Teenage Fanclub – Shadows (PeMa)

Ok, so I haven’t exactly been hammering the ol' jangly, easy-going indie-folky power-pop stuff of recent.

In fact if anyone asks, I’ve been listening exclusively to Black Flag, Saint Vitus, Ramones, Alternative TV, Psyched To Die, Les Rallizes Denudes, girl group compilations, The Misfits, assorted old punk shit and early Napalm Death.

But I can’t keep a secret from you readers, and the truth is, this new Teenage Fanclub album is just too plain LOADED WITH TUNES to ignore.

I may have skipped over their past few records, perhaps unfairly, but the songs from “Shadows” that have been creeping into my head via BBC6’s playlist as I do the washing up have stood out as wondrous compositions, full of warm, happy sounds; a veritable embarrassment of sweet, guitary riches.

From Norman Blake’s blinding, Rolling Stones and Go-Betweens referencin’ stadium rocker “When I Still Have Thee”, to “Baby Lee”, like a Big Star acoustic number all grown up without the angst, to the grand slow-burn of Raymond McGinley’s “The Fall” (for the first few minutes you’ll think it’s shit, but if you’re still not digging it by the post-guitar solo choruses, you’re probably a bad person), the whole record has the air of a triumphant, late-period classic from a band a lot of people would have preferred to see condemned to the arena of fading boring-ness years ago.

Naysayers would have it that Teenage Fanclub are doomed to never rise above the level of mere ‘niceness’. ‘Niceness’ of course being the ultimate anathema to all you intense artist cats out there who thrive on the howling furies of humanity pushed to new, blood-curdling extremes, or failing that, The XX.

But c’mon, fuck that. I’m nice. My flat is nice. Friends are nice. The weather in the spring is nice. Breakfast in nice. And as they roll on through contented middle age, Teenage Fanclub have become INTENSELY NICE, so powerfully nice it’s almost frightening. They may have called their album “Shadows”, but I’m not sure why, as I find few dark patches within the words and music of these thoroughly contented fellows.

I know I often put forward the notion that good music always has to be fighting against something, but… I dunno, somehow Teenage Fanclub seem to get a free pass from me on that one. Somehow the exultant spirit with which they seem to be welcoming us into their happy place in these songs overcomes all. Theirs is a fiery niceness that sits far distant from any notion of mediocrity, and only a chump would confuse the two.

I’d post up mp3s of all of the above-mentioned songs, but I don’t wanna be busted giving away all the highlights of a medium-indie label new release, y’know, so I’ll stick to one. I’m sure you can go and spotify them or last.fm them or whatever the hell you kids do these days. And then you can buy this album. On CD, even! Like I did! Because that’s how nice I am.

I suppose that probably works out at, like, 80p a song or thereabouts, which seems like an incredible bargain, all things considered. It makes me feel like I just got a really good deal on a pile of rustic, hand-stitched blankets or something. Such comfort, and they’ll last for years!

Mp3> When I Still Have Thee

Wow, am I hearing it right when he sings "Well the stars still shine, and the museum's free"..? Seriously guys: SONG OF THE YEAR.

Labels: album reviews, Teenage Fanclub, WOW BIG STAR COMPARISONS