Frank Black blew it. After the burgeoning success of his previous band, The Pixies, was cut dead he released a much anticipated, very self conscious first solo record to an audience who shrugged and moved on to the next hollering fat guy with a guitar. So he set to making Teenage Of The Year, an unfettered monster of a record with twenty two songs, a brass section, radio unfriendly noise and lyrics to make Salvador Dali twirl his waxed moustache in glee. It stands as a largely overlooked masterpiece… so how come Frank Black blew it? By not making it his first record. Teenager Of The Year dares you to like it from start to finish in a way the Pixies never felt the need to but should have. This record is an evolution of Frank Black’s old work with most tracks barely making the three minute mark and not a hint of laziness to be found as each one contains something or other to make your foot tap, heart race or scrotum/labia/both (Hello to our hermaphrodite readers) shrink back in terror. If you find it rattling around in a bargain bin somewhere be sure to give it a good home, it deserves that at
least.
Rating: 1 out of 5 (Gold)
Reviewed by Gordon Peppard
Frank Black blew it. After the burgeoning success of his previous band, The Pixies, was cut dead he released a much anticipated, very self conscious first solo record to an audience who shrugged and moved on to the next hollering fat guy with a guitar. So he set to making Teenage Of The Year, an unfettered monster of a record with twenty two songs, a brass section, radio unfriendly noise and lyrics to make Salvador Dali twirl his waxed moustache in glee. It stands as a largely overlooked masterpiece… so how come Frank Black blew it? By not making it his first record. Teenager Of The Year dares you to like it from start to finish in a way the Pixies never felt the need to but should have. This record is an evolution of Frank Black’s old work with most tracks barely making the three minute mark and not a hint of laziness to be found as each one contains something or other to make your foot tap, heart race or scrotum/labia/both (Hello to our hermaphrodite readers) shrink back in terror. If you find it rattling around in a bargain bin somewhere be sure to give it a good home, it deserves that at
least.