TEENAGE FANCLUB – Shadows
Teenage Fanclub play a sound that could be dangerously outdated. Sounding like The Shins (and, therefore, The Beach Boys somewhat) meet The Smiths, they are still occupying a well-worn path. While other artists have moved on to a different sort of movement, Teenage Fanclub remains rooted — unwilling to falter. But with how distant the sound may be you have to sort of wonder: why should I listen? Haven’t we all heard this before?
Well…yes. We have. There’s nothing fresh here. But if that isn’t your concern, and hopefully it isn’t, there’s nothing short of solid here. These are good songs, well written and easy on the ears. The second track, “Baby Lee,” represents the definite high point. It marked the one major time, while listening, that I perked up. It caught my attention — that attention which sustained good graces for most of the album’s remainder. It’s not that these are bad tracks, but I find myself lacking much to say because the album didn’t give me much. Teenage Fanclub sounds like better bands, they remind me of stronger more emotionally resonant lyricists. They remind me of only good things, but while listening, and enjoying, I can’t help but wonder why I don’t just listen to that other stuff. I’m sure, given their extensive discography, there are convinced fans. This is my introduction to them, so I may be defining them in the wrong context. This music is solid, and I’m sure fans will be very pleased with what they find here. As for me, while I enjoyed my stay, I felt no need to explore their work further.
(Merge Records, PO Box 1235, Chapel Hill, NC 27514)
Verbicide Free Download: Click here to download “Baby Lee” by Teenage Fanclub
Please, James, have a little respect. Nirvana was name-checking TFC when you were still in shortpants–your lazy Shins comparison shows the depth of your profound ignorance.
I’m not suggesting that TFC weren’t important and influential in their time. Instead, I’m attempting to place them in the current musical climate. Sure, Nirvana may have name checked them when I was younger, but that means nothing for the quality of this album. I compare them to the shins to create a point of accessibility for readers who may not be aware of their work. I don’t need to posture some musical highpoint just because a band has been around for a long time. Its not a matter of respect or ignorance or whatever you want. Its easy to spew accolades at a group that was praised by a universally loved group, but that doesn’t mean they are still important or interesting. Each album should be judged on its own merits, regardless of what others have said and that’s what I’ve attempted to do here. That doesn’t make me ignorant, it makes me critically fair and balanced – or at the very least, that’s the goal.