Teenager Of The Year＜数量限定盤/Gold Vinyl＞

PixiesのフロントマンFrank Blackによるソロ・アルバム2作目の30周年を記念したツアー盤がリリース!

NirvanaやTeenage Fanclubにも多大な影響を与えたアメリカのバンド、PixiesのフロントマンBlack Francis ことFrank Black。Pixiesの活動休止中、ソングライティングの才能が溢れる中、彼はソロとしては2作目となる野心的なアルバム『Teenager of the Year』を1994年5月にリリースした。その30周年を記念して、アナログ・スタジオ・テープからリマスターされた30周年記念ツアー・エディションが〈4AD〉からリリースされる!
本作は、音楽界の充鎮Eric Drew Feldman(Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, Pere Ubu,The Residents)とレコーディングされたもので、Ericはキーボードとベースで演奏にも参加。シングル「Headache」を収録した『Teenager Of The Year』は、Frank Blackのソロ作品の中で最も素晴らしい作品と評価する人も多く、Pitchforkの「1990年代のトップ100アルバム」と「死ぬまでに聴くべき1001枚のアルバム」にランクインしている。サーフ・ロックから、パンクの暴走、ダブレゲエ、カントリー風な嘆きまで、思春期の不安、喜び、魅力を、ユーモアと技巧に富んだ詩で表現した全22曲!

A sprawling double album, Frank Blacks Teenager of the Year builds on the clever, carefully crafted pop he forged on his solo debut and moves even farther away from the Pixies sound. It feels like the album Black wanted to make since Bossanova: "Whatever Happened to Pong?" and "Thalassocracy" are a one-two blast of energetic fun, but the tight songwriting and detailed arrangements on the strummy "Headache" and gentle, piano-driven "Sir Rockaby" are more interesting. Despite its 22-song length, most of Teenager of the Years tracks are keepers; the first nine rank among Blacks catchiest songs with or without the Pixies. "I Want to Live on an Abstract Plain" and "The Vanishing Spies" mix sweet straightforward melodies with spacy keyboards, and Black delivers a creative love song in "Speedy Marie"; the first letter of each line in the songs second half spells out his girlfriends name. The driving, anthemic "Freedom Rock" is one of the albums more ambitious tracks, along with the catchy, educational "Ole Mulholland," a musical history lesson about William Mulholland, the developer and planner of Los Angeles municipal water system. Teenagers beginning is so consistent, its not surprising that its second half isnt quite as essential, but its still interesting. The spacy, ska-tinged "Fiddle Riddle," the cryptic "Superabound," and the sprightly final track "Pie in the Sky" -- which sounds strangely like a punk version of Gary U.S. Bonds hit "A Quarter to Three" -- all add to the albums individuality. Even less-developed songs like "Fazer Eyes" and "The Hostest with the Mostest" are still worthwhile. Though his later albums took a sparer, simpler approach, Teenager of the Years ambition and quirkiness begin Blacks evolution into a cult artist who makes the music he wants to, regardless of whether or not its fashionable. ~ Heather Phares