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Review
Teenage Fanclub remain Britain's foremost underachievers. Critically feted for 1991's Bandwagonesque LP (famously chosen as Spin Magazine's album of the year, beating Nirvana's Nevermind), they've since steadfastly failed to break through into the mainstream.
1995's Grand Prix remains their high watermark. Released at the height of Britpop, it was criminally overlooked for the likes of Echobelly and, lest we forget, Menswear. Yet you'd struggle to find a more perfect pop album than this. For 42 breathless minutes, it condenses the best bits of the Byrds, Big Star and early Beach Boys into thirteen, sun drenched tracks.
From the opening rush of About You and Sparky's Dream through to the slower, reflective Verisimilitude and Going Places, Grand Prix is an album about being hopelessly, head-over-heels in love. Musically the template is familiar, but lyrically it's their most mature work to date with Gerard Love's line in Don't Look Back ('I'd steal a car/to drive you home') remaining one of their best. The word play in Verisimilitude is another reminder that the Fannies were maybe too smart for the mainstream.
There are those who say that Teenage Fanclub's main weakness is that they only have one song! and it sounds like The Byds. Yet 13 years on, Grand Prix still sounds as fresh as it did on first listen; perhaps even better. If they do only have one song, then long may it continue to play. --Rowan Collinson
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Product Description
TEENAGE FANCLUB - GRAND PRIX CD 13 TRACKS (60837)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When talking about 'Grand Prix' it's difficult not to get carried away. When you think of Teenage Fanclub you may envisage middle-of-the-road twee musical pap from poncey Scottish poets who are too limp-wristed to thrash out a decent rock choon. And you'd be utterly wrong. When 'Sparky's Dream' explodes and the fragile 'Mellow Doubt' quells, you realise just how extraordinary and versatile this band are. The lyrics are wonderful (how did they manage to make "the sun shines in your eyes so brighten up my city sky" not sound like a crap chat-up line?) and the harmonies are delightful. 'Discolite' marches on with authority, and the pleasure sustained throughout the understated 'Going Places' leaves you with a warm glow. Perhaps 'Verisimilitude' needs to be heard live to be fully appreciated, but the finale 'Hardcore/Ballad' embodies everything there is to treasure about this album, blending the hardest and the softest aspects of the previous songs.
The word 'pop' seems insulting in today's music culture, but if taken literally as 'something that everyone will like' then 'Grand Prix' is undoubtedly the greatest pop album of all time.
The word 'pop' seems insulting in today's music culture, but if taken literally as 'something that everyone will like' then 'Grand Prix' is undoubtedly the greatest pop album of all time.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Only the ideal synergy of chunky chords, wistful lyrics and cracked harmonies can fill our dangerous and depressing world with sunshine and exultation on every listen. Luckily for them the Fannies mastered the trick first time out, and luckily for us they believe in refinements rather than new directions. Grand Prix isn't quite as lovable as some of their other albums, but it's their most polished and consistent. Sparky's Dream and Neil Jung are the best singles they ever released, and Verisimilitude has a tune worthy of its wonderful title. Don't be put off by the fact that they never quite made the big time - that says a lot more about the British public and its radio stations than it does about the Fannies. You will be denying yourself a guaranteed works-every-time happy pill if you do not buy this album.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By D. Newton
Format:Audio CD
Interesting to review `Grand Prix' from a `neutral' perspective - Teenage Fanclub is a band that had passed me by but my buddy is a massive fan and he urged me to check this one out.
The music of `Grand Prix' is laid-back, melodic guitar pop performed and produced superbly. The only pitfall with this style of music is if laid back becomes lazy but this album is a real success.
The core of the record, from `Sparky's Dream's sweet pop harmonies to `Going Places's beautiful chiming guitar work is absolutely excellent. All of these tracks have really strong melodies and are a joy to listen to. I really like `Don't Look Back' with its anthemic, cranked-up guitars; `Verisimilitude's early-REM style jangly guitar backing and satisfying keyboard chord progression and `Tears's fantastic piano and horns.
The band carries off the feat of three songwriters enhancing an album rather than being a hindrance. Unusually, all seem equally talented and their differing vocals add a welcome extra bit of variety.
The only downside for me is the end of the record. `I'll Make It Clear' and `I Gotta Know' are not up to the quality of the preceding tracks whilst the record deserves a much better closing number than `Hardcore/Ballad', an out of place experimental curiosity fit only for a B-side.
On the whole, though, `Grand Prix' is really enjoyable to listen to but if you are reading this you probably know that already!
The music of `Grand Prix' is laid-back, melodic guitar pop performed and produced superbly. The only pitfall with this style of music is if laid back becomes lazy but this album is a real success.
The core of the record, from `Sparky's Dream's sweet pop harmonies to `Going Places's beautiful chiming guitar work is absolutely excellent. All of these tracks have really strong melodies and are a joy to listen to. I really like `Don't Look Back' with its anthemic, cranked-up guitars; `Verisimilitude's early-REM style jangly guitar backing and satisfying keyboard chord progression and `Tears's fantastic piano and horns.
The band carries off the feat of three songwriters enhancing an album rather than being a hindrance. Unusually, all seem equally talented and their differing vocals add a welcome extra bit of variety.
The only downside for me is the end of the record. `I'll Make It Clear' and `I Gotta Know' are not up to the quality of the preceding tracks whilst the record deserves a much better closing number than `Hardcore/Ballad', an out of place experimental curiosity fit only for a B-side.
On the whole, though, `Grand Prix' is really enjoyable to listen to but if you are reading this you probably know that already!
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4.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grand Job!
This is such a wonderful album of lovingly-crafted pop songs that it makes you wonder how this band weren't massive. Read more
Published 7 months ago by LovelyStuff
5.0 out of 5 stars
To know it is to love it...
Only fourteen reviews for this gleaming pop gem?
A simply fantastic record, one of the albums of the nineties and at at this kind of price it's a crime not to own it. Read more
A simply fantastic record, one of the albums of the nineties and at at this kind of price it's a crime not to own it. Read more
Published on 2 May 2010 by Robert Machin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Pop from start to finsih
After the critical hoo-ha of Bandwagonesque, the music press seemed to treat Teenage Fanclub as a sort of invisible institution, never frothing with excitement over their... Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2008 by Moonchief
5.0 out of 5 stars
How did this not sell millions?
Along with Radiohead's The Bends, this is without doubt the album of 1995. All three songwriters are on top form. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2007 by Mr. Jonathan Robin Oxley
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best album of the 90's
Quite simply - the best and most underated album of the 90's! A real joy. I bought this on the strength of "Sparky's Dream" and the first 11 tracks are genuis. Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2007 by danclay77
4.0 out of 5 stars
I'll make it clear...
Have to agree with pretty much all the reviews here - the Fannies' best album. Contains the perfect mix of harmony, emotion, irony and just good, old-fashioned RAWK! Read more
Published on 2 April 2007 by ghostinthemachine1
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still genius
I bought this album on CD having not listened to it for about 10 years (I had it on tape). The songs are still broadly speaking very good but a couple of things stand out for me. Read more
Published on 11 July 2006 by Master Shake
5.0 out of 5 stars
A breezy happy summer album of the highest order
Teenage Fanclubs best work released in the euphoria of the Britpop scene so was lost among many of the other guitar bands of the time but this is one of the true survivors. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2002 by N. Sangarapillai
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Teenage Fanclub album to have
After the relative disappointment of Thirteen, my expectations of this album were low. After eating my way through large amounts of humble pie, I have to say that it is nothing... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2001 by Mr. M. J. Hulme
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Pop
This is a great album to listen to in the summer with the windows down. All three songwriters manage to produce songs of equal merit. Read more
Published on 29 April 2000
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