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Rating: Since the numerous enthusiasts of Brit-rock present on these pages have not yet thought of it, I am taking the liberty to write a few words about one of the most famous and enjoyable British albums produced in the past decade by Cool Britannia: "Bandwagonesque" by the Teenage Fanclub.
Part of the ace trio released by Creation in 1991, along with the much more celebrated "Screamadelica" and "Loveless", this album was highly praised by American critics, being chosen as the album of the year by SPIN Magazine ahead of "Nevermind" (which, on the other hand, was awarded by NME, just to remind that at the time grunge was also very popular in the UK...). After all, Teenage Fanclub were not exactly the typical faces sent to the cover by the English press, nor will they ever write in cooking or fashion blogs.
Four cheerful, somewhat ugly Scots, in love with Guinness and Celtic Glasgow, still around making a decent living with the original sin of having guiding figures all coming from overseas, apart from the inevitable Beatles: the "weak" rock of Big Star foremost, the Rickenbacker crackle of the Byrds (on the next album there's a track called "Gene Clark..."), the solemn and vulnerable stride of Neil Young, and the narcoleptic feedback of Dinosaur Jr.
Among these grooves lie small gems of vigorous guitar pop, among languid electric ballads that seduce the senses ("What you do to me", "December"), power-pop assaults of intoxicating freshness ("Star Sign", "Pet Rock"), loose and romantic harmonic progressions ("The Concept", with a Mascis-like unrefined solo).
The alchemy doesn't always work, but when everything clicks, you have one of the best albums to place on the turntable now that Autumn is slowly extending its shadows. The perfect track is the programmatic "Alcholiday": the sunny Neil Young of "Zuma" spotted in the dreary and melancholic Scottish weekend, among Crazy Horse style vocal harmonies and enchanting melodies. A small hidden treasure amid the greenery of parks and the gloomy skyline of Glasgow.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Concept (06:07)
(Norman Blake)
She wears denim wherever she goes
Says she's gonna get some records by the Status Quo
Oh yeah...Oh yeah...
Still she won't be forced against her will
Says she don't do drugs but she does the pill
Oh yeah...Oh yeah...
I didn't want to hurt you oh yeah...
I didn't want to hurt you oh yeah...
Says she likes my hair 'cause it's down my back
Says she likes the group 'cause we pull in the slack
Oh yeah...Oh yeah...
When she's at the gig she takes her car
And she drive us home if it is in a bar
Oh yeah...Oh yeah...
I didn't want to hurt you oh yeah...
I didn't want to hurt you oh yeah...
(Solo)
I didn't want to hurt you oh yeah...
I didn't want to hurt you oh yeah...
(Pause)
Aaaah... Aaaah... Aaaah...
02 Satan (01:22)
(Teenage Fanclub)
(among discordant feedback)
Mankind is a whole game (???)
(?????)
Ssssatan...
(?????)
03 December (03:03)
(Gerard Love)
I'll take this chance to tell my friends what I'm thinking of.
On second thought I'll think some more and tell you later on.
She don't even care but I would die for her love.
My mind is full of several things resembling a thought.
I'll take this chance to tell my friends what I'm thinking of.
She don't even care but I would die for her love.
I've had this plan for many years but now I can't remember.
I wanted to assassinate December...
I wanted to assassinate December.
06 Star Sign (04:56)
(Gerard Love)
Hey there's a horseshoe on my door; big deal.
And say there's a black cat on the floor, big deal.
If these things make your day
Well if these things change your day
Well do you know where you belong?
And is your star sign ever wrong?
If these things change your day,
Well if these things make your day
Seen it all before, seen it all before...
In a time these things will change
Hey there's a side of me unknown, big deal.
And say, should this unknown force be shown, big deal.
If these thoughts make your day
Well if these thoughts change your day
Seen it all before, seen it all before
Given time these things will change
Seen it all before, seen it all before
Given time these things will change.
If these things change your day
Well if this song makes your day.
Seen it all before, seen it all before
Given time these things will change
Seen it all before, seen it all before
Given time these things will change
07 Metal Baby (03:40)
(Norman Blake)
Metal baby, I met her, baby
I'm her mother and she's got me on her arm
Metal baby, I met her, baby
Got her finger round the trigger of her gun.
I'm not the sort of person she'll admit she knows...
She's not the sort of person as driven white as snow...
Metal baby, my metal baby
Made me take her to the heavy metal show
Metal baby, my metal baby
Drank the perfume when I didn't want to go
I'm not the sort of person she'll admit she knows...
She's not the sort of person as driven white as snow...
Metal baby, my metal baby
I'm not ready to be party to her plan
Metal baby, my metal baby
Left the city with the heavy metal band
I'm not the sort of person she'll admit she knows...
She's not the sort of person as driven white as snow...
So...
08 Pet Rock (02:35)
(Gerard Love)
I'll never pass this way again
I'll never pass this way again
When you smile oh little girl
Sends me wild
Never pass this way
But I do know you exist.
09 Sidewinder (03:03)
(Gerard Love/Brendan O'Hare)
Saw you there with long blonde hair
Eyes of blue, oh baby, I love you.
When you're walking (I love your walk)
When you're talking (I love your talk)
Look so cute behind your kit
I've heard some songs but baby you're a hit.
When you're rocking (I love your rock)
When you're ticking (I'm your tock)
But then again you're a just a thought
You think I'm lying but I'm not.
I love your touch, I love your style.
Hit the snar you know it makes me smile.
When you're walking (I love your walk)
When you're talking (I love your talk)
I love you but you can't see;
I love you but baby do you agree
When you're rocking (I love your rock)
When you're ticking (I'm your tock)
Then again you're a just a thought
You think I'm lying but I'm not.
{Solo}
(I love your walk)
(I love your talk)
(I love your walk)
(I love your talk)
Then again you're a just a thought
You think I'm lying but I'm not.
10 Alcoholiday (05:26)
(Norman Blake)
There are things I want to do but I don't know
If they will be with you, if they will be with you
There are things I want to say but I don't know
If they will be to you, if they will be to you
Listen ever get a feeling when you're taken by the hand
And led a course you can't command
Went to bed but I'm not ready
Baby I've been fucked already
Falling into line but I'm doing nothing
We've got nothing worth discussing.
Went to go but it's all hazy
People say I'm going crazy.
(Repeat all above)
(Bridge)
All I know is all I know
What I've done I leave behind and
I don't know what sort to find me.
All I know is all I know
What I've done I leave behind and
I don't know what sort to find me.
All I know is all I know
What I've done I leave behind and
I don't know what sort to find me.
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