to make a pretty decent post-Pixies solo album that takes the strengths he showcased in his old band and expands on them in intriguing ways, at least if you’re already into Black Francis as a songwriter. It’s when he decides to write a song that only focuses on one idea, however, where this record falls apart. There’s a lot of songs that just sound like worse versions of better Pixies songs. There’s even more songs that feel like genre experiments that have no purpose being on an album proper unless you support his watercolor-esque sketches of Latin syncopations. And there’s a handful of rockabilly moments, which don’t appeal to me personally, and even if I try to stomach them, still feel kitsch and ephemeral on their own terms. Look, I adore Pixies, and I enjoy Black Francis as a songwriter. This was never going to be on the same tier as Surfer Rosa or Doolittle or even Bossanova, but at its strongest moments, I’m pretty easily won over, because I’m biased. If you trim the fat from Teenager of the Year, you might honestly have a great solo effort on your hands. But there’s a TON of fat here, and that makes this record both inessential and kind of exhausting, even if you’re a hardcore Pixies fan. In the end, there’s just enough for me to go positive on it, but if you’re not already a fan of Pixies, this certainly isn’t going to win you over on Black Francis.
This is a sky high three point five. Some great tunes- but it’s too long for its own good. And the good stuff comes later in the sequencing. Not 1001 essential.
3.5
Pretty good but too long! 3.5 stars, 3 stars for this project
I enjoyed his solo work more than his work with The Pixies.
I enjoyed Calistan.
Quirky
Huge Pixies fan. Could never get into Frank Black's solo work.
After I learned that this guy was in the pixies I thought for sure that I was going to hate it. I was pleasantly surprised that I was only slightly annoyed with it by the end of the album. Aggressively average rock album was the best I was hoping for on this one and it delivered!
Fun loving goodness
Surprisingly good. An album I could happily listen to again.
I don’t know what it is about this guy but I love his vibe, whether it’s with the Pixies or doing his solo thing. It’s just good ol background music. Listen again: probably Purchase for my collection: if I came across it cheap Favourite Song:
So Frank heard Kurt and said, "I can do this too!" but it turns out he couldn't. This has all the right stuff, but it's boring.
very 90's, I liked it
A bit of a mixed bag. Not entirely unpleasant.
6.5/10. It is decent indie rock album. I prefer the Pixies' work over this solo album. :)
Quality gen x angst on this thing. Not my usual listen but I found myself enjoying it. I think if I was 10-20 years you get and this album found me at the right time I would love it. The rough vocals sometimes help and sometimes hurt the overall sound. It’s a little bloated at over an hour but otherwise a solid album
Vocalista do Pixies! Muito legal esse disco. Bem dinâmico! Top!
Started very emo but mellowed out a bit. Felt like a rough start but we enjoyed it more towards the end.
3 good album little long
This is good. 90s good.
Is this as good as the worst Pixies album (their last). Not really. Black and his songs are here but... Evidence: 1. 22 songs, even if many are under 3 mins, is just too many. 2. You don't realise how much variety Kim, Joey and David could wring out of their instruments until you hear a more limited band. 3. Not much in the way of backing vocals interplay. Three stars.
Nice rock!
It was fine but really long. I don't think this needed to be over an hour. The Pixies had albums that were under 40 minutes for a reason.
First half is eh. 2nd half starting with Freedom Rock is great. Too long though. Cut out the first 6-8 songs and it’d be great.
Interesting I'll give it that
High energy! Highly enjoyable.
I thought the album was solid, though far too many songs; could probably lose half of them and I don't think they'd be missed. Outside of that, it does sound very late 90s indie rock; nothing really jumped out at me. 5/10.
Frank Black getting his chance to explore other genres and making the most of that opportunity.
tem músicas mt boas, mas é mt longo, com músicas curtas e acaba sendo pouco marcante
Nice surprise. I was kind of a Pixies fan when they were originally together, but never paid any attention to Frank Black's solo career. Favorites: Headache, Speedy Marie
I was around when Frank Black "hit it big" with headache and a couple other tunes. To me, back then I would listen to the radio, often college alternative stuff, and after listening to a couple good songs from the same artist I would take the plunge and buy the CD. Sometimes it was a win and I loved the band or musician and still do. On the other hand, there were those where, disappointingly, the "hits" on the radio were the only songs that actually were all that interesting... I never bought Frank Black back in the day, but after this listen, I would probably put him into the "oh well, I guess I bought the album for a couple of songs" category. Also, not to bad mouth his style or whatever, but he sounds "like" a lot of bands at the time, and ends up for me not quite at the head table.
Creative & unique sound and arrangements. 3-4 min song length makes it easier to listen to 22 tracks. Lyrics are nearly impossible to discern any meaning. Practically gibberish.
Hated the first two songs, but quite enjoyed the rest of the album. Headache was fun
Segundo larga duración en solitario de Frank Black tras la disolución de los Pixies. Arranca con la energía de "Whatever Happened to Pong?" y "Thalassocracy". Obtuvo un cierto y efímero éxito con el existencialista tema "Headache", impulsado por cuidados arreglos. Pero me gusta el tono pop de canciones como "(I Want to Live on an) Abstract Plain", expresión del deseo de huir de la monotonía en busca de una existencia más plena, y "Calistan", nostálgico retrato del paisaje y la identidad cultural de una California en declive. También destacan "Speedy Marie", expresión de admiración por un personaje que lleva emoción a su existencia y que podría ser su novia, y la enérgica "Freedom Rock", un satírico mensaje de autoafirmación y orgullo por la singularidad.
Haven’t listened yet, but I will on this drive!
Toe tapping indie. I might have hired someone with a better voice.
Interesting album. Didn't love or hate it, was easy to listen to.
He can make some catchy music and with 22 songs there’s bound to be a handful that I like. As a whole though I prefer more of the bite that comes with Pixies music that is lacking here. Still though even on the less memorable tracks, which there were a decent bit for me, I was still having fun listening to it. Rating: 3.4
A bit corny but has some interesting variety and fun stuff.
I thought this was just ok. I'd listen again but it didn't make me feel like I couldn't wait for another listen. I tend to feel like Kim Deal was kind of the Heart and Soul of The Pixies and this record did nothing to dissuade me of that notion.
I know I should love it as it's Frank Black but I found it all a bit lacking in something - nothing stand out, nothing terrible. Maybe something if I listened to a lot I could get into but on this timetable didn't grab me.
Not bad
This was a pretty cool album to check out. It’s nice to hear another side project spin off from the Pixies, other than the Breeders. I wish I had known about this album back in the ’90s when alternative was at its peak, because I really would have enjoyed it at the time.
I always found Frank Black solo stuff to be like a more boring Pixies. This album is the best of the bunch, but still kinda boring.
Some very good ones. Others are forgettable. Some are pretty annoying. Still 3 stars
90s slacker rock with a lot of bright, quick, punchy songs. Kind of feels like an attempt to mainstream the Pixies’ sound or at least fit it into the grunge/alt paradigm (ironic considering the Pixies laid part of the foundation for that paradigm), and I don’t think it totally succeeds. There’s also not really enough meat on the bone here to justify an hour-plus length. Despite all this, a pretty enjoyable listen. Best song: Thalassocracy
inconsequential (but fun) teenage rock
Pixies frontman. It's fine. I'm not sure I'm interested enough in finishing it though because it sounds just like every other 90s alt rock band.
Really competent, pleasant enough American indie, but has no business being so long
This is one of those albums I would have liked better if it were 8-10 tracks shorter. Doesn’t matter which ones they cut.
Weak 3*. It felt like a very long album.
Quite nice actually, better than expected. Never was a big Pixies fan, but Black's solo was ok.
3/5
Surprisingly poppy and melodic. Some elements of Pixies (Joey on guitar in a few tracks). Many nice moments and varied enough. It doesn't outstay it's welcome but doesn't hang around either.
This is fine, I guess. Decent 90s American alt rock. Interesting enough, switching it up, jumping around genres. But. We’re had 3 Pixies albums already, does this guy really deserve another hour of my time? It’s a 3 star album for me but I’m leaning towards a 2 because of the list selection.
I did not expect this music based off the album cover. Coming out strong. Another album with mostly shorter songs.
Am Anfang dachte ich: Och ne, nicht schon wieder so eine 90er Alternative-Rock Kapelle. Aber je länger die Platte lief, desto besser gefielen mir die Titel, bei The Vanishing Spies hat sich sogar ein Gitarrensolo verirrt.
i liked it a lot and will listen agai
93/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Supposedly, frontman Frank Black broke up the Pixies by sending the other band members a fax. I don't know how true that is, but it makes for a compelling beginning to Frank Black's solo career. After he released a backlog of solo songs he had recorded while still with the Pixies, he came around to working on Teenager of the Year. You can still get a feel for Pixies on this record but I think Black's oddball lyricism and personality shines through more on this record. Is it better than peak Pixies material? Hardly, but it still goes to show how much Black's contributions mattered to the band.
I expected an album of frenetic songs but there was a nice mix of songs with dif tempos/style that the album wasn’t one long homogenous tune …. Really like the album musically, not so much the vocals but all in all, enjoyable
Very strong first half, pretty mid second half. Enjoyable listen overall.
Way too long
Didn’t know Frank Black was from the Pixies. I like the Pixies. Didn’t mind this album. I don’t know if I would listen again tho.
It's good and a pretty enjoyable listen. The vocal melodies are often really delightful with pleasant counters in the guitar. That said, there's about 6-10 songs out of 22 that really come together. Perhaps there's only a certain aspect that I enjoy that comes through on these tracks, or maybe the album is just too long?
Was this an album that should be on this list? I would agrue not. Will I ever listen to it again? Probably not. All things considerd it wasn't a bad album, just not to my liking
Wore me down. Really began to enjoy this after a second listening.
theres probably enough really good songs in this to make a 4 or even 5 star album. however, its stuffed full of filler (particularly in the second half) to make it over an hour long. why? seriously why?
I was excited to learn that the lead singer of the Pixies had another band. I wasn't in love, but there were a few catchy tunes.
This was kinda fun. I liked the guitar licks and there were a couple with a very strong groove. But this isn't an improvement on the pixies and I found it overly long.
cringe
Never judge a book by it's utterly horrific cover i guess. I had fun with this
first listen good one, need to listen again
what an explosive and creative openning for such a mediocre album. its also waaay too long, with splashes of interesting and memorable bits. as some other guy here said, make it a 40 minutes thing with your best music, make me want more, instead of making me lose interest cause its all samey shit for 60 minutes weirdly enough, i kinda liked the album, but i dont think its any significant Significant 57/173 Liked 28/173 Added 6/173 NYN
Based on the first song, I thought this would be a weirder album than it turned out to be. The overall vibe of Teenager Of The Year brings together different styles and genres but weaves them together in a distinctly 90s indie rock sound. I enjoyed this much more than I expected but wished the album was significantly shorter than its 63 minute runtime.
Conceptually, I am not feeling much here. Honestly, this feels like a Beatles situation where someone leaves the band and drops a whole bunch of tracks they were sitting on. I am curious to see if this was Frank's first record without the Pixies, as that could sway my ranking just a TAD. There is a PLETHORA of genres here, which again is why I feel like there is no identity, and that this was kind of just pieced together unreleased tracks. With that being said, I did vibe out to quite a few of these- but really that's because I like the pixies and those songs give those vibes. Im gonna be honest, if I want this sound, I will just listen to the pixies- there is nothing ground breaking, or innovative here. My favorite track off this record is Speedy Marie.
Ok
It took me much too long to realize this was the Pixies singer. I had a very strong suspicion that this was a side project, not sure exactly what made it feel like that, but maybe is is the somewhat irreverent lyrics. Once I finally looked it up it all made sense. I'm not too into the Pixies yet, I've heard a few songs that I enjoyed, but never sought them out. I'd guess there is an album or two on this 1001 journey. With my ignorance of the Pixies and Frank, I may be missing the key that unlocks my perception of this album. Many of these songs seem like they should suck. But they also seem like they are partly satirical which makes the suckiness intentional for those songs, and make them a bit better. As of now I just assume they are kinda duds out of a massive 22 tracks and understandable. Favorite track "I want to live on an Abstract Plain" 3/5
Meh
Kinda weird, but it was ok
I neither hated nor loved this until I looked at the length. Why is this an hour? I could have done with less
While it wasn’t my cup of tea, I am amazed at how ahead of it’s time this was, and how every song was bite sized and perfect. 3.5, would listen to again to parse it out.
Stand out track - Big Red
It's really interesting to hear Frank Black in isolation from The Pixies. I certainly prefer his pixies material, since it feels much fuller in terms of the sound, as well as being more innovative, given the time when it was made. This is still good, it just doesn't feel revolutionary the way that something like Surfer Rosa does 3/5
This was a little longer than I had hoped for but I don’t really have any complaints about it. It was just orally average and I didn’t dislike I would listen again but nothing really stuck out to me. Just something I had going on.
It's so painfully okay. Speedy Marie was a highlight, though. Everything just sort of dragged on, if the album was like 16 songs I might've given it a 4.
I learned this guy was the front man of the pixies. I’m not much of a fan of them, and this is not really my cup of tea. I see the influence this likely had on others but doesn’t really do it for me
Je ne m'attendais pas du tout à un son autant alt rock/punk sur cet album, mais c'était bien acueilli. J'ai su par après que c'est le chanteur des Pixies et ça explique beaucoup de choses. Généralement j'ai bien aimé, mais clairement pas autant que les albums du groupe en question. L'album est un peu trop long pour son bien. 7/10
probably not gonna like it
I gave this a very distracted listen, so I have minimal insights. It didn’t sound like the mid 90’s to me, which makes it fairly evergreen. My ears perked up a few times- for example- Sir Rockabilly sounded kinda cool. I’d listen to it again. 3.0
some fun melodies, but a bit overlong and definitely lacking the presence of the other Pixies
B- Whatever Happened To Pong? 2 Thalassocracy 3 (I Want To Live On An) Abstract Plain 3 Calistan 3 The Vanishing Spies 3 Speedy Marie 3 Headache 3 Sir Rockaby 4 Freedom Rock 4 Two Reelers 3 Fiddle Riddle 5 Olé Mulholland 3 Fazer Eyes 3 I Could Stay Here Forever 3 The Hostess With The Mostest 3 Superabound 4 Big Red 4 Space Is Gonna Do Me Good 3 White Noise Maker 3 Pure Denizen Of The Citizens Band 3 Bad, Wicked World 3 Pie In The Sky 3 UMass Proud.
Very uneven. Definitely interesting. I definitely enjoyed it, but…
This feels like a prime example of skatepark rock.
Not really my vibe, but not terrible. If it came on I probably wouldn't try to change it.
Þessi plata kemur út 1994 og hljómar mjög svipuð og margt af því sem er á "standard" listanum. Gott stuff ...
Cool. 3.6
Middle better than beginning and end. I found it kind of meh. Not my cup of tea.
Pixies fíla ég og ég hlusta oft á Doolittle. Mér fannst sólóplatan hjá Frank samt ekkert eitthvað spes. Það er Pixies-keimur á plötunni en ekkert sem stendur upp úr. Ég er ólíklegur að setja þessa aftur í spilun.
"Big Red" and "Pie in the Sky" were my favourites. 3/5.
Frank Black without the Pixies is kinda like amazing pizza that's missing the cheese. Still good, but could be so much better.
Teenager of the Year is a nice solo album of Frank Black. The songs are ok, but not that special and he never reaches the quality of his Pixies days.
Heck yeah. I’m a big fan of The Pixies and you can really hear Frank Black’s imprint on the band’s sound when you hear him solo. I love Kim Deal too, but the shadow of Black Francis looms large. Still, I’d rather have The Pixies (or The Posies or Throwing Muses). A good listen.
Felt very personable, as if a friend of mine had made it, appreciated the length too!
Interesting, didn't finish
New to me. Pretty good.
3.5
I know of him from The Pixies but had not heard any of his solo work. There are some good tracks here, and the musicianship is solid. I think I'll give it more of a listen and I'll look out for his other work.
Tässä ois ehkä 30 minuuttia matskua neljän tähden levyyn, mutta ei millään tuntia. Paljon hyvää rockia anyway.
One song album. Sorta punky
estuvo bueno actually 7.5/10
None of these tracks rival the best of the Pixies’ output, though they’re all cut from the same agreeable cloth. Shortening the album to put more focus on the stronger tunes would definitely have been to its benefit. I have serious doubts about whether it warrants a place on this list, but to be honest as soon as I saw the cover I knew I couldn’t give this less than a 3. Just look at Frank’s happy little face!
I enjoyed this album but it does go on for a while. I don't think I have any desire to revisit this. Highlights: Abstract Pain The Vanishing Spies Headache Bad Wicked World
This was a solid album. The first half is very good, last half is kinda eh. A good variety of music too. It doesn’t feel too repetitive. Although I will say the lyrics are pretty weak. A little all over the place in the scheme of the whole album, and even within each song the lyrics are kinda just okay at best. Also the first song sounds like sex b-bom. Remove the last third of the album you have a 4, but the whole album is a 3.5
3.5
Some good songs but he should have stuck with the pixies
Inte lika bra som Pixies men inga större fel trots allt.
Good stuff but too many fillers
What a weird album. Not in a bad way, but man, what a weird thing to listen to. I'm not sure if I like it, but its not bad at all. 3/5
3.7 . Best pixies album they never made
Vermakelijk album, niet onmisbaar
Helt ait, syns pixies er bedre
I like a lot of the guitar work, but this album feels like when a good character in a show disappears and comes back but now they're dark and brooding cause they've been through some shit. Shouldn't have broken up the pixies, francis
It was better than the Pixies album, but I still didn’t love his voice. I appreciated the short songs, but there were just so many of them!!! The vibe from the album cover vs the vibe of the songs themselves did not match.
Wasn't my style; not one song I loved.
I fell asleep for some songs but the ones I listened to weren't bad
I enjoy the Pixies and this was cool but too long.
Мужик развалил культовую группу и ушёл писать песни про марсоходы. Динамично, но как-то не торкает.
I liked the sound a lot. I also really like the hodge-podginess of the lyrical content but it went on for too long. Kinda like eating a peanut butter sandwich for 3 years. Almost all of them are going to be pretty good with no complaints (except for maybe one.. looking at you Fiddle Riddle). Over time though, it’s just the same stuff and your lunches feel like they’re the same shit every day and you start to wonder when will you be able to eat a new sandwich. 6.5/10 Fav song: Headache Least: Fiddle Riddle
3,5
Einzelne Songs werde ich vermutlich erneut hören. Gutes Album! Am besten gefällt mir "Headache". 6.5/10
Some hits and some misses. Some references to LA, so that's fun. Love the overall tone
Huh
Some good songs but overall too long/bloated.
The most frontloaded album of all time.
not awful, not remarkable thoug
As a Pixies fan, I was curious to check out Frank Black’s solo work. Teenager of the Year is his second solo album, released in 1994, and it features 22 tracks of eclectic rock music. The album title and cover immediately put me off but apparently they are inspired by a magazine contest that Black won when he was a teenager. The album has some great songs, such as Headache, Speedy Marie, and Freedom Rock, that showcase Black’s distinctive vocals, witty lyrics, and catchy melodies. However, it also has some filler tracks, such as Fazer Eyes, The Hostess with the Mostest, and Superabound, that drag down the overall quality and coherence of the album. The album could have benefited from some editing and trimming, as it feels too long and uneven at times. Teenager of the Year is a good album, but not a great one. It has some flashes of brilliance, but also some dull moments. It is not as memorable or consistent as the Pixies’ albums, which I stick to in the future.
Pretty solid 90s rock tracks. The songs didn't feel all that special to me though.
After the album, my Spotify Algorithm played: Dinosaur Jr. - Goin' Home Wire - Feeling Called Love XTC - Respectable Street Breeders - Saints Elastica - All-Nighter
I've tried many times, but I just don't get it now
I got excited for this record when it came out but other than a couple of really great tracks from it I was a bit disappointed that it was not more Pixies like.
This is such a weird album that I can't put my finger on. I play a few tracks and like it, a few more and get so annoyed that I switch to something else. Then i come back to it and enjoy a few tracks before getting annoyed again. I really can't tell if I like it or not. A few track that I liked multiple times were "Speedy Marie", "Headache" and "Freedom Rock". But in the end 1 hour is too long, about 15 min seems my sweetspot. Maybe give it a 3?
Rock alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
Pretty sure I have this on CD in the garage, but I haven't listened to it in ages. Its good some good songs on it but it's overlong, and continues in the direction Frank Black was taking the Pixies, into more "conventional" rock. Not nearly as good as the first couple of Pixies albums.
I think I have a better understanding after listening to this of why I’ve never fully gone all in on the Pixies or Frank Black. There are so many great ideas and yet I feel like it’s rare that they add up to make great songs. With this album specifically, it’s like Frank is always more interested in the next song than in making the current one really, really good. Swear to God, if you combined every three songs on this record into a single song, you’d be left with like 7 pretty damn good songs. But that’s not what we get. “Headache” is excellent and there were others I liked. But the album as a whole is more like a quilt of disparate and interesting ideas when all I want it to be is a really good warm blanket.
Pretty fun. Like a punky party. Lots of teenage house party vibes. Would be the soundtrack for the night. Very high energy throughout so couldn't finish it. Liked Pong and Abstract Plain a lot. Abstract Plain gave me some Neil Young vibes. Cool!
Þetta eru ekki Pixies, en þetta er oft á tíðum skemmtilegt. Þarf ekki að hlusta aftur, en myndi ekki mótmæla ef einhver setti á fóninn.
I don’t totally get the ideas here, but it’s not bad. A weird one for sure.
3/5 some cool songs
Much too long, and a fair number of these songs end before they can really get interesting. But what does stick around to be developed is pretty good!
just alright, way too long for what it is. 30/40 mins would have allowed for this to feel like a much sturdier project. Sir rockaby has a cool synth(?) melody thing. I like the wobbly sound. P.s This guys legal name is "Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV"
3.5/5. I’d rather listen to the Pixies.
Loud, sometimes punk sounding, sometimes grunge sounding. It wasn't bad, I enjoyed it.
The tracks grabbed me about as much as a guy in an hospital amputation ward in Saudi Arabia after he got caught stealing, and I felt my time was stolen so that makes sense.
Well I sure liked this more than the Pixies. Kind of uneven, but definitely some songs I enjoyed. Probably a 2.5 for me, but I'm in a good mood today so I'm rounding up.
I have no idea how to feel about this album. My opinions on it change from song to song. I really enjoy some of the relatively more mellow songs like Headache but I also really dislike some of the more screaming vocals on some of the other songs. I just really with there was a consistent sound. Also, the last half of this album feels like it's all filler. The album does not need to be an hour long. Overall, I think it's an okay album with some great gems hidden throughout.
I like it. I'd give it 3.5 or 3.75 stars, but I'm rounding down because 1) it doesn't belong with a lot of 4 star albums, and 2) it's not an album I should listen to before I die.
I know barely enoug about Frank Black to know that he's in the Pixies, but I would not be able to distinguish his solo work from his work with the band. I like the Pixies in general (but not every track) and after listening to Teanager Of The Year, the same could be said for Frank Black. All of the album was okay or close to it. "Two Reelers" was uneven with the transitions and a little trying on my patience, while "Pie in the Sky" dipped a little into being just plain noisy, with pounding snares and grinding guitars. Teenager Of The Year does have an alternative sound, and Black's voice and compositions seem well intergrated with his work in the Pixies. The tracks where I felt like I was fully enjoying the music were "Speedy Marie", "Calistan", "Big Red" and "Space Is Gonna Do Me Good".
- This is the guy from the Pixies sick - Love the punkiness and grunginess of this - Freedom Rock is epic - Long, but the music was good - 3.5
- Punky and indie - Headache was a great song
Predictable music. Not particularly interesting.
Decent rock album, wide range of different styles but a bit too long and lacking any standout songs
This is really mid.
He needs the pixies. It’s not awful but sometimes giving someone complete control diminishes them. Probably better than I think so rounded up from 2.5
Rock alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
Not bad
Fair enough but not the most interesting project, Francis > Frank
I was pretty drunk for about 75% of this album and during that time I thought it was overlong, boring, and had terrible vocals. However, as I sobered up throughout the course of the album, I began to enjoy it slightly more while still thinking that it was overlong and also learned that this artist was the frontman for the pixies which I generally like. If I relisten to this tomorrow, I’ll reevaluate but as of right now it gets a low three on account of killing my drunk vibes and being generally lame while I was intoxicated and to a lesser extent while I was relatively sober. I listened to a couple songs the next day and honestly enjoyed them a bit less. Not enough for a two but definitely a shitty 3
At first I didn't like it, but it slowly grew on me.
Don't think my patience was fully here for such a long album, not when I've sat through Black's vocals for two other albums already in this project. I definitely didn't hate it, the three star rating is earnest, but man, I've gone through a lot lately and this was a weird mental roadblock. I certainly saved a fair share of music from Teenager of the Year, but I'm glad I never again have to sit through the stuff I don't like to get to the stuff I do.
Loved the pixies first two albums but could never get into the last two. Just a bit directionless without the magic that sparked throughout the first two. Never listened to Black Francis' solo stuff as I thought it would be a continuation of the same and it looks like I was right. Bit of a bloated, mediocre album, but not unlistenable
This is pretty inoffensive 90's rock. Feels a little generic, but overall not bad. Nothing stands out in a positive or negative way. Just kind of exists. There are way too many songs on this album man. It's only 1 hour long with 23 tracks, but man does it feel like it goes on for twice that time. Was a solid 3/5, but is more of a low 3/5
Run of the mill indie rock. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination and there were some good tracks in there but nothing that would make me come back for more.
This is a perfectly fine but unexceptional alt-rock album. I actually think it holds up reasonably well and doesn't sound overly dated, I just don't think any of the songs really stand out. I wouldn't turn it off if it came on again, but I also wouldn't pick it out to listen to. It's also pretty long (62 minutes) which doesn't really help its case. Favorite song: Calistan Others: (I Want to Live on An) Abstract Plain, Speedy Marie, Superabound, White Noise Maker
The only song I really liked was "Headache" and I think that's just because I remember them playing it a lot when this album came out. Otherwise it was pretty forgettable.
Way too long, a couple very solid tracks.
Decent 90's alt rock as solo project from the Pixies lead singer. Songs are short but there's 22 of them. Standout is "Headache."
An interesting departure from the Pixies frontman. Still has some of the same frenetic energy, but takes a more melodic and structured approach with each track. It’s a testament to how good the melodies are that I never felt bored, but I can’t help but wonder if this could’ve been a killer LP if it wasn’t 30 minutes of good ideas smeared out over a full hour.
3.5
Not his best
Interesting to hear the solo work of the Pixies guy, but the output isn't quite there enough for me. A bit too polished, and yet parts of it sound like a mix between Iggy Pop and The Velvet Underground... but just not as good.
3.5
It was okay.
It starts disappointingly. Frank Black is still his surreal yelping self, but backed by a band without Kim Deal's groove, Joey Santiago's scratchiness or David Lovering's drive, so like a pub rock Pixies. But this albums generous size is it's saving grace. As it goes on, Black dives into genre experiments you'd never have heard on a Pixies album, and here the album actually shines - when he stops trying to give what he thinks you want, and instead gives you the unexpected, it's actually really good.
Good album but certainly too long
Ok album. The Pixies have been a group that I've heard a bunch, but never really clicked with me. Probably won't listen again, but appreciate the band's influence on the punk scene in the 80's/90's
Okay !
An album of fun songs that’s just a bit too long. Enough variety to keep it interesting. Definitely WAY better than the album cover would indicate
I like the Pixies and so obviously there are some similarities here. Barring the fact this is too long of an album, I still thought it was decent.
This is exactly the kind of album you expect from the title. It's what a teenager in the 90s would listen to and maybe even love (some songs are quite good!). Is it revolutionary? I don't think so, but it's a great time capsule.
De guy van de pixies. Beetje lang album
deffo a summer album. some songs were good, some were like... really weird. but that's frank! i'll revisit in warmer months.
Pretty interesting stuff, 3 stars
Surprising to see this album on the list (it doesn't belong I think). Got this album as a birthday present at the time and listened to it a lot. But now I struggle to finish it. The number of songs is just too exhaustive, and the material is too inconsistent and in general does not reach Pixies level ..even though occasionally it gets close (there are some really good pop songs on it). My vote in 1994: 4 stars My vote in 2023: 3 stars
Did not hate it, but none of the (22!) songs really appealed to me.
Songs such as Speedy Marie approach Pixies quality but overall this album is far below that standard.
Somewhere among this sprawling double-album was a more coherent and concise collection. Not bad, just too much of the same.
HL: "Two Reelers", "Headache", "Ole Mullholland", "White Noise Maker"
I liked this way better than the Pixies albums on the list. Sounds more like a conventional rock album.
Alright.
Well as absolute Pixies fan I love all four Pixies albums and would rate them 5 stars easily, I did kinda like the 1st Solo album of Black Francis/Frank Black, but this one too standard rock and roll for me, so only 3 for this one. Hope Pixies will show up one of these days.