On Teenager of the Year, his second solo album since the demise of the Pixies, Frank Black adopts a slightly less sprawling sound but maintains his penchant for turbulent, eclectic pop. Even when spewing obscure lyrics, he's an unabashed romantic-but one more likely to be smitten with technology, cosmic phenomena, or a long-lost video game ("Whatever Happened to Pong?") than with anything as mundane as love or relationships. Poetic visionary or lovable crackpot? You be the judge. A-


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