Songs From Northern Britain
        Teenage Fanclub
        Creation/Columbia

        Scottish foursome Teenage Fanclub got their start
        imitating the seminal American power-pop band Big
        Star. On "Songs From Northern Britain," the Fanclub's sixth
        album, they've finally outgrown Big Star, only to fixate on the
        early songbook of the Byrds -- it's all there, from the perfect
        harmonies to the wistful folk-rock guitars. Considering that
        Teenage Fanclub has three songwriters (Norman Blake, Gerard Lov
        and Raymond McGinley), it's amazing how homogeneous "Songs"
        sounds: The tracks all meld into one another, cocooned in a
        gauze of gentle vocals and innocuous melodies. Only "Mount
        Everest" and "Ain't That Enough" stand out in any form -- the
        first one, thanks to a majestic piano; the second with its
        pleasant (if very Byrds-y) use of tambourine and glockenspiel.
        Overall, "Songs" is soothing to the point of narcolepsy. What's
        next? The Eagles? (RS 766)

        ELISABETH VINCENTELLI