Bare Faced Cheek cover

Bare Faced Cheek

Toy Dolls · 1987

32 min · 12 tracks · punk rock

A whirlwind of irreverent punk energy collides with catchy melodies and cheeky humor throughout the brief tracks.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Yul Brynner Was a Skinhead — This track exemplifies Toy Dolls' blend of humor and punk rock, addressing cultural themes while delivering infectious melodies that resonate with fans.
  • →
    Fisticuffs in Frederick Street — With its playful narrative about street fights, this song captures the band's knack for storytelling within their high-energy sound.
  • →
    How Do You Deal With Neal? — This track stands out for its catchy chorus and witty lyrics, showcasing Toy Dolls' ability to merge fun with punk's rebellious spirit.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100
Foothills
Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album combines humor with punk energy, featuring catchy melodies and a brisk pace across its brief tracks.

What we noticed

  • Many songs employ a call-and-response vocal style, enhancing the energetic and playful nature of the music.
  • The instrumentation is characterized by rapid guitar riffs and straightforward drumming, typical of punk rock.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • short bursts of energetic fun
  • playful irreverence throughout tracks
  • for upbeat gatherings
  • humorous storytelling in songs

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer long, immersive albums
  • dislike fast-paced listening experiences

Where this album fits

Career context
Bare Faced Cheek is Toy Dolls' third studio album, released in 1987 during their rise in the UK punk scene. Following the success of their previous album, Dig That Groove Baby, this release solidified their reputation for energetic performances and playful lyrics.
Stylistic neighbors
The Dickies· Dead Kennedys· The Vandals

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Bare Faced Cheek 0:51
  • 2 Yul Brynner Was a Skinhead 2:54
  • 3 How Do You Deal With Neal? 3:07
  • 4 Howza Bouta Kiss Babe??! 2:50
  • 5 Fisticuffs in Frederick Street 3:19
  • 6 A. Diamond 3:24
  • 7 Quick to Quit the Quentin 2:48
  • 8 Nowt Can Compare to Sunderland Fine Fare 3:03
  • 9 Neville Is a Nerd 2:43
  • 10 Park Lane Punch Up 3:44
  • 11 The Ashbrooke Launderette… You'll Stink, Your Clothes’ll Shrink, Your Whites'll Be Black as Ink 3:29
  • 12 Bare Faced Cheek 0:30

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata