This is the 30th Anniversary tour edition of Frank Blacks legendary Teenager Of The Year album that has been remastered, cut at 45RPM and pressed as a Gold double Vinyl album with gatefold sleeve, that is being celebrated with a 14 date tour. The original band for the album was Eric Drew Feldman, Morris Teper, Nick Vincent, Lyle Workman and Joey Santiago, the album was recorded in a Los Angeles beset by earthquakes and forest fires, that seem almost timid in comparison to this year's edition of those fires. The album was produced in a variety of studios by Eric Drew Feldman, Frank Black and Al Clay.
Side one opens with Whatever Happened To Pong a frenzied blues punk screed, asking just what went down for poor old Pong to get ghosted.
Thalassocracy has a Pixies like frenzy, stop start peaks and a deep intensity, getting caught in the crossfire once more.
(I Want To Live On An) Abstract Plain is poppy built on a solid riff and gossamer strings, he just wants to live his life in a truly abstract fashion.
Calistan as a concept might seem dated in our current malaise, a lesser American standard, will they repair those highways and can they find something in the blasted piano lines, trying to win at Parcheesi wondering what happened to the place.
The Vanishing Spies have gone, who needs them, corporate or governmental, this has a touch of cold war paranoia, a touch of harsh guitar, deeply engaged vocals wondering what happened to them. This builds towards a guitar drenched organ infused peak.
Speedy Marie is riding down that lost highway, breaking hearts strings swell, how she makes you beg to spend time with her.
Side two opens with Headache the big singalong hit, for the pain you feel in common with everyone else, perfect for tortured 90's indie kids, this still sounds just as vital as Frank tells us, how he gave himself that Headache.
Sir Rockaby in Stark contrast is a lullaby for those plaid shirted lovers to hold hands and enjoy the organic sound dreaming in there Jim jams once more.
Freedom Rock clatters and burns with intensity, like a roller coaster alternative hit, seeking pleasure and real freedom against a driving bassline, making clear how desperate Americans like Chip need to hear Freedom Rock.
Two Reelers is in Praise of great short films, getting the story across in concise fashion no matter how violent it might be. Just let that guitar fly.
Fiddle Riddle takes a dubby piano lilt with a nicely askew melody and tune giving it a proper odd reggae tinge, Frank tells us to turn up the bass. They keep on skanking oddly backwards.
The C side opens with Ole Mulholland a sci fi LA epic, building for another monster haunting Frank, whose being chased by coyotes again frazzled guitars tripping out, does he really want to go to Vegas.
Then the narrator arrives to transpose us to Egypt momentarily flashback stylee.
Fazer Eyes goes all Star Trek kill you with one of those looks, that drives him to distraction, can't believe the state that look puts him in, craving that glammy guitar solo.
I Could Stay Here Forever listening to the band surrounding me, but so much scheming is driving him away, jangling into his bones, trying to pay the bills again.
The Hostest With The Mostest takes us into Generation Game territory, what would Brucie say next, this rampages along, lean and powerfully imaginary things peaking, falling.
Superabound is slow soul stirring building into a more frenzied song of headless juxtaposition of fairground organ and western guitars eating potlatch.
Side four opens with Big Red a Leonard Cohen style bruised ballad for Big Red, how much he feels for him. All the weird imagery of odd weather patterns coming to an odd climactic string sensation.
Space Is Gonna Do Me Good comes from the days before Musk, dreaming of the future times of 2016, this song gets that future wrong sadly, the brass section cries for him. Guitars twang in sympathy.
White Noise Maker describes Frank perfectly, this organ led screed about what he could do with a genuine White Noise Maker tonal mind control, quoting Neil making noise to drive you insane in Siberia.
Pure Denizen Of The Citizens Band is a big ten four for that life on the highway, listening to the babbling information super lo way of citizens band radio, warning of five oh and other road side distractions like the rock and roll dance parody this becomes.
Bad, Wicked World garage rocking anthem for that bad Wicked World that 30 years later seems like halcyon days indeed, this is frenzied in all the right ways.
Pie In The Sky caustic rocker of dreams you can't believe that nut holds dear, go on follow the instructions and make what your told too. Frank gave an order what else do you need to know.
Find out more at https://frankblack.ffm.to/teenageroftheyear30 https://4adofficial.bandcamp.com/merch/frank-black-teenager-of-the-year-30th-anniversary-edition-gold-2xlp
