Good early morning, y'all. Sometimes late evening coffee can have effects other than insomnia, namely, the spark of inspiration for a blog post. Deviating just slightly from the theme set out by the last post, we here at The Cuddle would like to bend your ear about a band that is bending our ears lately, and will continue to all summer long.The band that we've decided will provide the soundtrack to the summer of 2010 is none other than those long-forgotten progenitors of indie power pop, mantle-carriers of tuneful, timelessly crafted melodies, forefathers of the Glaswegian twee movement, Teenage Fanclub. Their sound is perfect for lounging in the sun, throwing back a few cold ones, chilling with friends, and taking in the slow pace that summer offers.
Morphing from just another fuzzed-out grungy rock band into a power-pop juggernaut in the early 90s, the Fannies faced stiff competition in 1991 when they released their undisputed masterpiece, Bandwagonesque. The record showcased the band's clear strength, namely, three very strong songwriters, well-versed in the lineage of power pop from the Beatles, to the Kinks, to Badfinger, to Big Star. The equal strength of each of the writers in the band make Norman Blake, Gerard Love, and Raymond McGinley as formidable a trio of writers as any band in recent music history has been blessed with. As grunge was coming to the forefront, it seemed easy to dismiss what this four-piece was doing as mere fluff. A closer inspection of that record reveals timeless melodies that hold up amazingly well to this day, almost 20 years later. Rock critics have said that those who haven't heard Bandwagonesque's opening track, "The Concept" are lucky, in that those who worship the song would like to go back and experience it for the first time again. The song is a perfectly addicting 6 minute mini-epic that rolls at a languid pace as Norman Blake recounts (what else) a story about a girl who, inevitably, is gone. At the 3:10 mark, it seems as though the song has ended, but a short drum fill ushers in an initially inexplicable coda that finishes the song's 6:06 length. Wordless harmonizing, bowed electric guitars, a gently lilting baseline, and gentle strumming swell and fall through something that resembles ironic wankery, but comes off as essential, much like "Layla"'s epic coda. The guitar solo at 4:30 even echoes "November Rain" by Guns N Roses. For those who haven't experienced the song, please keep reading, as it waits for you at the end of this post. The rest of Bandwagonesque is just as beautiful, with "Alcoholiday" and "What You Do To Me" providing two other very memorable moments.
While many argue that Teenage Fanclub never was able to hit the heights that they reached with Bandwagonesque, the rest of their catalogue is remarkably consistent. 1993's Thirteen was hailed by many as an utter failure, but the benefit of time and reassessment, shows otherwise. This album merely showed a band willing to look backward to their original sound (more harsh, layered guitars and faster songs a la A Catholic Education, the band's first album) while pushing forward and setting the groundwork for the rest of their catalogue by showcasing sunny harmonies. "Radio" and "Norman 3" are the album's stand-outs.
Grand Prix followed in 1995 and picked up where Bandwagonesque left off, offering a more consistent slower pace, insistent melodies, and power pop bliss through songs such as "Sparky's Dream", "Mellow Doubt", and "Don't Look Back".
1997s Songs From Northern Britain is the album where the Fannies clearly let their Alex Chilton worship fly. The album is a top to bottom stunner, but is not quite as immediate a classic as Bandwagonesque. This album was criticized for being "too mellow" and having too much of a "Laurel Canyon sound", but listening through the record multiple times reveals it to be a love letter to their Scottish homeland and life in general. "Ain't That Enough" is as sweet a song as you'll find in the band's catalogue.
The 2000s brought three new albums from the band - Howdy!, Words of Wisdom and Hope, and Man-Made - each furthering the band's honey-drenched harmonies and debt to Big Star and the Beatles, but none as good as their previous efforts. Five years would pass between the release of Man-Made and the next Teenage Fanclub record. In that time, many forgot about the band, as more recent bands who claim the Fannies as a touchstone and source of inspiration (Belle & Sebastian, Nada Surf, Travis, and the New Pornographers) rose to prominence.
With the dawn of 2010 came the promise of a new release by the band. US distributor Merge Records did a fantastic job of giving the album some press and exposure stateside, and when Shadows was released last month, the world seemed primed for a Teenage Fanclub comeback. They wouldn't be disappointed. Showcasing a more mature sound, stemming from years of experience, the album is their strongest since Bandwagonesque. As with each great Teenage Fanclub record, Shadows is loaded with songs that get stuck in your brain and roll around all day. Just try not to hum along with "Baby Lee", "Into The City", and "Sometimes I Don't Need To Believe In Anything". The album will clearly be a contender for year-end "Best Of 2010" lists, and seems to have a timeless quality to it. The band doesn't rush any of the songs, but everyone should really rush out to hear it.
Without further ado, a Teenage Fanclub primer. You know there's only one song that could kick off this list...
"The Concept" from Bandwagonesque
"Alcoholiday" from Bandwagonesque
"Star Sign" recorded live at The Paradiso, 11.20.95 - original version on Bandwagonesque
"What You Do To Me" recorded live at The Paradiso, 11.20.95 - original version on Bandwagonesque
"Radio" recorded live at The Paradiso, 11.20.95 - original version on Thirteen
"Sparky's Dream" recorded live at The Paradiso, 11.20.95 - original version on Grand Prix
"Ain't That Enough" from Songs From Northern Britain
"Baby Lee" from Shadows
Until our next Summer Mix Tape, sit back, relax, and listen to the gorgeous harmonies and addicting melodies of Teenage Fanclub...
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