Biography for Teenage Fanclub: Music Style: Alternative pop/rock Instrument: Group Importance: 3 (scale 1-3; 1=highest) Although their music may not be particularly innovative, Teenage Fanclub are great synthesizers of pop music, tying together everything from the Beach Boys and Big Star to Sonic Youth, Neil Young and Madonna. On their earlier records, they leaned toward loud guitar pop, drenched in dissonance. Starting with 1991's BANDWAGONESQUE, the band toned down the noise and reached deeper into their melodic gifts; the result was a brilliant homage to Big Star's chiming guitars and Neil Young's lazy melodies. The record earned them substantial critical praise -- SPIN named it the record of the year -- as well as some critical scorn. While the album helped the band gain a cult following in America, it made them stars in England. Two years later, they delivered THIRTEEN, which showed the band incorporating their influences into their own signature sound instead of just paying homage to them. While it wasn't a big as a success as BANDWAGONESQUE, it showed that Teenage Fanclub hadn't lost their gift for loud, lush guitar pop. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewi, All-Music Guide __________________________________________________________________ BANDWAGONESQUE Teenage Fanclub -- Bandwagonesque (42:41) 1991 RATING: Best of Artist The All-Music Guide Music Style: Rock, Pop Much cleaner than the debut, this is a slice of Big Star worship that never fails to deliver the goods. Although it gets bogged down in obviousness from time to time, Teenage Fanclub proves they are a fine pop band, loaded with ringing guitars and breathtaking choruses. ~ John Dougan -- John Dougan, All-Music Guide Category: ROCK/POP UNI/GEFFEN 2064 24461 4 ____________________________________________________________ Tracks .. 1) The concept (6:07) 2) Satan (1:22) 3) December (3:02) 4) What you do to me (1:59) 5) I don't know (4:35) 6) Star sign (4:53) 7) Metal baby (3:39) 8) Pet rock (2:34) 9) Sidewinder (3:02) 10) Alcoholiday (5:26) 11) Guiding star (2:45) 12) Is this music? (3:17) GOD KNOWS IT'S TRUE Teenage Fanclub -- God Knows It's True 1990 RATING: Good The All-Music Guide Music Style: Rock, Pop (4-song CD-5) ...It's nice to see that somebody out there believes in the prospects for droning, edgy-yet-tuneful guitar rock...In Teenage Fanclub, somebody has struck paydirt..."God Knows It's True" is a smash over the left field fence, while "So Far Gone" sails out over the upper deck...Both are brilliant, ringing takes on infectious, hard-edged pop. The other two tracks, "Weed Break" and "Ghetto Blaster," are both feedback-drenched guitar instrumentals, providing a neat complement to the vocal cuts. ~ Andrew Warde, Option 39_91 -- Andrew Warde, All-Music Guide Category: ROCK/POP MATADOR 8258 23 2 ____________________________________________________________ THIRTEEN Teenage Fanclub -- Thirteen (69:29) 1993 RATING: Best of Artist + - This is a "First Pick" album -- the artist at their peak. The All-Music Guide Opening with the snarling T. Rex meets Nirvana guitar of "Hang On," which soon melts away into a sea of gorgeous Beatlesque harmonies, =Thirteen= marks a shedding of the Big Star devotions that made =Bandwagonesque= so delicious but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. Instead of concentrating on one band, Teenage Fanclub pillages through all of the pages of pop history, producing a layered, infectious slice of guitar pop that only gets better with repeated listenings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All-Music Guide Category: ROCK/POP UNI/GEFFEN 2064 24533 4 ____________________________________________________________ Tracks .. 1) Hang on (5:04) 2) The cabbage (2:56) 3) Radio (2:55) 4) Norman 3 (4:36) 5) Song to the cynic (3:34) 6) 120 mins (3:07) 7) Escher (3:19) 8) Commercial alternative (2:38) 9) Fear of flying (5:23) 10) Tears are cool (3:48) 11) Ret liv dead (2:09) 12) Get funky (1:21) 13) Gene clark (6:38) Imports: info DEEP FRIED FANCLUB ABCD 10035 info GRAND PRIX -13 TRACKS CREATION CRECD173 Origin: UK SPARKY'S DREAM (EP) + 3 TRACKS #1 CREATION CRESCD201 Origin: UK SPARKY'S DREAM (EP) + 3 TRACKS #2 CREATION CRESCD201X Origin: UK This is an import title. Singles: info WHAT YOU DO TO ME Category: 5"CD SINGLES UNI/GEFFEN 2064 21708 2 T-Shirts: info Wh T Tank NICE MAN TEE-450 X-LARGE Not available: info CATHOLIC EDUCATION Teenage Fanclub -- Catholic Education 1990 RATING: Good The All-Music Guide Music Style: Rock, Pop A grimy pop record that never loses its charm, even when it becomes nearly impenetrable. Filled to the brim with charm and ebullience (as well as a snotty attitude), this is a dazzling record. ~ John Dougan -- John Dougan, All-Music Guide Category: ROCK/POP MATADOR (CAROLINE) 8257 12 2 Discontinued on May 18, 1995. ____________________________________________________________ Tracks . 1) Everything Flows 2) Everybody's Fool 3) Catholic Education 4) Eternal Light 5) Heavy Metal I 6) Critical Mass 7) Too Involved 8) Don't Need a Drum 9) Every Picture I Paint 10) Catholic Education 2 11) Heavy Metal Ii ______________________________ AMG Discography: Teenage Fanclub -- Peel Sessions (14:22) 1991 Tracks . 1) God Knows it's True 2) So Far Gone 3) Alcoholiday 4) Long Hair ______________________________ What You Do to Me Teenage Fanclub -- What You Do to Me 1992 Tracks . 1) What You Do to Me (Satan Version) 2) What You Do to Me (LP Version) 3) Like a Virgin 4) Maharishi Dug the Scene 5) Life's a Gas 6) Long Hair