Customer Reviews

Songs From Northern Britain

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like most Americans, I stopped listening to Teenage Fanclub after Bandwagonesque and forgot about them, assuming that they kept remaking the same album over and over and eventually broke up. Little did I know that while their approach hasn't changed all that much in the last 10 years, their song craft has evolved from being undeniably catchy/saccharine-sweet grunge pop band to purveyors of classic pop songs unencumbered by era or trends.

I actually revisited the Fannies because I heard a few track from this album on the CD included with Nick Hornsby's new book about his favorite songs, Songbook. Hornsby (High Fidelity) described Songs From Northern Britain as one of his favorite albums of all time. After playing only the infectious "Your Love In The Place" five times in a row, I couldn't wait to hear if the rest of the album was that good.

Forget any misgivings or assumption you have about this band and listen with open ears. Songs For Northern Britain is an undiscovered gem on these shores that should have garnered them loads of attention and sold more copies than the derivative retro-pop groups of that day (i.e. Oasis). SFNB is full of unforgettable hooks and harmonies that build on the best of Fanclub's influences (Beatles, Byrds, Big Star). This is no mere copy; it ranks with albums by those artists.

So, thanks Nick for tipping me to one of the best albums of the 1990s. And to the Fannie: sorry I abandon you--it won't happen again. In fact, I'm about to buy the rest of your discography.

There are bands that give and there are bands that take. Teenage Fanclub has always been a taker. They don't innovate, they borrow. But they do it better than anyone else. SPIN called "Bandwagonesque" the best album of 1991, to the dismay of Nirvana-worshippers -- and it was solid (a little contrived) -- less crafty and innovative but more complete than "Nevermind." Since then the band has dwindled in the used racks, albeit with worthy efforts like "Thirteen" and "Grand Prix." But "Northern Britain" shines. It's pure Fanclub, nothing outrageous, nothing too wild, just good, clean, fun melodies. Unlike "Bandwagonesque," not a single song jumps out, but they definitely flow. It's often hard to resist the urge to fast-forward through certain songs on a disc. Not this one. You will put it on and let it go. This disc is not designed to spawn singles, but to be listened from start to finish. And that's what makes it great.

There is little one can add to the pop clichés surrounding Teenage Fanclub and their impressive musical catalogue. "Power popsters", "pop perfection", "pop masterpiece" -- indeed, these are all fitting sentiments. Following the release of their much-heralded album "Grand Prix", I didn't think the Scottish quartet capable of exploring their retro roots much further. While lyricist/bassist Gerard Love challenged melodic musical conventions with signature tracks like 'Sparky's Dream' and 'Don't Look Back', guitarists Norman Blake and Ray McGinley showcased their writing talents with songs like 'Neil Jung" and 'Verisimilitude'. As a listener, I couldn't have asked for a more pleasurable experience. Then I heard "Songs from Northern Britain".

"Songs from Northern Britain", though humbly titled, is among the finest pop albums ever created. From its beautiful Byrdsian harmonies to its poignant lyrics à la Big Star, the album is a fitting homage to its predecessors. To categorize Teenage Fanclub as a retro act alone does them a terrible injustice. As with all Fanclub recordings, the album, like the band itself, offers the listener much more than a musical history lesson. Teenage Fanclub fuses traditional pop with their own modern sensibilities. The end result is a familiar but surprisingly refreshing sound.

From the opening chords of Norman Blake's 'Start Again' to Gerard Love's inspiring closing track, 'Speed of Light' -- a tribute to a departed friend -- this is as complete an album as you're going to find. When Love is on his game, expect two to three incredibly catchy songs per album. On "Songs from Northern Britain", Love delivers in spades. In addition to the aforementioned track, Love contributes "Take the Long Way Round", a favorite in alternative club circuits. Love again tips his hat to the Byrds with 'Ain't that Enough' and rounds out his contributions with the haunting 'Mount Everest'. Norman Blake is arguably the most whimsical, introspective lyricist of the decade. While the humor is kept closely in check on this album (no 'Metal Baby' here, folks), Blake is clearly in touch with his emotions. 'Start Again' is one of the most listenable songs I have ever happened upon. Lyrically, the song is simple, but it packs a whallop. Everytime I hear the lines, "Even though it's complicated, we've got time to start again" amplified by the track's powerful chord arrangement, I have an irresistable urge to shake my torso in a manner that would make even Beavis and Butthead proud. 'I Don't Want Control of You' captures the spirit and cleverness of 'Neil Jung', but holds its own as a Blake original. 'Winter' is a nice companion piece to Love's 'Mount Everest', and 'Planets', co-written with former drummer (and recently reunited Fanny) Francis MacDonald compliments the Blake catalogue. Lastly are Ray McGinley's compositions. To use a totally inappropriate comparison, McGinley is the George Harrison of the group. He is a budding songwriter sandwiched between two brilliant composers. As a result, his offerings are sometimes overlooked in favor of the other two artists. McGinley's compositions are generally hit and miss efforts. No misses here, folks! "Songs" showcases McGinley at his finest. 'Your Love is the Place Where I Come From' is a pure gem. As the song fades from chorus, you'll find yourself reaching for the rewind button, just to extend the moment a little further. 'Can't Feel My Soul', 'It's a Bad World', and 'I Don't Care' have traces of McGinley cynicism, though the lyrics never leave the listener without hope. All are superior McGinley tracks.

"Songs from Northern Britain" is an incredibly happy album. Like other reviewers, I place this among my favorite albums of all time. Treat yourself to Teenage Fanclub's quiet masterpiece. Also watch for their latest album, "Howdy" ...

Okay, so they lost a drummer (& got a better one) along the way, but can you think of a group *less* likely to split over the dread "artistic differences" than the Fannies? Throw in the fact that three superb songwriters share the Fanclub stage equally and the list of potential analogues slims to barely a trickle (Sonic Youth, maybe, but what was the last album of theirs you actually enjoyed?). Back in '91, when *Bandwagonesque* was beating the world & Norman Blake's "Alcoholiday" was having the last word (poetically speaking) on the title disease -- "All I know / Is all I know / What I've done I leave behind me / I don't want my soul to find me" -- who would have thunk the Fanclub's future might include this blissed-out paean to the joys of rural life and domesticity? Great individual songs stand out here -- Blake's "Winter," Gerald Love's "Ain't That Enough" (a tune whose surfeit of melodic invention puts most power-pop to shame, to say nothing of shaming to impossibly awful & ham-fisted Melissa Etheridge's recent assay on the same, can't miss -- one would have thought -- phrase), Raymond McGinley's "Can't Feel My Soul" -- but the overall impression is like something left over from the great lost age of the Album: like a happy family, this is more than the sum of its parts, many voices speaking (gloriously) as one. What can I say? -- if you're interested in the line running from the Beatles and the Byrds through Big Star you'll love this. It's not as though you can't learn, in hundreds of places elsewhere on this website, that everyone from Billie Holliday to Buck Owens to Husker Du has recorded the "greatest music CD of all time," but the reviewer below is right: This is that. If you buy this CD & live with it, it will enrich & enlarge your soul and you will *never* tire of it. Teenage Fanclub may never make another record -- the silence since this one serves to authenticate the emotions it professes -- and, though I miss them dearly, in a way I hope they don't: they couldn't leave a better, more definitive statement than this.

While everyone was freaking out in '97 over OK Computer, (myself included) when it came time to prepare my Best Of list for the year, this is the record that took the #1 spot.3 years later I am still spinning the damn thing weekly...easily in the top 3% of all of the CDs I own (thousands).

I hear ya now..."better than Radiohead? are you crazy?" Yes, my friends, much better...

Gotta say that this is one of the most uplifting, wistful rock albums i've ever heard. It has its roots in the Byrds and CSNY, but exorcised of hippie experimentalism. They just sing their blessed hearts out. This is the kind of album that makes you wish you'd been good friends of the band over the last two years to find out what inspired it. If you're worried about how well Britpop translates on this side of the pond -- have no fear. The harmonies are strong, and you'll be listening to this album 20 years from now, guaranteed. Maybe they'll never make it big, but in future editions of record guides, this album will have the same reverential following as a Nick Drake or a (name your favorite cult songwriter).

If you don't know anything about this band , I would say only that they will make you very glad you're not deaf .

If you enjoy harmonies and a 60's sensibility together with solid songwriting , then look no further .

The song on this album called AIN'T THAT ENOUGH is just fantastic - it is extremely uplifting and that is how the band's music affects me , though not all their songs have that sort of direction or mood .

I also recommend other albums of theirs such as GRAND PRIX , HOWDY and the latest one MAN MADE .
We need more uncool positive 'vibes' in this world and this band makes an important contribution to that , so they're actually fulfilling a purpose .
Buy and luxuriate in this band's world-view .

Yes, yes, yes: Beatles.....Byrds......harmonies....good musicians. Oh, how dull. Except it's not. "Winter", "Aint the Enough": solid (triple)gold classics and make no mistake. Eradicate the occasional lyrical clanger ("It's a bad world" Really? Hold that front page)and you've got a very appealing proposition on your hands.

"Songs From Northern Britain" is another one Teenage Fanclub's (TFC) great records, which has once again fell short of mass comercial success, but managed to become a loved addition to the CD collections of fans and enlightened music lovers in general. This record is reminiscent of the sound of earlier efforts such as "Bandwagonesque" (which gained critical aclaim, being named Spin's "Album of the Year"), and "Thirteen", but at the same time cuts the raw edge of their first record, "A Catholic Education". TFC is first and foremost a solid band. Their strong bass lines, catchy guitar riffs, and steady backbeat give rise to their overall sound, which is adequate even before lyrics are introduced. Melodious tracks like "Can't Feel My Soul", "Planets", and "Mount Everest" are surrounded by popish efforts (reminiscent of Sloan and Pavement) like "Ain't That Enough", and "Take the Long Way Round". The final track "Speed of Light" leaves you asking for more. Would-be listeners would be wise to latch on to TFC with this effort. I guarantee you will be going into the CD backlog for "Bandwagonesque" and others before too long.

I must be honest and place a disclaimer before I start this review. I am a big fan of Teenage Fanclub. First, TFC is a quartet from Glasgow. Second, they were hailed by Spin as having the best album in 1991 (Bandwagonesque). But how soon they have been forgotten by the fickle music critics. Six years, one flop album (admittedly poor), and one triumphant return (Grand Prix) later, they released Music from Northern Britain in 1997. For those lucky enough to catch them live with the Radiohead in august/september 1997, you saw the simplistic and honest performance from these underrated Scots. This album is a departure from the widely-popular Grand Prix (at least in the UK). There is a less polished feel to the songs on this album. Songs clike "I don't want control of you" can only be described as bittersweet. There is no grimacks or tricks to this music. Like fellow Glaswagans(?spelling) Belle and Sebastian, they are not into image. They are mature and quite happy with just making wonderful melodic music that doesn't follow the current trend. I just hope more people would be able appreciate it.