Teenager of the Year

pa nije mi ovo uopće bilo loše. razmjerno raznovrsno i zabavno, ali trunku predugo, mjestimice jednostavno isuviše generično. sve u svemu, baš za neku trojkastu trojčicu

Started out promisingly enough with some jagged, chaotic energy to the playing for the first couple of tracks, however I quickly lost interest in what followed and it's far too long.

not really a lot to say about this other than it is a lot like listening to the Pixies... all over the place quality wise and as different as every song is at some point they all sound the same. The only problem is this doesn't have the charm that the Pixies as a creative group somehow crammed into their mess.

This isn't bad but I don't really ever want to hear it again either.

I would 2.49 star this if it were possible.

Sounds like a lot of alt rock form the era, nothing special.

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.

2.68

Pixies are one of my favorite bands. I really enjoyed this and am disappointed I had never listened to it before.

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.

There’s a lot of weird choices all over this album, and not in a good way. TLDNF

'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.

While it isn't a Pixies album it still has the same charm in spots. It also has some flair reminiscent of Elvis Costello in spots and a touch of almost Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet in others. I quite enjoyed the majority of the tracks and will probably listen to it again. Also, just fantastic album art and title. Frank, you fuckin' charmer you.

Never liked the Pixies, except for Here Comes Your Man. Don't know why, should be totally my cup of tea.

A new record to me, except for Headache, which I remember getting played a lot on late-night radio a lot at the time, and is definitely a catchy little treat.

The record is clearly an exercise in trying stuff out, with mixed results. The outcome is a perfectly decent set of off-kilter indie rock tunes with a handful of gems scattered throughout. Plus, a few duds - ill-advised reggae is always grating. Also, too long.

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.

This was a hard one to score for me. There’s enough songs I enjoyed to give it three but on the flip side it dragged on way too long. I was genuinely bored by the end.

Starts of really annoying reaching into the second track. The rest is so basic... I don't know why this album is on this list at all.

Pretty decent rock, but it kind of overstayed its welcome after a while.

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”

3.5

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.