Teenager of the Year

The CD era really was a terrible time for concise, solid throughout albums, instead opting for throwing everything in the artist could that would fit on a disc, and it leads to albums like Teenager of the Year. Frank Black has some solid ideas here, with that signature feeling of Pixies throughout, but it feels like something is missing. What's missing, of course, is the rest of the band, but also those intricate decisions of what songs were deemed worthy of an album are gone, instead allowing for far too many tracks on an album that could be cut down to 1/3 of its size and be better for it. There's good playing, good song-writing, and strong enough melodies to be found on the whole project, but after an hour it all starts to feel the same, with little to help it stand out.

Jotenkin tää ysärin kyyninen kapinahenki tuntuu nykyään lähinnä lapselliselta. 2/5

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 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.

This is really mid.

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.

I listened to this alot in college and it really makes the memories come flood back hearing it again. This is easily his best post Pixies album, and I'd say its on par with "Trompe Le Monde." It's CD era long so I'll dock it a point for that, but otherwise I find his songwriting curiously compelling, and the weird energy he performs it with, to be captivating.

I find it hard to think of anything to write about this album because it's been a part of the fabric of my soundscape for so many years. This is a beloved favorite because of the cerebral lyricism married so effortlessly to fun singalong rock songs.

"They tried to give me advice down at the record shop. I said, 'Sit down, boys. This may come as a shock: the only thing I listen to is freedom rock'." I love this sense of awareness Black has in calling out music snobbery.

Clocking in at 22 tracks, this album has plenty of room for the harder, faster rock songs and more ballad-y or bouncy pop tunes.

Siendo muy fan de Pixies, la carrera de Frank Black me ha dado igual y este disco en particular con esa foto que me recuerda a Divine menos. No voy a decir que sea malo, pero es totalmente prescindible. 2 estrellas y gracias por el pescado.

HL: "Two Reelers", "Headache", "Ole Mullholland", "White Noise Maker"

I didn't think much of this really. All over the place and too long. I like the Pixies but this really drove home for me how important Kim Deal's contributions are!

I was nominated for Teenager of the Year back in '92, but lost out to some baby face called George Dawes from the Upper Floors. Baked potato! 2.5

Very good.
A bit rambling at points, but pleasantly rambling. Sounded more like Dylan than I had expected, and lots of influence from The Clash too.
Clear distinction from his work with the Pixies, which I was kind of not really thinking it would be.
Oddly, it made me want to listen to Pixies rather than more of his solo stuff though - just cos I know it better.

malukoi do pixies

Raw and true, but not so good