FRANK BLACK: TEENAGER OF THE YEAR Second Solo Album (1994)

Teenager of the Year is the second solo studio album by Frank Black, released in May 20, 1994 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and Elektra Records in the United States. It was co-produced by Eric Drew Feldman, who also played keyboards and bass guitar on the album. Teenager also features work by several backing musicians, including Lyle Workman, Moris Tepper and Black‘s Pixies bandmate Joey Santiago.

The album reached No. 2 on Billboard‘s Heatseekers chart and No. 131 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1994. The single “Headache“ reached No. 10 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart that year.

Although not originally well-received, the record is now widely praised by both critics and fans. The album is often cited as the high-point of Francis‘ post-Pixies catalogue. The album is included in the book “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die “.

Tracklist:

1. Whatever Happened To Pong?
2. Thalassocracy
3. (I Want To Live On An) Abstract Plain
4. Calistan
5. The Vanishing Spies
6. Speedy Marie
7. Headache
8. Sir Rockaby
9. Freedom Rock
10. Two Reelers
11. Fiddle Riddle
12. Olé Mulholland
13. Fazer Eyes
14. I Could Stay Here Forever
15. The Hostess With The Mostest
16. Superabound
17. Big Red
18. Space Is Gonna Do Me Good
19. White Noise Maker
20. Pure Denizen Of The Citizens Band
21. Bad, Wicked World
22. Pie In The Sky

Musicians
Frank Black: vocals, guitar
Eric Drew Feldman: bass, keyboards, synthetics
Nick Vincent: drums, bass on track 11
Lyle Workman: lead guitar
Joey Santiago: lead guitar on tracks 8, 20, 21, 22 and second lead guitar on track 15
Moris Tepper: lead guitar on tracks 11 and 17

Technical
Eric Drew Feldman: producer
Frank Black: producer
Alistair Clay: producer (except on tracks 3, 7, 17 and 19), engineer
David Bianco: additional engineer, mixing
Andy Warwick: additional engineer
Bill Cooper: additional engineer
Efren Herrera: additional engineer
Craig Doubet: assistant engineer
Danny Alonso: assistant engineer
Wolfgang Aichholz: assistant engineer
Mike Aarvold: assistant engineer
Matt Westfield: assistant engineer
John Jackson: assistant engineer
Frank Gryner: assistant engineer
Wally Traugott: mastering
V23: design
Michael Halsband: photography