Grand Prix - Teenage Fanclub

Advantages: It makes me happy!
Disadvantages: Songs sound the same at first

It’s summer! Or not quite. But it’s still really, really hot... so to celebrate, I’ll review an album of (shock, horror!) HAPPY music! I’ll say that again... happy! For a change, there are no songs about death and/or loneliness or getting over said death and/or loneliness, only ones about smiling and seeing the positive side of life. I got this album for Christmas a few years ago, after I’d heard a few of their songs on MTV2 (yes I did used to ...
...to buy some cheerful music for a change and these seemed like they could fall into that category. The first thing I did that morning was put this on and ever since, listening to this album reminds me of Christmas. Isn’t it great how music can bring back happy memories? Anyway, back to the review... Scottish band Teenage Fanclub appear on this album as four piece (now a five piece). Unusually, they are based around three separate singer-songwriters, ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful melodies, thought-provoking lyrics
Disadvantages: Loses a tiny little bit of appeal towards the end

After being subjected to a fairly poor effort with 'Thirteen' I braced myself for another downturn in the quality of album produced by the Teenage Fanclub. Safe to say, there was no disappointment. This is a classic album. The band have three great songwriters, and this is the album that proves just how gifted a band they are. They surely couldn't repeat the disappointment of 'Thirteen' and they didn't. I don't think there is a single bad track here, ...
...who like a bit of rock in with the pop-like melodies. Any fan of guitar-based pop would be doing themselves a disservice by not owning this album. It is fantastic. 'About You' and 'Sparky's Dream' are classic pop-like melodies that will have you salivating at the prospect at what else remains on the album. And, although the remainder of the album maybe doesn't quite hit the heights of those first two songs, it's still an uplifting experience of ... Read review

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...guitar albums, but then comes Grand Prix, could they get any better than this album? Unfortunately they didn’t. But this is how I’d like to remember them with tracks like About You, Discolite, Neil Jung, Sparky’s dream and Mellow Doubt (with the quality whistle break), this really is one of the best indie albums there ever has and ever damn well will be. ... Read review

Advantages: One or two snippets of good music
Disadvantages: No catchy tunes as before, poor lyrics, lazy effort

...I have to admit that this is the first Teenage Fanclub album I purchased since the album 'Songs From Northern Britain' which, along with Grand Prix, is the band at their very best. However, Man Made is nowhere near the giddy heights of those two pieces of art. It's five years since they last made a record and this is the best they could do? There are some very weak songs on this album and arguably the best song on the album is the opener, It's All In My Mind but it's gradually downhill after that. 'Nowhere' has some rather poor lyrics and is pretty disjointed as a track whilst 'Only With You' has an unwelcome piano piece that goes on for what seems like an eternity after the song is done. Plink, plink, plink, for no reason other than to annoy you even more than the song does itself. I wouldn't recomment this album I'm afraid... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: see opinion
Disadvantages: see opinion

...the light' and the achingly chiming 'Afterglow' (Teenage fanclub a la 'Grand Prix' except the fannies did it, and continue to do it, much better). Travis have proved that they can rock with the best of them, its just a shame they don't choose to do it more often. More meat on the bones next time please lads!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Melodies Waxing Lyrical.
Disadvantages: Smiley Tunes Can Give You Lockjaw.

...If you fancy some jangle pop then the place to be is chez Teenage Fanclub. Combining Wilsonesque harmonies with fluid melodious guitar moves, Howdy! is a superb album even by the Fanclub's extremely high standards. It's effortless beauty is like suntan lotion, you don't notice how good it is until you stop using it. It all started back in the early nineties when 4 longhaired dudes smiled out at us on MTV's Alternative Nation. As the glitter fell slowly from the sky, the epic sound of ‘Starsign' entranced us. The resulting album 'Bandwagonesque' has rightly attained genuine classic status. Along the way Teenage Fanclub have defied the odds and got even better. 1995's Grand Prix was an extraordinary effort. Howdy! released on the now defunct Creation Records contains 12 tracks of all too rare charm. The quality is so high... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful