This is The Fall in that wild late 80s/early 90s moment when they were sort of a chart act, and very in touch, and also still The Fall. If you like hearing your Fall records crystal clear and full of force, Frenz is really it. Smith can even get mad at restaurants—“Cheap carpet lines the way, aluminium tack door handles, candelabra lion’s head via butchers display too” is the insult thrown in “The Steak Place.” They cover a Kinks song, which actually works to get them into wider view. “Frenz” is also an absolute monster, both gentle and weird and maybe vulnerable? Did he? I think he did. He doesn’t have a lot of friends! Of course he doesn’t.

– Sasha Frere-Jones