Teenage Fanclub –
BANDWAGONESQUE
Not Grand Prix by any stretch of the
imagination, but still one hell of a record. I realise there’s a tendency to
look down on it in view of much cooler bands like Pavement and Nirvana (side
note: Teenage Fanclub was one of Kurt Cobain’s three favourite bands), but fuck
it – these melodies are stunning.
Bandwagonesque (in spite of what its cover may suggest) is seriously good. Big Star-esque power pop
dragged all the way to the 90s. The only sign of the times (as well as their
Catholic education) is the second song here, “Satan”.
It’s actually a
notable one, placed as it is between “The Concept” (“Ballad Of El Goodo”
worthy; a song you physically cannot say no to) and the sweetly sweet
“December”. It’s like they can do that, too, all that grunge intensity and shit
(check out “Hardcore” on Grand Prix),
but their interests lie elsewhere. With the sugary rush of “What You Do To Me”
and “Alcoholiday”.
Bandwagonesque is a bit of ‘too much of a good thing’ sort of album,
but you can’t be seriously telling me McGee has ever managed a more talented
band (can I keep saying that till the end of times?).
