From: Markus Schafitel (markus.schafitel@AUGUSTANET.DE) found this on the allstar-mailing-list TEENAGE FANCLUB POPS BACK Radiohead Tour, Film Projects Revive Scottish Band's Career The Scottish ultra-pop band Teenage Fanclub has had its ups and downs in America -- only a couple years after their 1991 debut Bandwagonesque was lauded by Spin as Album of the Year, for instance, they were dropped by Geffen Records. But their luck may be changing now that their latest album, Songs from Northern Britain, on Creation/Columbia, is receiving glowing reviews, and perhaps more importantly, the band has landed a coveted opening slot opening for the red-hot Radiohead. "They just asked us if we'd fancy coming on tour, and we said, 'Yes, please!'" says singer/ guitarist Norman Blake. And Radiohead are not the only big- name fans who profess a love for the Glaswegian outfit. R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck paid them a personal visit when they played Seattle's Crocodile Cafe, David Byrne recently name- checked them on his new album, and director Michael Winterbottom has snagged one of the tunes off the new LP for his new film Welcome To Sarajevo. They've also contributed a cover of the New York Dolls' "Personality Crisis" for the film Velvet Goldmine (allstar, Feb. 20), where they back up Elastica guitarist Donna Matthews, who portrays a Suzi Quatro- like character. The Fanclub take much of this in stride, largely because of the lessons learned having to subsist largely on glowing critical praise and somewhat dim record sales over the past few years. When Bandwagonesque introduced their hyper- infectious strum- along pop in the U.S., they were often mentioned in the headlines as part of the motherlode of talent that major labels like DGC were raiding from the indie realm. Then, well, not much happened. The eventual parting from Geffen one LP later was mutually agreeable. "They weren't too enthusiastic about us any longer," Blake says of their leaving. "But when we played in L.A., they all came down to the gig to say hello, which was brilliant. No hard feelings." "We're not.. um, madly ambitious," guitarist Raymond McGinley adds. "You can't force people to buy your records." -Joe Silva ___________________________________________________ "allstar, the better online music magazine at http://www.allstarmag.com/"