Kurt Cobain once supposedly called them “the best band in the world,” while a slightly more sober Liam Gallagher ranked them as merely “the second best band in the world” (after Oasis, of course).
In either case, Scotland’s own Teenage Fanclub is well worth knowing. Surpassing waves of slacker rock, Britpop and power-pop while managing to influence numerous generations of indie bands despite their cult status among connoisseurs of classic pop music, TFC is one of the most celebrated, cherished and simultaneously overlooked U.K. bands of the last 25 years.
Though they could easily rest on their laurels, ‘the fannies’ are back at it again with their first new album in six years, one already praised by critics and fans alike. Here has been described by as Uncut as ‘maybe their best this millennium; a triangulation of mature soppiness, mitigated contentment and indelible tuneage.’ Meanwhile, Pitchfork points out how their music has evolved over the years as a long and stable love affair propelled by intimacy, comfort, and shared admiration, describing the album as ‘a series of quiet revelations, the kind of thoughts you have in moments of clarity, surrounded by people you love.’
Teenage Fanclub emerged out of the town of Bellshill, near Glasgow, flourishing in the local jangly indie scene alongside wonderful bands like BMX Bandits and The Soup Dragons. Their noisy album debut, A Catholic Education (1990), is commonly considered a predecessor to the coming grunge craze.
With their breakthrough album Bandwagonesque released just a year later by way of Alan McGee’s legendary Creation Records things really started to come together for the band. Immediately praised upon release for its exceptional take on power-pop (think The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Big Star), Bandwagonesque was to be found atop many of the year’s best of polls, with Spin Magazine even placing it ahead of landmark albums like Nevermind, Loveless, Out of Time and Screamadelica at #1.
Though they didn’t achieve the same commercial success with their underrated follow-up Thirteen (1993), TFC were far from history. Grand Prix (1995) and Songs From Northern Britain (1997) stand as pillars not only in their catalog, but also in the annals of ‘90s pop music. In the years since they have continued to explore new terrain, evolving as a band while still staying true to the formula of classic and elegant pop craftsmanship. Working with cult icon Jad Fair (Words of Wisdom and Hope, 2002), Tortoise’ John McEntire on Man-Made (2005) and flirting with various styles within their loose framework over the years, the band in question is still very much alive and well and potent as ever.
Here is described as a record that embraces maturity and experience and hugs them close while expertly consolidating nearly three decades of peerless songwriting amongst the band’s three founding members: Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley and Gerard Love. Long story short, Here marks but another victory for a seasoned act that’s still considered a cult band despite the fact that they ought to be rightfully praised as pop kings.
We invited main spokesman Norman Blake for a round of our series 5 Albums That Changed My Life.
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The Clash:
Give Em’ Enough Rope (1978)
I could have picked anything by The Clash but this was the first record that I bought with my own money. Brilliant songs and it still sounds incredibly fresh and relevant.
Yo La Tengo:
Painful (1993)
We toured with Yo La Tengo when this album was released 23 years ago. Very fond memories of hearing these songs every night on the tour. We ended up covering “I Heard You Looking.” Yo La Tengo are still good friends.
Wire:
Chairs Missing (1978)
Wire were the most idiosyncratic band plying their trade in the UK in the late 70’s. There is no one quite like them and their music is instantly recognizable. They could be abstract and angular on a song like “Another The Letter,” and then write the most sublime pop song in “Outdoor Miner.” Brilliant album.
Del Shannon:
Home & Away (1967/2006)
Recorded in 1967 but unreleased until 1978. Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Del’s best and most interesting album, and completely overlooked at the time. I suppose they thought that at 33, Del was past his best. Loog Oldham’s orchestral arrangements are beautiful as is Del’s voice.
The Kinks:
The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
Ray Davies is a master songwriter and this is his masterpiece. Brilliant melodies with great lyrics. Nuff’ said. If you’ve never heard this album, do yourself a favour and purchase a copy immediately. God save the Village Green.
Bjørn Hammershaug
Opprinnelig publisert på read.tidal.com, september 2016
Diligently recording and releasing unique music since the mid ‘70s, Half Japanese is an American outsider music institution, one that represents the true embodiment of cult heroes.
The band’s official recording career began with a characteristically ambitious triple album, 1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts (1980), later chosen by Rolling Stone as one of the top 100 most influential alternative albums of all time. Over the years, Half Japanese have faithfully released music at a tremendous pace, as Half Japanese, as solo artists and in numerous additional collaborations. And aside from David Fair, who handed over the duties to his brother in the early 1980s but has made occasional guest appearance over the years, the band features the same members who have been at Jad’s side since the late ’80s and early ’90s: John Sluggett (guitar, keys, timbales), Gilles-Vincent Rieder (drums, percussion, keys), Jason Willett (bass, keys), Mick Hobbs (guitar, glockenspiel).
The Shaggs:
Daniel Johnston:
The Big Beast 